Stephanie Chen is infusing an Asian accent to her "Beef Curry Chinese Hand Pies" that will be stuffed with soy-spiked beef curry for that signature flavor. The key ingredient is definitely the spices of the curry powder. She describes this dish as "something you would see in a "Chinese Dim Sum."  She is banking on her pastries surviving the threat of being over cooked. The preparations for this dish does require a high level of astuteness and precision. The judges can tell that she is nervous and when they ask she confirms that she is concerned about the allowance of time. Tune into the full episode of "Finals Week" from The Great American Baking Show Season 2 Episode 8 and watch how she rises to the occasion. 

INGREDIENTS:

All Butter Dough: 

• 2 1/2 cups (315g) of all-purpose King Arthur flour 

• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar 

• 2 teaspoons table salt 

• 1 cup of butter (225g) very cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes 

• 3/4 cup of water of ice water (watch as you add it) 

Curry Beef Filling: 

• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil 

• 1/4 yellow onion, finely cut 

• 1/2 lb of lean ground beef (90% lean, 10% fat) 

• 3 tablespoons curry powder 

• 4 tablespoons of reduced sodium soy sauce (to taste) 

• 3 teaspoons kosher salt (to taste) 

• ½ teaspoon garlic granules

Other ingredients item: 

• 3 tablespoons of milk (to seal the dough) 

• 1 tablespoon of toasted white sesame seeds 

• Egg Wash (1 egg, 1 egg yolk + 1 tablespoon of milk) 

• Extra flour for dusting/rolling 

METHOD: 

Butter Crust:

1. Fill a measuring 1 cup with water and drop ice cubs into it and set aside. Put butter into freezer. 

2. Place 2 ½ cups flour, 1 teaspoon sugar, 2 teaspoons of salt into food processor and pulse to incorporate. Remove butter from freezer, cut into cubes and add into processor. 

3. Pulse to cut the butter until mostly are sizes of peas. Start drizzling ice-cold water into the mixture slowly. Use a rubber spatula to gather the dough together. Keep mixing and may need ¼ cup more water. 

4. Once you have large clumps and the dough can be pushed together with your hands, gather and knead the dough together into one large disc. Divide dough in half, shape them both into a disc then wrap with plastic wrap. Place into the freezer to chill quickly. 

Beef Curry Filling: 

1. In a large frying pan, heat vegetable oil and sauté the onions with 1 tablespoon of curry powder until the onions become translucent. 

2. Add the beef, soy sauce and remaining curry powder. Cook until the beef is brown and then add salt to taste. Add MORE salt or soy sauce to ensure mixture is salty enough.

Assembling / Baking BEEF CURRY PIES: 

1. Preheat oven to 450°F / 232°C. Line a couple baking sheets with parchment paper. When dough is chilled, set it on a floured workspace and roll the dough out to 1/8 inch thickness. If kitchen is too hot, roll to ¼ inch thickness and place back in the freezer/fridge while you continue to cut others. 

2. Cut out 3-inch circles with template. Place 1-2 tablespoons of beef filling on each circle of dough and fold the dough over (in half) to a semi-circle after applying a little milk on the edges.  

3. Pinch the edges together with a fork.  

4. Brush the tops with egg wash then sprinkle with white sesame seeds. Bake for 15 minutes until pastry turns golden brown.