Italian Canadian Meat Pie Food

TOURTIERE (FRENCH CANADIAN MEAT PIE)

Steps:

• Place flour, salt, and frozen butter slices into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse on and off until butter is about the size of peas, about 30 seconds. Stir vinegar into cold water; drizzle water/vinegar into the flour mixture. Pulse on and off until mixture is crumbly and holds together when you pinch a piece off, about 10 seconds. If dough isn't pressing together, drizzle in another teaspoon of water.
• Transfer mixture to a work surface. Press it together until it becomes a lump of dough. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour.
• Mix salt, pepper, thyme, sage, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, mustard, clove, and cayenne together in a small bowl.
• Place potato quarters in a saucepan; cover with cold water. Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat. Simmer until cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. Scoop out potatoes and transfer to a bowl; save cooking liquid. Mash potatoes with a potato masher.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and a pinch of salt. Cook and stir until onions turn golden, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Stir garlic, celery, and spice blend into the skillet with onions. Stir until onion mixture is evenly coated with the spices, about 30 seconds. Add ground beef and ground pork. Ladle about 3/4 cup of the potato cooking liquid into the skillet.
• Cook and stir until meat is browned and has a very fine, almost pastelike texture. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until meat is tender and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 45 minutes. Stir in mashed potatoes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Divide chilled dough into 2 pieces, one just slightly larger than the other. Roll the larger piece out into a 12-inch circle on a lightly floured work surface. Place in a 9-inch deep dish pie plate. Roll top crust out into a circle about 11 inches in diameter. Cut small slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape.
• Fill bottom crust with the meat mixture; smooth out the surface. Whisk egg and water together to make egg wash. Brush edges of the bottom crust with egg wash. Place top crust on the pie and press lightly around the edges to seal. Trim excess dough from the crust. Crimp the edges of the crust. Brush entire surface of the pie with egg wash.
• Place in preheated oven. Bake until well browned, about 1 hour. Let cool to almost room temperature before serving.

SCIACHIATTA OR SICILIAN MEAT PIE

Steps:

• In mixing bowl, whisk together 2 1/4 cups of the flour and 1 teaspoon of salt; set aside.
• In separate small container, stir together water, sugar and yeast. Let sit for several minutes until foam forms on top.
• Make a well in center of flour and add the yeast mixture; stir until combined. If using an electric mixer, add hook attachment and knead for several minutes until dough pulls away from the sides and has an elastic texture. If kneading by hand, roll out on to floured surface and knead by hand for 10 minutes.
• Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to large bowl. To that same bowl, add the dough and roll to coat dough in olive oil.
• Cover top of dough with plastic wrap and then cover the top of the bowl with a clean towel.
• Let rise for a least 90 minutes, until dough has doubled in size.
• Punch dough down and break in half to form two dough balls.
• If using right away, let rise another 30 minutes on counter. If using at a later date, place in greased plastic ziplock and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
• To make filling, heat 1 tablepoon of olive oil in saute pan. Add red pepper flakes and garlic; saute about a minute. Add ground pork and saute on medium high heat for five minutes; add parsley, salt, black pepper, dandelion greens and continue to saute until vegetables are tender and meat is slightly carmelized; set aside to cool.
• When ready to make the sciachiatta, heat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Grease 9-inch shallow pie or pizza pan or dish with olive oil.
• Roll out both dough balls to about a 6-inch circle. With the first half, using hands, press and stretch dough into the bottom of the pan, and the bottom sides of the pan.
• Brush with a little olive oil and then add a layer of Pecorino. Spread a thick, even layer of the cooked pork (about an inch or more) and then top with another layer of Pecorino.
• With hands, gently pull remaining dough over the top to cover the entire top of the pie and dish. With fingers, tuck and pinch the dough down into the sides of the pan to seal the pie.
• With sharp knife, cut several one-inch slices in top crust (to allow for steam to escape).
• Brush top with olive oil and sprinkle with a little kosher salt.
• Bake for about 30 minutes until crust is deep golden brown; remove from oven and let cool about 20 minutes before slicing.

CANADIAN MEAT PIE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add egg and water; toss lightly with a fork until dough forms a ball. Divide dough in half; wrap in plastic and refrigerate. , In a large skillet, cook beef, pork, onion and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in seasonings; heat through. , On a floured surface, roll out one portion of dough. Line a 9-in. pie plate with bottom pastry. Spoon filling into crust. Roll out remaining dough to fit top of pie. Place over filling. Seal and flute edges. Brush pastry with milk; cut slits in top. , Bake at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown, covering edges loosely with foil if necessary. Let stand for 15 minutes before cutting.

