Half Moon Pies

This recipe is best for freezing as it stays fresh for more than two weeks hence its always on the menu for frozen Ramadan items.
The crispy covering is the result of pate a choux dough which is then deep fried. We prefer creamy filling for this pastry as it goes just perfect with the crispy melt in mouth covering. But the best thing about such pies is, you can always experiment with fillings.

Half Moon Pies Recipe:

How to prepare choux dough for half moons:

Ingredients:

1 cup all purpose flour
4 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg (optional)

Directions:

1. Take butter, water, milk and salt in a sauce pan and bring it to a boil. When the butter has melted completely, put off the heat and add all the flour and mix vigorously with wooden spoon and again place on medium heat. Let the dough cook on medium heat for about 3-5 minutes or till it makes a ball with shiny surface. Keep stirring with wooden spoon. A thin film of flour may form on the bottom of the pan while cooking the dough.

2. Take the dough in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on medium low till the dough is warm to the touch. (Instead of using electric mixer you can cool the dough manually by tossing the dough with a metal spatula.

3. Once the dough is cool enough, add beaten egg, if using. The dough will become very sticky and after adding the egg but it will hold back together as you keep on kneading. (To avoid this mess you can skip egg).

4. As dough cools down completely, divide it into small balls. Roll out small and not very thin discs.

5. Put filling on one side of the disc and apply some beaten egg or water on edges with brush or using your finger and then flip the other end making half moon shaped.

6. Dip the pastry in beaten egg and then in bread crumbs and store in freezer safe container. Deep fry and serve when needed.

Creamy Chicken filling for Half Moon Pies:

Ingredients:

1 cup boiled and shredded chicken
1/2 cup boiled green peas
1/2 cup boiled sweet corn kernels
2 tablespoons cream cheese
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Salt and pepper as per taste
1 teaspoon olive oil

Method:

Put all the ingredients in a bowl and toss well. Keep in fridge for an hour before using.

You can adjust spices as per your taste.