Beefsteak Minced Pie Food

MINCED BEEF PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
• Heat the oil in a deep frying pan and fry the beef mince for 4-5 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it browns.
• Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes, then stir in the tomato purée and cook for 2-3 more minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for a further minute, then add the chopped mushrooms, the stout or beef stock and a couple of dashes of Worcestershire sauce. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover the pan with a lid and leave to simmer for 20 minutes. Set aside and leave to cool, then turn the meat mixture into a one litre pie dish.
• Roll out the pastry on a floured work surface until it is slightly larger than the pie dish. Gently drape the pastry over the dish, pressing firmly onto the edges. Trim, then shape the edges into a fluted shape.
• Cut some leaf shapes out of the pastry trimmings and decorate the top of the pie, sticking them to the pastry with the beaten egg yolk.
• Make three or four slits in the pastry to allow the steam to escape, then brush the pie with the rest of the beaten egg yolk and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until golden-brown.
• To serve, slice into wedges.

EASY STEAK PIE

Steps:

• To make the filling, heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Heat half the oil in a large casserole dish, brown the meat really well in batches, then set aside. Add the onions adding a drizzle more oil, then cook on a low heat for 5 mins until coloured.
• Scatter over the flour, stirring until the flour turns brown. Tip the meat and any juices back into the pan along with the ketchup and give it all a good stir. Pour over the stock, season, and bring to a simmer then cover with a lid and put in the oven for about 2 hrs, until the meat is tender. The filling can be made up to three days ahead and chilled or frozen for up to three months.
• To make the pie, heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Tip the filling into a 24-26cm rimmed pie dish and brush the rim of the dish with some yolk. Unravel the pastry, drape over the dish and use a knife to trim and press the edges against the side of the dish. Re-roll your trimmings to make a decoration if you like. Brush the pie heavily with egg yolk. Make a few little slits in the centre of the pie and bake for 40 mins until golden. Leave to stand for a few minutes before serving.

STEAK PIE - REALLY EASY RECIPE WITH PUFF PASTRY AND RICH GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat your oil in a large frying pan or saucepan and add the beef. Cook for about 5 - 10 minutes until just starting to turn brown.
• Add in the vegetables and cook for a further 5 minutes until they start to soften.
• Add the flour and stir through everything, cook for 5 minutes.
• Add the tomato puree, salt and pepper and stock. Pop the lid on and cook on a very low heat for about 2 hours or until the beef is very soft.
• NB: Keep an eye on the beef as it cooked, stir it well occassionally and if it looks like there is not enough liquid, don't be afraid to add a little more stock or water.
• Spoon into a pie dish and leave to cool for at least 30 minutes if you have time.
• Smooth the pastry over the top of the filling.
• Decorate the pie with cut out shapes if you feel that way inclined and brush with the beaten egg.
• When you are ready to bake the pie, preheat the oven to 220C and bake for about 30 minutes until the filling is hot throughout and the pastry is crisp and golden.

MINCEMEAT PIE

Steps:

• Place all of the ingredients except the crust into the bowl of a food processor and pulse 8 to 10 times. Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for at least 3 days before using. Can be stored for up to 6 months.
• If you prefer a finer texture of mincemeat place the apples, dried fruit and suet into a meat grinder with a large die and grind. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the remaining ingredients. You may also finely chop the apples, dried fruit and suet by hand.
• Place the flour, cornmeal, 1 1/2 ounces sugar and salt into a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Grate the cold butter on the large side of a box grater directly into the dry ingredients. Work together with your hands until the mixture is crumbly. Add the cider and water and stir with a spatula to combine. Knead the dough 5 to 6 times and spritz with additional water if the dough is dry. Shape into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Unwrap the dough and divide into 4 equal pieces. Place 2 pieces of the dough onto a piece of parchment paper and roll each out into a 1/8-inch thick round that is 6 to 8 inches in diameter. Spoon about 1/2 cup of the mincemeat into the center of each round, fold up the edges of the dough in order to form a crust all the way around. Brush the edges of the crust with egg wash and sprinkle lightly with sugar. Transfer the dough on the parchment to a half sheet pan. Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• If you prefer 1 large pie, roll out the dough on a piece of parchment into a 15 to 16-inch round, about 1/4 to 1/8-inch thick. Trim the edges with a pizza cutter. Carefully slide the rolled out dough, still on the parchment paper, onto an upside down half sheet pan. Spoon about 1 1/2 pounds of the mincemeat onto the center of the dough, leaving a 2 to 3-inch margin around the edge of the crust. Place in the oven and bake for 35 minutes or until the crust is golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 30 to 45 minutes before serving.

STEAK HAND PIE

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, combine the beef, flour and paprika. Stir to combine. Add the thyme, garlic, potato, onion and some salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
• Divide one portion of the chilled Part-Butter/Part-Shortening Easy Pie Dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece of dough into a round about 3 inches in diameter. You can use a 3-inch round cookie cutter to cut each round and even the edges if you desire. Repeat with the second piece of chilled dough.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Brush each round of dough with the egg wash. Divide the filling among the rounds, piling it in the middle of each round. Bring the sides of the dough up to meet the middle and gently crimp the edges down in the center. Cut 3 small slits into each hand pie to allow steam to escape. Brush the top of the pies with egg wash.
• Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before serving.
• In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment, pulse together the flour, sugar, salt, butter and shortening until the mixture resembles cornmeal but there are still pea-sized chunks of fat.
• In a small bowl, stir together the ice water and lemon juice. Slowly add the liquid to the flour mixture, pulsing, until the dough just comes together. Squeeze a small piece of dough between your thumb and index finger to make sure it holds its shape.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide it in half. Gently turn over each piece of dough a few times so that any dry bits are incorporated. Form each piece into a loose disk, cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.

