Aloo Pie (Trinidadian Fried Potato Turnovers)
Local name: Aloo pie
In short: Soft yeasted dough folded around a spiced mashed potato filling and fried until blistered and golden. A favorite stall snack with tamarind chutney. It takes about 1 h 5 min in total and makes 5 servings.
- Prep
- 40 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 1 h 5 min
- Servings
- 5
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 500 kcal
Aloo pie is a fried turnover of soft yeasted dough wrapped around spiced mashed potato, sold at street stalls with a spoonful of tamarind chutney, pepper sauce or kuchela on top. Aloo is the Hindi word for potato, and this snack belongs to the Indo-Trinidadian cooking tradition. Eaten hot from the oil, the crust is blistered and chewy and the filling is warm, soft and peppery.
Instructions
- Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt. Add the oil and warm water gradually and knead for 8 minutes into a smooth, soft dough. Cover and let it rise for 1 hour, until doubled.
- Meanwhile, boil the potatoes in salted water for 15 minutes, until very tender. Drain well and mash until smooth.
- Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan over medium heat. Cook the onion, garlic and hot pepper for 3 minutes. Stir in the curry powder and cumin and cook for 1 minute.
- Stir the spiced onion mixture, culantro and 1/2 tsp salt into the mashed potatoes. Taste and adjust, then let the filling cool completely.
- Divide the dough into 10 balls. Flatten each into a circle about 12 cm (5 inches) across, leaving the edge slightly thinner than the center.
- Put 2 tablespoons of filling in the middle of each circle. Fold into a half-moon, press the edges to seal and crimp with a fork.
- Heat the frying oil to 175°C (350°F). Fry the pies in batches of 3 or 4 for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until deep golden and puffed. Drain on paper towels and serve warm with chutney or pepper sauce.
Tips
- Cool the filling completely before sealing. Warm filling softens the dough and makes the pies split in the oil.
- Press the edges firmly and crimp with a fork. A tight seal keeps the filling in and the oil out.
Questions and answers
What does aloo mean?
Aloo means potato in Hindi. Aloo pie is a potato-filled turnover, and in Trinidad it is a fried pie rather than a baked one.
Can I bake aloo pie instead of frying?
Yes. Brush the pies with oil and bake at 200°C (400°F) for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden. The crust will be firmer and less blistered than a fried one.
Can I freeze aloo pie?
Freeze the cooked, cooled pies for up to 2 months. Reheat them in a 190°C (375°F) oven for 15 minutes, until hot in the middle and crisp on the outside.
How long does it take to make Aloo Pie (Trinidadian Fried Potato Turnovers)?
About 1 h 5 min in total: 40 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Aloo Pie (Trinidadian Fried Potato Turnovers)?
About 500 kcal per serving, with 10 g of protein, 77 g of carbohydrates and 16 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 500 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 10 g |
| Carbohydrates | 77 g |
| Fat | 16 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 520 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
