Ellie Alexander’s latest book in her Bakeshop Mystery series set in Ashland, OR sees pastry chef Jules’ growing extended family come to visit from Spain. Meanwhile a murder on the ski slopes threatens to upend everything in A Smoking Bun.

Review | A Smoking Bun

I’ve read some of the books in Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop Mysteries, but I certainly haven’t read them all. A Smoking Bun is book 18, which is quite impressive! Typically I comment on whether a cozy mystery can be read as a standalone, and technically this one could (the mystery is solved within the book). However, I think reading this in the context of the series matters more in this case than some others, as we see Jules dealing with a lot of life challenges outside the mystery that will have a greater impact if you’ve experienced at least some of her character arc across the series.

“They say you should embrace the seasons of life […] Beauty was literally all around me. My problem was more about centering on the moment. Being fully present and not spiraling into imagined worries and plans for my future.”

The book opens with Jules struggling to relax and enjoy life. Readers of the series will know that Jules is a great character, but she is a heavy character for a cozy mystery series. This isn’t the first book where the narrative is weighted down with her current issues (which is partly why so many love the series and it’s authenticity). This is a book where we see Jules tackling grief, anxiety, and reflecting on her journey of self-growth. Carlos has moved to Ashland, OR to be with Jules and his son Ramiro has been staying with them for the past six months. Ramiro’s family is coming to visit, and Jules is a bundle of stress (not only because of this).

Carlos and Jules have a checkered past in the series. I haven’t read every book and it seems that they are in one of the better places they have been the entire series in A Smoking Bun, but I can’t shake my dislike of him from some of his past behavior. Jules doesn’t seem to be having the same problem! In fact, I think she is most stressed that things seem to be going so well and this may mean they are ready for the next step—having their own children. More about that topic if you read the book!

Jules is not the only person in this book dealing with grief and anxiety. She and another character bond over baking as a healing activity (this is actually a theme that has come up before in the series). That part of this story I found quite lovely. Jules has a big heart and she puts a lot of love into her baking.

If you are wondering why I haven’t touched on the mystery yet, it’s because the mystery really felt secondary to everything else going on for the first half! The second half picks up pace as the investigation goes on and we learn more about the suspects and their backgrounds and motivations. The conclusion to the mystery does have a satisfying twist to it, and a few heart-pounding scenes to balance the heavier ones.

As always with this series, I love to read about the food. Ellie Alexander has a talent for descriptive language. Towards the beginning, Jules and her team are making these beautiful stuffed buns with chickpeas and curried flavors that had my mouth watering reading it. I also love to read about Carlos's food--Carlos is a chef (that's how they met) and he also expresses love through food. This was the part of Carlos that won me back over!

I think A Smoking Bun is truly a gift for the longtime readers of this series. Jules has a growth arc during the events of this book that are setting her up to be in a much different place in the next book in the series. I also think if you’ve grown to care about Jules as a character and seen her ups and downs over the previous seventeen books, this story will hold a special place in your heart as it feels like her truly processing and releasing a lot of what is holding her down. By the end of the book, it feels like Jules is embarking on a new chapter with a much lighter spirit in mind. A lot of credit goes to Ramiro’s mother, Sophia. I actually thought the scene between her and Jules at the wine tasting was the best of the book, though it had nothing to do with the mystery.

The mystery itself is good. It almost felt like a mini mystery happening intertwined with everything else going on in Jules’ life. Reflecting, I’m glad the author gave the space it did to Jules’ struggles. I think this was needed for the series to be able to move on from it, and I have faith it will. I think it may also resonate with readers who have experienced blended or nontraditional families, as well as readers who have experience with periods of grief and anxiety over the future. Alexander is a talented writer and lends a lot of depth and authenticity to Jules’ story.

Thank you to St Martins Press for my copy. Opinions are my own.

With family visiting from Spain, Jules is very excited to explore Mount A with them and introduce them to the wonderful lodge that accompanies it. There is even a Downhill Dummy competition that promises lots of entertainment-until it ends in a fatality.

I really enjoy this cozy mystery series, and this entry was no exception. Jules is a fantastic main character and amateur detective, and her relationships with the great supporting characters ring true and are lots of fun. The mystery was a good one with a big twist, and I definitely didn’t guess the ending. I would recommend this book, and this series.

