Mutton Puffs

The chips aisles were almost empty,chicken wings were mostly gone and so were pretty much most of the snackable stuff, What could the occasion be but Super Bowl Sunday. The first time I saw "American" Football I could not help but wonder "Why in the world is this game called Football, the thingy does not look like a ball and they hardly ever use their feet." The qualification because in the rest of the world 'Football' is another game altogether, ah yes! the game referred to as 'Soccer' in these parts. But I do like the cooking part that goes with Super Bowl. I can cook my favorite snack items and not feel guilty about it because only about another 300 million give or take a few million are also doing the same.

Mutton Puffs are/were my favorite. Dad used to take us when I was about 8 or so, to this cool bakery called JM & Sons English bakery in Coimbatore which sold these awesome puffs and the best cakes ever. Japanese Cakes anyone? Oh those lovely Sunday evenings. Then finish off with a cone ice cream from the new Joy Ice Cream outlet which was brand new at that time. The bakery still stands in the same building on Avinashi Road but tragedy they don't sell Mutton Puffs anymore only Chicken Puffs and for some reason I don't like those. Well the decision of what to make was easy enough. For a Vegetarian version try the filling used here




Ingredients
Makes about 9 Puffs

1. 1 Puff Pastry thawed rolled and cut into 9 squares
2. 1 lb of Minced Mutton
3. 1 Onion (the more onion the better) chopped fine
4. 5 garlic cloves chopped fine
5. 1 1/2" ginger grated
6. 2 tsp corriander powder
7. 1/2 tbsp chilli powder
8. 1/2 tsp cumin powder
9. 1 tsp chicken masala powder or garam masala powder
10. Salt to taste
12. 1 tsp oil


Method
1. Wash the minced mutton, drain water completely and pressure cook for 3-4 whistles with some salt and turmeric. Drain the water and set aside.
2. Add oil to a pan and when heated add the onions and cook till almost brown
3. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger. Mix well
4. Add all the powders and cook for a minute
5. Now add the minced mutton and mix them well and let it heat through. Check taste.
6. Take a piece of the Puff pastry sheet and place about a tbsp of meat in the center and fold so over so as to form a triangle. Seal the edges with a little water or egg wash.
7.Preheat oven to 400F and bake for 25 minutes till golden brown.



Enjoy with ketchup. If there is no puff pastry sheet handy, serve the kheema with Baked Corn chips.

Something to think about:
If you work in a place like my office where there is always pizza, sandwiches, cookies,brownies fruits, bagels or something or other in the kitchen left over from a training or meeting and top of that add the free soda and juice ever available, sticking to a diet is a bit trying to say the least. I don't like carbonated drinks so keeping away from soda is easy but juice that is a totally different matter. Once debating between picking up cranberry apple or orange juice, checking the calories a 10 oz of cranberry apple was 160 calories and orange juice was 140 calories. Along side the sugary drinks also sat Vegetable juice and a bigger bottle it was 12oz and the calories only 70. Add a little bit of pepper or hot sauce and it tastes heavenly and also filling which no juice can. Now I have my choice cut out for me.