Steak, Ale & Mushroom Pie

Steak, Ale & Mushroom Pie

This is a wonderfully delicious pie full of rich flavours - the perfect pie for chilly weather!

Serves 6

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 2 hours

Ingredients

For the pie filling

3-4tbsp olive oil

200g smoked bacon lardons

1 large onion, peeled, halved & sliced

2 garlic cloves, peeled & finely chopped

2tbsp plain flour

700g good quality stewing steak, cut into 2.5cm cubes

500ml bottle of real ale (I used Newcastle Brown Ale, but I am a Geordie)

400ml good beef stock

2tbsp tomato puree

1tbsp creamed horseradish sauce (optional)

3-4 sprigs of fresh thyme, leaves stripped from stalks & finely chopped

2 bay leaves

250g small chestnut mushrooms, wiped & halved or quartered

2 tbsp cornflour

For the pie

325g short crust pastry

325g ready-made puff pastry

1 egg, beaten to glaze

To Serve

Mashed potato

Method

1.    Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large non-stick frying pan.  Fry the bacon and onion until pale golden in colour and then add the garlic and fry for a further 2 minutes, stirring regularly.  Set aside using a slotted spoon.

2.    Season the steak with salt and pepper and dredge with flour. Now heat 1-2 tbsp of oil to the frying pan and add the steak, you may have to do this in batches.  Fry the meat until it is well browned all over.  Add more oil if necessary.  Set aside.

3.    Deglaze the frying pan with half of the ale.  Bring the ale to the boil and stir hard to remove all the sediment from the base of the pan.  Transfer the steak and bacon to the frying pan then add the remaining ale, stock, tomato puree, horseradish and herbs to the dish.  Bring to the boil and then cover, simmer for 1 ½ hour or until the meat is very tender.  Mix the corn flour with 2tbsp of cold water and add to the pan.  Continue to simmer uncovered for a further 5 minutes or until the juices are thick.  Season to taste and allow to cool.

4.    In the meantime preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas 6.  Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan and fry the mushrooms over a high heat for about 5 minutes until golden and add to the meat.  Remove the bay leaves and then strain the liquid from the meat but add some of the gravy to suit your taste.  Set aside the rest of the gravy to serve as gravy with the pie.

5.    Roll out the short crust pastry to 4mm thick and line a 1.2 litre pie dish, leave the excess pastry hanging over the edge.   Spoon the cooled beef mixture into the dish and brush the edge of the pastry with the beaten egg.

6.    Roll out the puff pastry to 4mm thick and large enough to cover the pie.  Place the pastry over the pie and press the edges firmly together to seal and trim neatly.  Brush the top of the pastry with the beaten egg.  Decorate with trimmings and brush with more egg to glaze.  Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes until the pastry has puffed and is golden brown.  Divide the pie and serve with mash and plenty of gravy, enjoy

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Christmas Mince Pies

Christmas Mince Pies

This crumbly, fruity mince pie recipe is a Christmas classic. Serve warm with lashings of brandy butter

Makes 12 (but enough mincemeat for many, many more)

Prep time:  2 hours (including chilling time)

Cooking time:  20 minutes

Ingredients

200g raisins

200g sultanas

1 Bramley apple, peeled & chopped

100g mixed peel

75g glace cherries

75g stem ginger in syrup, drained & chopped

1 lemon, zest & juice only

200g suet

200g dark brown muscovado sugar

200g currants

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp grated nutmeg

2 tsp mixed spice

½ tsp ground ginger

100ml brandy

100ml sherry

For the pastry

200g plain flour, sifted

40g golden caster sugar

75g ground almonds

125g unsalted butter, cubed

1 large free-range egg, beaten

Milk to glaze

Preparation method

1.    Place the raisins, sultanas, apple, mixed fruit, mixed peel and lemon zest into a blender a blitz to a paste.  Place in a bowl and add the suet, sugar, currants, cinnamon, nutmeg, mixed spice, ground ginger, brandy and sherry.  Mix together well and set aside.  This mincemeat can be stored in a dark, cool cupboard for up to a year.

2.    For the pastry, place the flour, sugar, almonds and butter into a food processor.  Blend until it resembles breadcrumbs and slowly add the egg.

3.    Bring the mixture together with your hands, wrap in cling film and place in the fridge for an hour or so.

4.    Lightly butter a 12-hole pie or patty tin.

5.    Thinly roll out the pastry onto a floured surface.  Cut out 12 circles with a fluted pastry cutter, large enough to fill the base of the prepared tin. Press gently into each hole, then fill with the mincemeat.

6.    Cut out another 12 slightly smaller discs and use to cover the mincemeat. Press the edges together to seal. Make a small slit in the top of each, then brush lightly with milk. Chill for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6.

7.    Bake the pies for 20 minutes until golden brown. Remove to a wire rack and serve warm with brandy butter.

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Chicken, Bacon, Mushroom & Stilton Pie

Chicken, Bacon, Mushroom & Stilton Pie

One of my all-time favourites, a truly delicious & flavoursome pie – comfort food at its best!

Serves 6-8

Prep time:  15 minutes (plus cooling time)

Cooking time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

50g butter

1 onion, peeled & finely chopped

1 garlic clove, peeled & finely chopped

250g chestnut mushrooms, halved

200g smoked bacon lardons

6 skinless & boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite sized pieces

50g plain flour

200ml chicken stock

150ml white wine

100ml double cream

100g stilton, crumbled 

Small handful fresh parsley, chopped

Sea salt & freshly ground pepper

375g ready-rolled short crust pastry

375g ready rolled puff pastry

1 egg beaten

To serve

Seasonal vegetables

Method

1.    For the filling, melt the butter in a large frying pan on a medium heat.  Add the onion, garlic, bacon and mushrooms – fry for 5 minutes until lightly browned.

2.    Season the chicken and add to the and cook everything for 5 minutes, turning occasionally.

3.    Stir in the flour to the chicken mixture then gradually add the stock and bring to a simmer.  Cook for 2 minutes until the sauce is smooth and thick then pour in the wine and cream.  Bring to the boil, add the stilton and reduce to a simmer for 15 minutes.  Season generously and sprinkle with parsley.  Remove from the heat, cover and allow to cool.

4.    Preheat the oven to 190°C/Fan assisted 170°C/Gas mark 5.

5.    Roll out the short crust pastry to 4mm thick and line a 1.2 litre pie dish, leave the excess pastry hanging over the edge.  Spoon the cooled chicken mixture into the dish and brush the edge of the pastry with the beaten egg.

6.    Roll out the puff pastry to 4mm thick and large enough to cover the pie.  Place the pastry over the pie and press the edges firmly together to seal and trim neatly.  Brush the top of the pastry with the beaten egg.  Decorate with trimmings and brush with more egg to glaze.  

7.    Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes until the pastry has puffed and is golden brown.  Serve with seasonal vegetables.  Enjoy!

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