MINCED BEEF PIE & MINTY MUSHY PEAS

Steps:

• Fry the onion, carrots and celery in the oil in a large frying pan until softened. Add the mince, increase heat and cook for 5 mins or until well browned. Stir in the tomato purée, Worcestershire sauce and stock. Simmer for 5 mins until the sauce has thickened slightly. Cool for 10 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Spoon the mixture into 4 individual pie dishes or one large dish. Brush the dish rims with egg, then lay the pastry on top and trim. Seal edges with a fork and brush the pastry with more egg. Poke a little hole in the top and cook for 25-30 mins or until the pastry is golden and risen.
• Meanwhile, cook the peas in boiling water, then drain and mash with the mint sauce. Serve the pies with the hot peas on the side.

PROPER BEEF, ALE & MUSHROOM PIE

Steps:

• If you're using the porcini mushrooms, cover 10g of mushrooms in boiling water for 20 mins, then squeeze out but keep the soaking water.
• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large casserole dish, brown 1kg large chunks of braising steak really well in batches, then set aside.
• Add 2 large onions, roughly chopped, and 4 large carrots, chopped into large chunks, to the pan. Add a drizzle more vegetable oil, then cook on a low heat for 5 mins until coloured.
• Add the soaked porcini mushrooms, sizzle for 1 min more, then scatter over 2 tsp golden caster sugar and 4 tbsp plain flour, stirring until the flour turns brown.
• Tip the braising steak and any juices back into the pan and give it all a good stir.
• Pour over 300ml dark ale, 2 beef stock cubes mixed with 400ml boiling water and the porcini mushroom soaking liquid, discarding the last few drops.
• Season the stew, tuck in a small tied-together bunch of thyme, bay leaf and parsley, and bring everything to a simmer.
• Cover with a lid and place in the oven for about 2 hrs, until the braising steak is really tender.
• While the stew is cooking, heat a drop more vegetable oil in a frying pan and sizzle 200g smoked bacon lardons for 3 mins until crisp.
• Turn up the heat, add 200g halved chestnut mushrooms and cook for 4 mins until golden. Remove from the heat and, when the stew is cooked, stir them through.
• Leave everything to cool completely - better still, make this up to 2 days in advance and keep it in the fridge as the pie will be better if the filling is fridge-cold when added. Can also be frozen for up to 3 months and defrosted when needed.
• Make the pastry up to 2 days before you want to assemble the pie. Crumble 650g plain flour and 250g cold diced lard or butter, together with a generous pinch of sea salt until completely combined, then add up to 200ml ice-cold water to make a soft dough. This can be done in a food processor if you want.
• Knead the pastry, then wrap in cling film and leave to rest in the fridge for at least 1 hr. The pastry can be made up to 2 days ahead and kept in the fridge or frozen for up to a month.
• When you want to make the pie, heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 and place a flat baking tray in the oven. Heavily grease a 24-28cm pie dish and dust well with flour.
• Cut a third off the pastry and set aside. Roll out the pastry to a thickish round that will easily line the pie dish with an overhang, then line the tin.
• Add the braising steak to the dish using a slotted spoon so some gravy is left in the container, as you don't want too much sauce in the pie. You want the filling to be slightly higher than the rim of the dish. If you have a bit too much, set it aside.
• Roll out the remaining pastry to a thick round big enough to cover the dish. Brush the edges of the pastry in the dish with 1 beaten egg yolk, then cover with the pastry lid.
• Trim the edges, crimp the pastry, then re-roll your trimmings to make a decoration, for example, pastry leaves. Brush the top heavily with egg. Make a few little slits in the centre of the pie, place on the hot baking tray.
• Bake for 40 mins until golden. Leave the pie to rest for 10 mins while you heat up the gravy left in the container. Serve the pie at the table with a jug of gravy and a big pile of greens.

BEEFSTEAK MINCED PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• To make crust, combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Add butter, and with a pastry cutter or two forks, cut butter into flour until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Add ice water spoon by spoon, mixing between additions, only until the dough holds together. Remove from bowl, cut in half and cover one piece with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• On a lightly floured board, roll the other half into a circle large enough to fit a 9-inch deep-dish pan. Place the dough in pan, line with foil and weigh down with beans to keep crust from puffing up. Bake until light golden brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven, remove beans and set aside. Keep oven on.
• To make filling, brown shallots and garlic in butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add raisins, apples, lemon and orange zest, and cook 3 minutes. Add cinnamon, mace, cloves and sherry. Bring to boil. Add sugar, stir well, cook 5 minutes and set aside.
• Remove the refrigerated pie dough and allow it to soften. Dredge beef in the flour, then set it aside on wax paper. Reserve any remaining flour to thicken gravy, if necessary.
• Melt the lard in a large skillet. When hot, brown the beef. Add the onions and cook over medium heat until they are slightly golden. Add the thyme, broth and the reserved fruit mixture and simmer for 7 minutes, or until the mixture begins to thicken. Add two tablespoons flour if the gravy is too thin. Remove from heat.
• Spoon mixture into baked pie shell. Roll out remaining dough and cut into strips 9 by 1 1/2 inches. Cover pie in a lattice pattern. Bake 35 minutes, or until top is golden.