Slow cooking the filling for these pies make them even more comforting and delicious.
Ingredients
Serves: 4
- 600g diced chuck steak beef
- 100g diced onion
- 100g diced carrot
- 1 stick celery
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp tomato puree
- 500ml of beef or chicken stock
- Salt & Pepper
- 6 sprigs of fresh thyme
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 4 sheets of puff pastry
Method
1. Toss the beef in the spice mix and leave to marinade – this can be done overnight the longer the better.
2. In a wide based pot or oven proof casserole dish fry the beef for three to four minutes.
3. Add the vegetables and thyme, Cook them slowly for about 10 minutes.
4. Now add the stock and tomato puree to the pot or dish.
5. Cover the pot and simmer for 2.5 hours. If using a casserole dish cover and place in the oven for 2.5 hours at 140 degrees. You can also alternatively use a slow cooker here, but it will take double the time.
6. Remove the pie mix from the heat. The beef should be soft and tender.
7. You will need to leave the pie mix cool before assembling with your pastry.
8. You will have a few options here on how to assemble. If you are not too confident you can just spoon the mixture into a casserole dish and top the dish with the pastry. Brush with egg and season with a little salt. Bake then at gas mark 6 or 180 degrees for 26 to 30 minutes.
9. Alternatively you can make what's known as a gallette which is basically a pie with no pie dish just using the pastry as a base. Cut the pastry into rounds using a cereal bowl, which is usually what I use if no correct size cutter to hand. You will need two per pie. The mix above will give you four pies, so divide the pie mix into four when assembling.
10. Spoon the mix in the middle of the round cut pastry. Place the second piece of pastry over the mixture and tuck it in around the sides. You can very simply use a fork around the edges here to join the two pieces of pastry together with a little egg wash.
11. Brush the pie with some egg wash. Season with a little salt and bake on a piece of baking paper so it doesn’t stick – bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees or gas mark 6 for 28 to 32 minutes.
12. Serve your pie with your favourite side dish and condiment.