Ellie Alexander is such a solid choice when it comes to cozy mysteries! I have really enjoyed many of her cozy mystery books and while they are not historical cozies, I love all the food and charm of Ashland Oregon in the Bakeshop Mysteries! Not to mention I know Ashland well and I love how Alexander brings the town to life! That is one of the reasons I always come back to her books…..she writes with such authenticity of the region and being an Oregonian myself, I love seeing our state highlighted to such perfection!

The Bakeshop Mysteries has been a series that I have jumped around in over the years. I mean at this point there are 18 books and I started in about book 8 and since then continue to jump around as my schedule allows. The books overall are great and while I am sure I am not getting the full experience by jumping around (I mean come on we are on 18 books there has to be nuances that I am missing!) but I always manage to feel orientated within the book and not completely lost.

If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, no doubt Ellie Alexander is on your radar! If for no other reason than the charming book titles, cute covers and amazing food descriptions! Come for the food and stay for the mystery is kind of what I think of when I think of Ellie Alexander!

Summary

Another delicious installment in the Bakeshop Series set in Ashland, OR!

The mountains are calling in Ashland, Oregon, where pastry chef turned amateur sleuth, Jules Capshaw, is baking up a bevy of spiced curry buns and chai cookies for a moonlit snowshoe tour. Ramiro’s family is visiting from Spain and Jules can’t wait to take them up to her beloved Mount A with its charming and rustic lodge, backcountry trails, and star-filled skies that stretch for miles. Their winter wonderland adventure is nothing short of magical and the merry party opts to return to the slope the next day for the Downhill Dummy.

The annual competition is a favorite amongst snow lovers. Contestants strap makeshift dummies to skis and send them hurling down a death-defying ski jump in hopes of catching big air. The team at Torte is in the mix this year with their own replica of a tiered cake and a baker who closely resembles their fearless leader. It’s a fun and festive atmosphere as dummies sail past the crowd to huge cheers and applause. Until one of the dummies takes a deadly detour and lands atop Fitz Baskin.

Fitz is a guide on the mountain and his icy dealings have made for frosty relationships with everyone he encounters. Suddenly there are more suspects than snowdrifts as Jules dives into the investigation. She unearths a web of secrets and motives that threaten to shake the rustic mountain lodge to its core. Can she catch the killer before they strike again, or will the truth be buried forever under fluffy layers of fresh snow? (summary from Goodreads)

Review

While I always manage to right myself within the story and characters thanks to Alexander’s writing ability, in this one I had to think back to when the last time I read one of her books in this series was! I eventually did go back to look and sure enough it was like book 12 that I read last! I was like wait some stuff has clearly happened since I read one of these books! While I didn’t feel completely lost, I did notice some things had changed since I visited this town and these characters! But for the most part I didn’t think that this really impacted the overall enjoyment of the book, just that I noticed that some characters were new and some larger plot points had changed. If anything I made me want to go back and pick up the other books in the series and catch up with old friends as it were!

As usual I found an enjoyable cast of characters, great food descriptions, and a charming town and a mystery that kept my guessing most of the book! I mean what more could I ask for really? Something that was not necessarily fluffy but not as intense as a full on thriller was exactly what I needed right now! I loved all the secrets that came to light from the murder mystery and I found the whole book overall very enjoyable. The mystery kept my engaged and reading until the end, and Jules is such a likable main character that readers will not find it hard to connect with her and solve crimes with her! Returning to this world is like coming home, I mean I live in Oregon and can attest to the charm of Ashland but even if I didn’t live here I would feel the cozy, home-i-ness feel of Ashland on every page! The town is so well represented and charming!

One thing I did wish this book had was the recipe for the chai cookies! They could so good and I love anything with chai in it! This book gave me a serious sweet tooth! I found myself craving cookies and all other kinds of delicious sweets while I was reading! Alas I only had Oreo cookies to tide me over! Overall this is an outstanding series and a well known one within the cozy mystery world! It has great characters, a charming town, and all the good eats one could ask for! I do want to read the series from beginning to end as I think I would understand the character back stories better but I still think new fans of this series will be able to jump in an become familiar with the charming town of Ashland and a standout sleuth in Jules!

Book Info and Rating

Format 336 pages, ebook

Published February 20, 2024 by St. Martin’s Paperbacks

ISBN 9781250854438 (ISBN10: 1250854431)

Free review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 4 stars

Genre: cozy mystery

Ellie Alexander writes the kind of traditional mysteries that lead readers to want to pick up her latest books. That is the case with this cleverly title latest by the author.

