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    Home > Recipes

    Curried Lentil Hand Pies

    Posted: Jun 19, 2014 ยท Updated: Aug 16, 2021

    Jump to Recipe

    These delicious vegan curried lentil hand pies are made of a vegetable and lentil stuffing encased inside flaky filo pastry. It's an easy recipe, and sure to please both kids and adults. We especially love this forย a lunchbox meal.

    Vegan Curried Lentil Hand Pies | holycowvegan.netThese Curried Lentil Hand Pies, with their crispy, crackling, golden crust and creamy, meaty, spicy lentil filling, are all about healthy comfort. And if you thought that term was an oxymoron, well, you'd better think again.

    You know I'm always looking for easy recipes I can make on a weeknight and brown bag to work the next day. With this recipe, I not only foundย ease and convenience, but also kid-friendly, indulgent, and downright decadent.ย In fact, try this in your lunchbox and then come back andย tell me how you -- or your kid -- couldn't wait all morning for lunchtime.

     

    Overhead shot of Curried Lentil Hand Pie in a metal serving plate on a red tablecloth - holycowvegan.net
    To make my vegan Curried Lentil Hand Pies easy and foolproof, I used phyllo dough. Phyllo, used to make baklava and spanakopita and all of those decadent Middle Eastern pastries, is usually fat-free and makes a crispy crust each time, guaranteed. If you're someone who has balked from using phyllo, this is the perfect recipe to break free of that fear. Despite all the instructions that go into using phyllo, it really is rather easy to handle because it is ย forgiving of small mistakes. Tore a sheet? Don't worry, just patch it and move right on to layer it with another one. ย No one will know the difference.

    To stuff into the phyllo, I made an incredibly delicious and healthy lentil and vegetable stuffingย withย some Indian flair. The stuffing ย comes together in 30 minutes, and then you need another 15-30 minutes, depending on your expertise, to make the pies. Bung them into the oven for 25 minutes, and you have delicious hand pies that, underneath their elegantย look, pack more than 13 grams of protein and nearly 15 grams of fiber each. Whoa!

    So what's stopping you?

    ***

    Try these recipes next:

    • The Best Vegan Pot Pie
    • Vegan Beet Burger with Chipotle Cashew Hummus
    • Punjabi Samosa
    • Vegan Garlic Naan
    • Crispy Pongal Cakes

    ***

    A cross section of a Curried Lentil Hand Pie with a filling of lentils and vegetables, sitting on a wooden chopping board | holycowvegan.net

    Curried Lentil Hand Pie

    Vegan Curried Lentil Hand Pies

    These delicious vegan curried lentil hand pies are made of a vegetable and lentil stuffing encased inside flaky filo pastry. It's an easy recipe, and sure to please both kids and adults. We especially love this for a lunchbox meal.
    5 from 11 votes
    Print Recipe Review Recipe
    Course: Main
    Cuisine: Fusion Indian
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: Vegan curried lentil hand pies
    Prep Time: 30 mins
    Cook Time: 1 hr
    Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
    Servings: 5 pies
    Calories: 278kcal
    Author: Vaishali ยท Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes

    Ingredients 

    • 15 phyllo pastry sheets 9 inches wide by 14 inches long. If you can only get the 9 by 28 inch size, cut the sheets in half and use. Thaw the phyllo before use.
    • Oil for spraying
    • 1 cup brown lentils . You can also use French puy lentils or masoor for a variation.
    • 1 medium onion, chopped
    • 1 medium tomato, chopped
    • 2 medium carrots, finely diced
    • 1 green bell pepper, finely diced
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 tablespoon grated ginger
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 tablespoon coriander powder
    • ยผ teaspoon turmeric
    • 2 teaspoon garam masala
    • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
    • ยผ cup finely chopped coriander leaves
    • 2 spring onions, optional, finely chopped
    • Salt to taste
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    Instructions

