Mixed Indian Vegetables with Puff Pastry Crust

This recipe is a fusion recipe of pav bhaji and chicken pot pie, comfort foods from India and the West.

Pav bhaji is dish from Western India, mainly Mumbai (Bombay) and a comfort food to most Indians. It was developed during the period of the textile mills when workers only had a brief period for lunch. Bhaji or mixed vegetables were cooked on a tava or flat pan along with pav or bread and the two were served together by street vendors. Today, you can still find pav bhaji from street vendors as we buy hot dogs or pizza.

This recipe involves the combination of vegetables used by my family. The vegetables are usually mashed but I left them whole and added chicken for more of the pot pie consistency. The pav is replaced with the pot pie pastry. For a vegetarian option, increase the amount of vegetables and/or add potatoes.

1 package of puff pastry
2 tbsp oil
3 heaping tsp garlic, minced (divided)
3-4 chicken breasts, cubed
1 large onion, sliced (or about 1/2 14 oz bag frozen onion/pepper)
approximately 1/2 box (3.5 oz box) pav bhaji masala*
1 14 oz bag mixed vegetables
1 15 oz. can creamed corn
3 tablespoon lemon juice (divided)
1/2 cup chicken broth (option)
1 cup yogurt or cream
1 tbsp butter
1 heaping tsp poppy seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
1. Thaw puff pastry and set aside. Butter baking dish.
2. Sweat garlic in oil over low heat for a few minutes. Then increase heat and lightly brown chicken (does not need to be cooked through). Set chicken aside.
3. In same pan, saute onion/pepper mix until soft and clear. Add masala and salt. Once fragrant, return chicken to pan and coat with spices. Add mixed vegetables, creamed corn, 2 tbsp lemon juice, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Then transfer chicken and vegetables to baking dish, leaving sauce in pan.
4. Add yogurt or cream to sauce to thicken and pour over vegetables in baking dish.
5. In a small boil, melt butter, 1 tbsp lemon juice, poppy seeds, 1 tsp minced garlic. Lay puff pastry over baking dish and then spread butter sauce over baking dish.
6. Bake for 25-35 minutes. Watch puff pastry to prevent burning.

I think caramelized onions would like be a nice touch on top. Cilantro could (and should) be used as a garnish, I was just hungry and in a hurry.

*Pav bhaji masala is available at your friendly neighborhood Indian grocer. It is a combination of coriander, chili, cumin, dry mango, cardamom seeds, black pepper, salt, fennel, cinnamon, dry ginger, bay leaf cloves, star anise, caraway, nutmeg, mace.