Homity Pie Recipes

HOMITY PIE

Steps:

• To make the pastry, put the flours, paprika, butter and 1/2 tsp salt in a food processor, and whizz until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the egg and whizz until it forms a dough (add a splash of cold water to make it come together). Roll out and use to line a 20cm metal, loose-bottomed tin (a sponge tin is ideal). Chill.
• Cook the potatoes in a pan of boiling salted water until just tender, then drain really well.
• Cook the leeks with a knob of butter in a frying pan until soft, then add the garlic and cook for another minute. Stir in the spinach and cook until completely wilted, then stir in the soft cheese.
• Heat the oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Tip the leeks, spinach and potatoes into a large bowl. Add 3⁄4 of the cheddar and lots of seasoning. Toss everything together, then tip into the chilled pastry case. Sprinkle over the rest of the cheese and bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes or until golden. Cool for 10 minutes in the tin, then carefully turn out and serve.

HOMITY PIE

Steps:

• To make the pastry, tip both the flours, a pinch of salt and the cayenne, if using, into a large bowl. Mix, then rub in the butter using your fingertips until the mixture is crumbly. Mix in the egg and 1 tbsp cold water using a cutlery knife. Bring the pastry together into a ball, then cover and chill for 30 mins. Knead briefly until pliable, then roll out until it's large enough to line a 20cm deep pie dish. Line the dish, pushing the pastry into the edge, then trim. Chill until needed.
• Meanwhile, for the filling, heat the butter in a large saucepan until sizzling and cook the onions with some seasoning and the leeks and thyme, if using, for 12-15 mins until soft and sticky. Stir the potatoes into the onion mix, then reduce the heat, cover and cook for 10-15 mins, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes break down when pressed with a wooden spoon. Pour over the cream, stir for a minute, then turn off the heat and leave to cool a little.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 with a baking tray inside. Stir half the cheddar and most of the spring onions through the potato and onion mix. Scatter half of the remaining cheddar over the base of the pastry case, then tip in the tip filling. Scatter with the rest of the cheese and spring onions. Bake on the hot baking tray for 40-45 mins until the pastry is deeply golden and the filling is bubbling. Remove from the oven and leave to rest for at least 10 mins. Serve hot, or leave to cool until just warm.

HOMITY PIE

Steps:

• To make the pastry, put the flours and butter into a food processor with a generous pinch of salt and pulse until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the egg and just enough cold water to bind the mixture together. Shape the dough into a ball, wrap it in cling film, and leave it to chill in the fridge while you make the filling. Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Add the potatoes, carrots and turnips and bring the water back to the boil. Cook for 4 minutes, then add the broccoli. Continue to cook until the vegetables are just done but still with a little bite to them - this will take about another 2 minutes. Drain and leave to cool. While the vegetables are cooking, melt the butter in a large frying pan. Add the onions with a pinch of salt and cook, stirring regularly, until the onions have softened and are lightly coloured. Add the garlic and continue to cook for another 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside to cool. Preheat the oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6. Put all the cooled vegetables into a large bowl. Add 100g of the cheese and the parsley, then mix thoroughly and set aside Roll out the pastry and use it to line a 20cm cake tin or a deep pie dish. Spoon the filling over the pastry. Whisk the milk and mustard together until you have a thin paste, then stir this into the cream. Season with a little salt. Pour this mixture in a slow and steady stream over the filling so it soaks through the layers of vegetables. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Bake the pie in the oven for 40-45 minutes until the pastry is crisp and lightly coloured and the cheese has melted and started to brown. Serve hot or at room temperature.

DEEP-FILLED HOMITY PIE

Steps:

• 1. Put the flour and butter in a food processor and blend until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the egg and pulse until the mixture just comes together as a dough. Bring the dough together and flatten into a round. 2. Put the pastry in the centre of a 20cm/8in springform cake tin and carefully ease it over the base and up the sides of the tin. 3. Cook the potatoes in boiling water for 15 minutes, or until just tender. Drain in a colander, tip back into the saucepan and cut into 3cm/1¼in pieces with a round-bladed knife. 4. Melt the butter and oil in a frying pan and fry the onions gently for 15 minutes, or until soft and pale golden-brown. Add the garlic and cook for two further minutes, stirring regularly. 5. Preheat the oven to 180C /350F. 6. Add the onions and garlic to the potatoes and sprinkle with 100g/3½oz of the cheese and the parsley. Add the spinach leaves and season with nutmeg, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix all the ingredients together until well combined. 7. Spoon the filling mixture into the pastry case. Pour over the cream and allow it to drizzle down between the layers. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Place the tin on a baking tray and bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the pastry is crisp and pale golden-brown. 8. Leave the pie to cool in the tin for 10 minutes. Remove the pie from the tin and place it on a serving plate. Cut into thick wedges with a sharp knife.