This winter set mystery again features baker Jules. She has people visiting from Spain and is eager to show them a favorite spot and traditional contest that involves dummies on skis except…

There are many suspects in this story. Readers will enjoy the setting, the characters and the story. They will wait for the author’s nineteenth entry in the long running series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Once again, it is with great delight that we return to Ashland for the eighteenth installment of the Bakeshop Mystery series. In this book, Ramiro's family from Spain is visiting. They have plans to enjoy what winter has to offer. However, somthing goes wrong during a local contest and Juliet investigates. As usual, the Torte crew is fun and the food described will make you hungry. I just wish Torte were a real place sometimes! Great book, don't miss it!

The Smoking Bun was a fun cozy mystery. The small ski town setting is delightful. The holidays and descriptions of the events and decorations in the town are charming. The bakery is fabulous. The mystery of the murder is intriguing. So many red herrings and a thrilling surprise ending that I didn’t see coming.

I have posted this review on Amazon, Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6248680767

And Instagram

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bookscoffeebrews Book Review: A Smoking Bun. A
bake Shoppe Mystery #18
Stars: 4 X 5
Author: Ellie Alexander @ellie_alexander
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperback. @stmartinspress
Thank you @netgalley for this ARC

This is book 18 of our trip to Ashland Oregan and The
Torte Bakeshop.
Jule's in-laws are visiting from Spain. Juliet plans a trip
for them, a guided snow shoe excursion at a loca ski
area. Hero is there guide and all is going well until the
get interrupted by another very rude guide. The other
guide and his patrons end up getting into "trouble" off
trail. Juliet's group ends up helping them and calling
911. Juliet has a second activity planned for the next
day. This is a yearly activity of a down hill race where
"dummies" are sent to see who has the best wipeout.
Fitz, who was the rude guide, is dead as he was
impaled by one of the dummies. The police determine
this was just and accident but the owner of the resort
does not. The owner then ask Juliet an "amateur"
investigator to find out who the killer is. Will Jule's
find the murder all while entertaining her in-laws?

Once again Ellie Alexander does a fantastic job with
this lovely cozy mystery series.
I am love this series and I hope everyone else does

This was a quick and exciting read! Jules Capshaw owns a bakery in a small town. When her stepson’s parents come to visit from Spain, she takes time off to play hostess and get to know the family. However during a winter event on the mountain, someone is killed. At first it seems like a tragic accident, but soon it becomes clear that the person was murdered!

Jules finds herself working on the case, but will she find the killer before they find her?

I really enjoyed this book. I hadn’t read other books in this series, so at first it was hard to figure out who some of the people were. However, the plot moved quickly and had a lot of twists to keep me guessing until the very end! I plan to read more of this series as the characters were likable and well-developed.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book!

Things get off to a pretty quick start – almost straight away we’re introduced to at least three suspects that would have wanted Fitz dead – and to be honest, Fitz does not come across as a very sympathetic character and it might be faster to list the people who didn’t want to do him harm. The mystery zipped along and there are so many suspicious characters and actions that I couldn’t put my finger onto the right suspect until very late in the game, and still, there were some twists at the last minute to make me doubt my choice of suspect.

While there were lots of new characters introduced, it was fairly easy to keep track of everyone as they all had distinct personalities and jobs – I was surprised how easy it was to get used to all the new characters, especially considering the supporting cast in the Bakeshop series is quite large.

There was also a lot more focus on Mount Ashland and the lodge rather than Torte and the town itself, which was a nice change of pace.

One of things about a good long-running cozy mystery series is that the regular characters become so familiar, but continue to grow and develop – just like real friends. The family and friends that Jules has surrounded herself with are all well-written, unique personalities. Sometimes they don’t feature as heavily in a story – there wasn’t much from Thomas or Kerry in this one – but they’re there and other characters take a more central role. My favourite continues to be Lance, who seems to be even more enthusiastic as a sleuth than Jules, but almost all the regulars have their endearing qualities.

And while each book in the Bakeshop series can be read as standalones, they’re so much more enjoyable when read in order as you see the characters grow evolve. Part of me feels like there are some changes ahead – there have been hints in the last couple of books – but I hope that those changes will feel just as organic as changes in real life do.

A Smoking Bun is definitely the perfect mystery to read during the winter months as it had lots of snowy outdoor activities and warm drinks and snacks to keep things cozy. And as usual, by the end of this book I was already anticipating the next one.

*** Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Paperbacks, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

It’s the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day and Jules’s stepson Ramiro’s family is in from Spain. Jules has scheduled a busy, exciting time snowshoeing, skiing, and getting to know the woman she has been co-parenting with. It is a great time until everything goes wrong at the Downhill Dummy Event. Then Jules is off to solve a murder. This was a fun book with the joint family activities. Solving the murder is like solving a complex maze. I truly enjoyed this book.

This book was lovely to read. The bakery setting, the descriptions of the snow-covered mountains and the food, it made me feel as if I was there inside the story.

I especially enjoyed the relationships between the adult characters. It is not often that I read about divorced and remarried people getting along, but this author did an amazing job portraying the mature relationships between the main family.

This series has lost some of its sparkle. Too much concern over which staff members are in relationships and which one might be moving on. I’d much rather see recipes at the back of the book than all the descriptions of the baking process. As for the mystery, the solution came from left field. Hope the author gets back on track.

A Smoking Bun by Ellie Alexander
Posted on February 19, 2024 by Carol Early Cooney

Dear Fellow Readers,

Do you use your local library very much? I will admit that there were times in my life when I didn’t. I don’t think that I appreciated everything that libraries can do for a community. When I moved eight years ago, one of the first places that I headed was the local library. They had a book group that met one time a month in the afternoon and I decided that I should try it. (By the way, I decided that for anything thing new I tried I needed to go to at least three meetings to decide if the activity was right for me. An arbitrary decision but it worked out to be a good choice.)

The first meeting that I went to was to discuss Alice Hoffman’s A Marriage of Opposites. It was a great book with lots of different things to talk about. Apparently, I was not the only one who enjoyed the book. The meeting was very well attended and there was lots of discussion. I won’t go into it now but there are comments from that discussion that I can still remember, mostly because they were so amazing. I told everyone about the things that went on in that meeting. I couldn’t wait to go back. Now, there have not been any sessions to rival that one since, but I always enjoy going. One of the other regular attendees and I have only agreed on two books in the last 3 or 4 years. And our agreement was that we felt neutral about those two books. It always makes for a good session when there are varied opinions about a book.


Today’s book is A Smoking Bun by Ellie Alexander. The book’s publication date is tomorrow. The book takes place in Ashland, Oregan, the home of Jules Capshaw, who is a baker who owns Torte, the local bakery. The town is home to Mount A, which is home to a ski resort. The book revolves around the murder of Fritz who had been annoying the ski patrol, the resort owner, and just about anyone who encountered him. He seemed to be a know-it-all who didn’t care or listen to rules. His body was discovered during the “Downhill Dummy” event, a special event that the whole town and many visitors attend. The ski resort owner was quick to point out someone she thought was the murderer and the police and ski patrol captured him.

But was he really the murderer? What was Fritz doing on the mountain? With Jules busy because her husband’s family from Spain was visiting, she didn’t think she had time to look for a killer, but she couldn’t keep away from it. Besides, when the police chief is dating your mother, you might be able to get some insights.

It seems that this is book 19 in the series of books subtitled, A Bakeshop Mystery. I had no idea. I did think when reading the book that it was not the first in the series (because so much was mentioned of things from the past.) I would never have dreamed it was the 19th. I think it can be read without the others in the series but it was obvious there were some things from the past that I didn’t know.

Because I was given the book to give an honest review, I would pass on this book. I did finish it, so it wasn’t awful, but I found all of the descriptions long. The bakery had a lot of employees and they each did different things, and I just didn’t care that much. It didn’t add to the story. It seemed that there was a lot of extraneous information.

Having said that, I might try the first book and see if it is better. It could be that #19 was just a dog in the series. The first book is Meet Your Baker.

Thanks for reading!

I have enjoyed pretty much every book in this series and this was no exception. The mountains have long been a background of this series and skiing is frequently mentioned as Jules' long time barista is a big fan of snowboarding. However, this is the first book where the ski resort has really been front and center in the mystery. In fact, Jules and family come into contact with the victim when on a nighttime snowshoeing tour.

The victim is not a likable guy. Instead, its kind of amazing that he managed to survive long enough to get offed fairly early in the book. I enjoyed following along for the investigation with Jules and spending time with the usual Torte crew as well as Lance and the other Ashland residents. As well, I enjoyed spending more time with Ramiro and his family.

