Party Wreath

Step 1

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Boil the potato halves until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Step 2

In a food processor, grind the ginger and serrano chiles until very fine, then add the peas and grind just a little, to get a coarse mash. Tip the pea mixture into a large bowl.

Step 3

In a small pan over medium, heat the oil and add 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, the fennel and cumin, and toast until light golden, about 1 minute. Pour into the bowl with the peas. Add the mint, garam masala and potato, and mix well, breaking up the potato. Season to taste with salt and lemon juice.

Step 4

Working on a lightly floured sheet of parchment paper, cut the puff pastry lengthwise into two equal rectangles, and roll gently with a floured pin to flatten creases. Use your hands to squash half the pea mixture into an even snake of filling down one pastry rectangle, from one end to the other, then roll the pastry lengthwise around it to seal it into a tube, cutting off any overlapping dough and pinching the seam tightly to close. Repeat with the other pastry, then transfer the parchment to a sheet pan.

Step 5

Join the two tubes in a circle, seam sides down. Use a knife to make cuts at an angle every ¾ inch or so, going all the way through the filling but leaving a bit of pastry still connected in the innermost circle. Pinch and turn each segment to slightly point the filling upward, opening the pieces like petals. Brush the dough tops lightly with milk and sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon sesame seeds.

Step 6

Bake for 45 minutes, or until the pastry is completely cooked through and golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature, with green chutney, tamarind chutney or Maggi ketchup.