    • Make the filling by heating the oil in a saucepan. Add the onions and saute until they soften and start turning lightly golden.
    • Add the ginger and garlic and saute a few more seconds.
    • Add the coriander powder, paprika, turmeric and garam masala. Stir to mix well.
    • Add the tomato and cook for about two to three minutes or until the tomato breaks down.
    • Add the carrots and green bell pepper. Stir to mix, cover, and cook about five minutes or until the vegetables start to soften.
    • Add the lentils and stir to mix.
    • Add two cups of water or enough to barely cover the lentils.
    • Bring the lentils to a boil, cover with a lid, and let the mixture cook about 25 to 30 minutes or until the lentils are cooked. Let any excess moisture evaporate. You want the filling to be very dry.
    • Add salt to taste and stir in the coriander leaves and spring onions, if using.
    • Set aside to cool.
    • To assemble the pies, unroll the thawed phyllo sheets and cover them with a damp towel.
    • On a flat surface, place one sheet and spray lightly with oil. Layer with another sheet, spray lightly with oil, then repeat for a third sheet.
    • Now cut the phyllo crosswise down the middle and stack the sheets on top of one another so you have six layers.
    • Place one-fifth of the filling in the center of the phyllo sheets, fold in the long sides first, press down to seal, brushing on some water along the edge if needed. Then fold in the shorter sides to make a packet.
    • Place seam side down on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Spray some oil over the top, for a prettier look.
    • Repeat with the remaining phyllo sheets and filling until you get five pies.
    • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
    • Bake the hand pies for 25 minutes or until they are golden-brown on top.
    • Remove the hand pies, transfer to a rack to cool, and serve either warm or cold.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1hand pie | Calories: 278kcal | Protein: 13.4g | Fiber: 14.7g
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment and recipe rating below!
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    A section of a Curried Lentil Hand Pie on a wooden chopping board with more hand pies sitting in the background | holycowvegan.net
    **

    For another pie recipe with Indian flavors, check out my Tikka Masala Pot Pie, a perennial favorite in our home.

    Tikka Masala Pot Pie

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    About Vaishali


    I cook and eat simple, tasty and nutritious plant-based food in my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. Read more about me here.

    Try these recipes next

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Emma-leigh

      December 05, 2015 at 8:42 pm

      these look great

      Reply
    2. Tanya

      January 27, 2015 at 1:27 am

      5 stars
      I made these today and they are outstanding.
      I added a diced potato with the carrot and used 2 long green chillies instead of the bell pepper.
      What beautiful flavours - The spices are perfect to my boyfriend's and my tastes (which is rare).
      Thank you Vaishali!! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
    3. Donna Schaffer

      July 11, 2014 at 7:53 pm

      5 stars
      Hi Vaishali,
      I just made these hand pies and they are Fabulous!! thanks for all the great recipes!!

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        July 13, 2014 at 10:59 am

        Hi Donna, so thrilled you liked it. Thanks for letting me know!

        Reply
    4. Roxy

      June 26, 2014 at 8:10 pm

      5 stars
      I just made these for dinner. They are AMAZING! Thank you soo much! Your recipes are absolutely delicious. I'm so glad my husband showed me your website. I can't wait to try more!

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        June 26, 2014 at 10:03 pm

        Hi Roxy, so glad you liked the recipe. Thanks for letting me know, and a big thanks to your husband for showing you the blog!:)

        Reply
    5. Merri-An Bastin

      June 22, 2014 at 9:31 pm

      Holy Cow Vaishali! Haven't been visiting lately and was so surprised by your new look pages. It looks FANtastic, and of course all your food is gorgeous. Congratulations!

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        June 23, 2014 at 11:10 am

        Hi Merri-An, thanks for the lovely message! You made my day. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    6. Kori

      June 22, 2014 at 7:54 pm

      I love love love Indian food! I'm so glad I found your blog and will definitely be making these soon ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        June 23, 2014 at 11:10 am

        Thanks, Kori, and welcome to Holy Cow! Hope you will try the pies!

        Reply
    7. Farah @ The Cooking Jar

      June 21, 2014 at 9:26 pm

      5 stars
      Love it! Reminds me so much of samosas with the flakiness of phyllo ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        June 23, 2014 at 11:14 am

        Thanks,Farah, they are kinda like samosas. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    8. Sarojini

      June 20, 2014 at 2:44 am

      Wow! I will certainly try my hand at these... perfect for hubby's lunchbox, and protein calculated as well- thanks so much ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        June 20, 2014 at 10:22 pm

        Thanks, Sarojini, hope you try 'em!

        Reply
    9. Miss Messy

      June 19, 2014 at 6:21 pm

      I'm oh so glad I found you on reddit! I want to make so many of your recipes. My mouth it watering at these. Such a great idea.

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        June 20, 2014 at 10:23 pm

        Welcome, Miss Messy. Glad you found me! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    10. Pallavi Kulkarni

      June 19, 2014 at 11:09 am

      Oh I can imagine how u must've waited for lunch time! Those parcels look so so good.
      These can be versatile! any dry-ish filling will work here. mmm-mm-mmm!
      I used to be scared of handling phyllo sheets, they are so delicate, and had this thing in my mind, if I tear it (which is inevitable) I have to trash that sheet. I stayed away for a while because of these silly ideas ๐Ÿ˜‰
      I'm glad I have overcome those silly notions.

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        June 20, 2014 at 10:24 pm

        Hi Pallavi, I used to be intimidated by phyllo too-- it's so delicate, it's only natural to be a little afraid. And yes, any dryish filling would work!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me โ†’

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    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me โ†’

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