While you can easily jump into this series at any point it is best read in order as the relationships of the characters is very important. As well, this series has the cozy mystery tendency to have a lot of side stuff going on. We see Jules bake, spend time with Ramiro's family, spend time at Torte and go on adventures through Ashland. While this is an absolute delight to long-time readers I imagine it could be a bit tedious if you are coming into the series part way through.

This was a fun read in a thoroughly enjoyable series. I was pulled into the book from the first page to the end and this is proving to be a series that never disappoints.

Wonderful series that just gets better. The characters have really developed and I like to read what they are all doing. Highly recommend this series!

A Smoking Bun is the 18th book in Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop Mystery series and volume number four in my personal library. Readers can easily jump into the series here or enjoy this book as a standalone. In A Smoking Bun, we see another feature of the Ashland, Oregon setting – the mountains and related winter activities like snowshoeing and skiing. Jules Capshaw was excited to welcome her stepson Ramiro’s family for a visit from their native Spain.

Jules is distracted from the fun, first by shenanigans from Fitz, an arrogant mountain guide who leads his group astray, then by a fatality on the ski jump during what was supposed to be a lighthearted competition. Of course, Jules takes on the challenge of finding the killer with her sidekick Lance. A Smoking Bun is a lot of fun for fans of cozy mysteries or just good stories.

I received this Advanced Reader Copy of A Smoking Bun from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 18th book in the Bakeshop Mystery series. Jules Capshaw is taking some time-off from the day-to-day management of the family bakery in Ashland, Oregon. Her stepson's family is visiting from Spain and Jules has several fun activities planned, including a moonlight mountain top snowshoe trip. The beauty of the night is dimmed when an obnoxious skier leads an unauthorized ski tour requiring an emergency rescue. When that skier is killed at a community event on the ski slopes the next day, there are many suspects and possible motives, including the best friend of one of Jules' employees.

Jules and her best friend, Lance, are on the case and their scenes are so entertaining and always have me wishing for more. Since Jules is on vacation, there are some nice scenes with her, Carlos, and her family enjoying the sights of Ashland, but not as many of her and her team at the bakery. There are many scenes that foodies will appreciate with Jules putting together different desserts. I was surprised by the solution to the crime and a few things mentioned at the end of the book already have me anticipating the next book!

I received an advance copy of this ebook from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

A Smoking Bun is the is the eighteenth Bakeshop cozy mystery by prolific author Ellie Alexander. Due out 20th Feb 2024 from Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 320 pages and will be available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This installment sees the crew at Torte heading into the mountains for snowshoe tours and a local fun ski event, "downhill dummy" with effigies strapped to skis and sent flying downhill. It's all fun and games until a local non-lamented mountain guide get squished by one of the flying dummies. Who killed Fitz Baskin? Jules and co. are soon unearthing clues and motives alongside baking and pastry making.

The plotting, characterization, and dialogue are representative of the genre; lighthearted, somewhat over-the-top, and used to move the narrative along. It's not a realistic procedural. There's no gritty unpleasantness, no brutality (even the violence is mostly off-scene), no blatant sexual aspects, and the language is squeaky clean and used appropriately. Although this is the 18th book in the series, it works fine as a standalone.

For fans of the genre, it's a well written and very pleasant diversion. For readers who enjoy this Bakeshop series, I can heartily recommend the author's Sloan Krause brewing mysteries. She has either a truly impressive grasp of baking, brewing, and coffee culture or she's got experts on tap to consult for her background research. Lots of "foodie" fun to be found in both series. With so many books, it's a great candidate for a binge / buddy read, or possibly for a mystery book club long-term project.

Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This was a wild case and I always love it when Jules and Lance go sleuthing together. If anything, he’s probably the best dressed sleuth around, lol. He’s not all show and stage though since sometimes he did have some valuable intel to share or ideas to sleuth out.

I wasn’t ever really sure until the actual reveal of whodunit and there were some great scenes working up to that. I loved the final scene with everyone who loved the ski lodge gathered together for food and fellowship. It’ll be interesting to see what happens next in Ashland!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin's Paperbacks via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Jules Montague, proprietor of Torte bakery and several other small businesses in her hometown of Ashland, Oregon, is nervous. Her stepson Ramiro has been living with her and her husband Carlos for the better part of the school year so far, and his mother Sophia is about to travel over from Spain with the rest of her family to come visit. While Juliet and Sophia did not have the best relationship to begin with, they’ve come to appreciate each other as positive figures in Ramiro’s life, and have slowly become both penpals and friends.