ITALIAN PIZZERIA-STYLE MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Brown beef and pork.
• Add onions and Peppers and saute till onions are slightly browned. Add garlic and saute.
• Add all other ingredients except dough, and simmer till thickened.
• Roll out 1 loaf of dough to fit a lightly greased cookie sheet.
• Using a slotted spoon spread the meat mixture on top.
• Roll out the second loaf.
• Place this sheet on top and seal the edges.
• Poke a few vent holes in the crust.
• Brush the top completely with the fat drippings.
• Bake at the temp reccomended for the bread dough, till golden brown.
• Allow to cool slightly before cutting with a bread knife. (the inside will look slightly doughy).

TOURTIERE

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Fry the meat in batches until browned. Tip into a large bowl and set aside.
• Heat the remaining oil in the same pan, then add the onions, carrot, celery and garlic. Fry for 8-10 mins until softened. Add this to the meat.
• Simmer the wine in the pan for 10 mins to reduce. Tip in the meat and veg, then the spices, thyme, bay and stock. Cook for 30 mins, uncovered. Stir in the oats and simmer for 15 mins. Discard the bay, then season. Cool completely.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line a 20cm loose-bottom tin with the shortcrust pastry, pushing it into the sides of the tin. Leave 2cm of pastry overhanging and trim away the excess. Prick the bottom with a fork, cover with baking parchment and fill with baking beans. Bake for 15 mins. Remove the parchment and beans, and bake for another 15 mins until golden.
• Trim the edges with a serrated knife and pack in the meat filling. Brush some of the egg around the edge of the pastry, then drape the puff pastry over the top, trim the edges and crimp all the way round with a fork. Use the puff pastry offcuts to make decorations for the pie, if you like (or see tip, below). Brush with more egg and make 4-5 holes in the top. Can be frozen for up to six weeks at this stage. Defrost thoroughly before baking. Bake at 190C/170C fan/gas 5 for 40-50 mins. Leave to rest for 10 mins before serving.

MEAT PIE (TOURTIERE)

Steps:

• Bake the potato until done, 30 - 45 minutes in a preheated 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) oven. Peel and mash the potato.
• Place the potato, ground pork, onion, spices and water in a large frying pan and simmer until very thick, for about one hour.
• Meanwhile, prepare your pastry.
• Line a deep-dish pie plate with pastry. Spoon in filling, spreading evenly. Cover with top crust.
• Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with paprika, if desired. Cut steam vent. Bake for 50 minutes at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). If edges brown too fast, cover with a strip of foil. Serve warm.

ITALIAN MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Brown ground beef and drain.
• Add green pepper and cook 2 minutes.
• Add water, tomato paste and spaghetti sauce mix; cover and simmer 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle 1/4 cup Parmesean cheese on bottom of pie shell.
• Spread 1/2 meat mixture on top of parmesean and then layer 1 cup Mozarella.
• Layer remaining meat mixture.
• Top with 1/4 cup Parmesean.
• Bake on cookie sheet in 400-degree oven for 15-20 minutes.
• Sprinkle with 1 cup Mozarella and heat until melted (10 minutes).

FRENCH CANADIAN TOURTIERE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine pork, beef, onion, garlic, water, salt, thyme, sage, black pepper and cloves. Cook over medium heat until mixture boils; stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low and simmer until meat is cooked, about 5 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Spoon the meat mixture into the pie crust. Place top crust on top of pie and pinch edges to seal. Cut slits in top crust so steam can escape. Cover edges of pie with strips of aluminum foil.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes; remove foil and return to oven. Bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool 10 minutes before slicing.

DEEP DISH ITALIAN MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Brown beef in large skillet.
• Drain, add green pepper and cook 2 minutes.
• Dissolve cornstarch in water and add to skillet along with tomatoes and all seasonings.
• Cover and simmer 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle half of Parmesan cheese over bottom of pie crust.
• Cover with half of meat mixture, then half of Mozzarella, followed by the remaining meat mixture.
• Bake pie on cookie sheet 15 minutes.
• Sprinkle with remaining Mozzarella cheese and return to oven 5 more minutes or until cheese melts.