British Open Top Steak Ale And Stilton Pub Style Pies Recipes

BEEF, GUINNESS AND STILTON PIE

Steps:

• Put the seasoned flour in a large bowl or bag. Add the beef and coat it well. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large pan and cook the beef in 2 batches for 3-4 minutes until browned all over.
• Transfer it to a casserole dish. Preheat the oven to or 160°C (150 fan) Add the onion and garlic and another tablespoon of the oil to the pan and cook them for 5 minutes until softened.
• Pour in the Guinness and stock. Bring to the boil and add the sugar, salt, Worcestershire sauce, dried herbs and bay leaf. Stir well and then pour over the meat.
• Cover and cook in the oven for two hours. Add the button mushrooms for the last 30 minutes of cooking. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 200°C (180 fan) Roll out the pastry on a lightly-floured surface to at least 5cm (2in) larger than the top of a pudding or pie dish. Cut out a circle, and then score it. Spoon the meat mixture into the bowl and add pieces of Stilton. Wet around the top of the dish, place a collar of pastry around, made from trimmings, and then put on the lid. Seal the edges well; tuck the excess pastry under the rim.
• Glaze with beaten egg. Place on a baking sheet, below the centre of the oven, and bake for 45-50 minutes, until the pastry is golden.

LAMB AND STILTON PIE

Steps:

• To make the filling, combine the flour, thyme and rosemary together and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Toss with the lamb and shake of any excess.
• Melt the butter in large saucepan and fry the lamb for 5 minutes or so, until browned. Remove from the pan and set aide.
• Add the carrot and onion to the pan and cook gently for about 10 minutes, until softened. Add the mushrooms and cook for a further minute.
• Return the lamb to the pan and add the port and lamb stock. Bring to boil and cook for 30 minutes, over a moderate heat.
• Remove from the heat and leave to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 450°F Fold in the cheese and mace.
• Roll half of the pastry out and line a 25cm pie plate; spoon the filling over. Roll the remaining pastry out to form a lid.
• Brush the pastry with beaten egg and bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden. Serve hot, with vegetables as desired.

BRITISH STEAK AND ALE PIE

Steps:

• To make the pastry in a food processor: Add the flour and salt and butter. Pulse until you get the texture of fine breadcrumbs. With the processor running, slowly drizzle in cold water until it forms a ball. You may need more or less water depending on the dough.
• To make the pastry by hand: Add the flour, salt and butter to a large bowl. Using your fingertips (or a pastry cutter) rub the butter and flour until it resembles breadcrumbs. Drizzle in the water and mix using a fork until the it starts to come together and holds together when pressed in your hand.. You may not need all of the water.
• Remove and shape into a ball on a floured board. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• For the filling:
• Add the vegetable oil and butter to a large, heavy, ovenproof saucepan or braising pan over medium high heat. Add the beef and cook, turning the pieces until brown on all sides. Remove and set aside.
• To the same pan, add the onion and carrots and cook until the onions soften, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to mix well and cook for 1 minute.
• Sprinkle in the flour and stir well until all the flour is well mixed. Cook for 2 minutes, then add the ale and stir until it starts to thicken. Stir in the beef, beef stock, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper.
• Cover with a lid and allow to come to a low simmer for 35-45 minutes. Remove the lid and simmer for 15 more minutes to thicken the liquid. You do not want the liquid too runny, it should be thick. The meat should be quite tender, but will also continue cooking in the oven.
• Preheat oven to 425°F/220°C with rack in the center of the oven. Lightly butter a 9 or 10-inch (23 or 25.5 cm) pie dish.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator and cut in half. Wrap one half back in the plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• Roll out the other half onto a floured surface to a thickness of 1/8 of an inch. Cut a circle from the dough 1/2 inch larger than your pan and place into the pie dish allowing the edge to hang over.
• Cut a large circle of parchment paper or foil larger than the pan or and place on top of the pastry in the pie dish. Pour the dried beans to the center to weigh down the dough. Or, place a piece of foil on top of the dough and weigh down with an oven-proof dish that will fit inside. Bake for 12 minutes until you start to see the edges get a little golden brown.
• Remove the crust from the oven, grab the corners of the paper or foil and remove the beans. Make holes in the bottom of the pastry with a fork to prevent it puffing. If it puffs, it should go down. Return the crust to the oven for 5 more minutes to cook the bottom of the pastry.
• Once the crust is out of the oven take the rest of the dough and roll out onto a floured surface and cut a 10-inch circle.
• Fill the cooked crust with the beef filling.
• Brush the edges of the cooked pastry with the egg. Roll the pastry circle over your rolling pin, lift and place on top of the pie with the egg washed edges down so they stick to the other dough, pinch the edges or press with a fork.
• Brush with the entire top with egg wash and cut a couple of slits in the center of the crust. Bake for 15 minutes until golden brown. The time will vary depending on your oven.

BEEF AND STILTON PIE

Steps:

• Use the pastry to line a medium sized oven proof pie dish.
• For the pie filling, place the beef, garlic, thyme, peppercorns and ale into a bowl. Cover with cling film and leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 2-3 hours, but preferably overnight.
• Remove the beef from the marinade, pat dry with kitchen paper and dredge in the seasoned flour. Strain the marinade through a fine sieve into a clean bowl and set aside.
• Heat the oil and 1 tbsp of the butter in a flameproof casserole dish and fry the beef in small batches for 2-3 minutes each time, or until browned all over. Once the meat is browned, remove from the casserole dish and set aside.
• Return the casserole dish to the heat and fry the mushrooms and shallots for 4-5 minutes, or until softened.
• Return the beef and the reserved marinating liquid to the casserole and add the beef stock. Cover with a lid and gently simmer for 1½ hours, or until the beef is tender.
• Strain off half of the cooking liquid from the casserole dish and set aside to make gravy for serving.
• Crumble the Stilton into the casserole and stir until melted. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper and set aside to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
• Put the pie filling into the pie shell and top with a layer of pastry. -Remember to cut slits in the top and crimp the edges together, then glaze with beaten egg.
• Cook for approx 40 mins until pastry is golden.
• Place the reserved cooking liquid into a clean pan and simmer for 8-10 minutes, or until reduced to a gravy consistency. Stir in the remaining tbsp of butter until melted, and the sauce is smooth and glossy. Keep warm.
• Serve the pie with the gravy and veg (celeriac mash goes well).