As such, she wants to make sure to show Sophia and her family a really nice time while they’re in Ashland. Having scheduled the visit to coincide with Ramiro’s winter break, she and Carlos are intent on filling the holiday with pleasant activities for the whole family. The first of these is a Starlight Snowshoe Trip on local ski hill Mount A.

While their guide, Hero, is professional and competent, their trip is marred by the antics of another guide, Fitz Baskin. Hero is forced to cut short their expedition in order to rescue Fitz, leading to a scene later back at the lodge. Fortunately, Sophia and her family seem unbothered by the interruption. Regardless, Jules is determined to make sure that the next item on their itinerary is a success. The Downhill Dummy event has all manner of local groups building thematic dummies to launch down a ski slope, with the winner being the dummy with the most spectacular crash. Torte will finally be entering this year, as will Ramiro’s soccer team.

At first, things go according to plan, but when one of the dummies suddenly spins out of control, the very worst happens. A bystander is caught underneath it and crushed to death. Everyone is appalled, but Jules’ amateur sleuth senses begin to tingle when she discovers that the victim is Fitz. When the lodge owner accuses an employee of Fitz’s murder, Jules knows she’s going to have to get involved if she has any hope of salvaging this vacation for her extended family.

I love the care and compassion Ellie Alexander puts into the depiction of a blended family that not only needs to overcome emotional history but also the stresses of far-flung geography. Jules and Sophia’s commitment to doing what’s best for Ramiro should be a model for all parents. The mystery here, too, was nicely done, with twists I did not see coming but was wholly absorbed in reading.

There were seven food and drink recipes for items deliciously described in the novel, and I decided to try out this one:

QUOTE
Chicken and Chickpea Buns

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup finely chopped onions
1⁄2 cup finely chopped carrots
1⁄2 cup finely chopped celery
1 large bunch chopped cilantro (stalks and leaves)
3 cloves of chopped garlic
1 lb ground chicken (or substitute with canned chickpeas for a vegetarian option)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11⁄2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ginger paste or finely grated ginger
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper
Prepared bread dough (you can use Torte’s bun recipe or store-bought dough)
Black sesame seeds
1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

Directions:
Preheat your oven to the temperature recommended for your dough (usually around 350-375°F or 180-190°C).

Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onions, carrots, celery, cilantro, and garlic. Sauté until they soften and the onions turn translucent, about 10 minutes. If using ground chicken, add it to the pan with the sautéed vegetables. Cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until it’s no longer pink and cooked through. If using chickpeas, add them to the pan and cook for a few minutes until heated through. Stir in the tomato paste, turmeric, smoked paprika, chili powder, ginger, ground coriander, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Cook for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. Remove from heat and let the filling cool.

While the mixture is cooling, roll out your dough on a floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cut the dough into circles using a round cutter or the mouth of a glass.

Place a spoonful (about 2-3 tablespoons) of the chicken and chickpea mixture in the center of each dough circle. Fold the dough over to create a half-moon shape and pinch the edges to seal the bun. Place the filled buns upside down on a parchment-lined baking tray. Brush the tops of the buns with the beaten egg for a shiny finish. Sprinkle each bun with black sesame seeds for added flavor and texture.

Bake the buns in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
END QUOTE

I had trouble finding regular prepared bread dough in my area so decided to use pizza dough, which was an absolutely genius substitution if I do say so myself! Using pizza dough here makes for a pillowy soft savory treat with just a hint of tooth to the crust. Definitely follow the baking time and temperature for your dough regardless of what kind you choose. In my case, for example, I had to oil my pan instead of using parchment paper because the instructions that came with my pizza dough said to.

The filling is very tasty and, if you have extra once you’ve used up all your dough, goes perfectly on top of rice or pasta. Don’t be afraid of all the spices: they blend together really well! I’m still not capable of making good-looking buns (and shamefully forgot to sprinkle on the sesame seeds till after these came out of the oven) but they definitely made up for in taste what they lacked in appearance. The buns also reheat surprisingly well in the toaster oven at 350 degrees for about ten minutes, if you find yourself with a lot more of them than you can finish in one sitting. I will definitely be experimenting with this dish again.

Next week, we fold up some sweet treats while looking into a murder further south down the West Coast. Do join me!