This classic meat pie recipe is easy to make at home, in fact, homemade pie dough makes the perfect crust.
Ingredients
For the pastry:
3cupsFlour, Plus extra as needed
2/3cupIce water, Plus extra as needed
1/2cup/1 stick Butter, Cold & Cubed
1/2cupShortening or Lard
1tspSalt
1Egg
For the filling:
8ozGround Beef
1Russet Potato, Peeled and finely diced
1Large Carrot, Peeled and finely diced
1/2Onion, Chopped
3tbspButter
1/2tspFresh Thyme, Chopped
1/2tspFresh Rosemary, Chopped
Salt and Ground pepper, To taste
Instructions
Mix flour and salt together in a large bowl with a whisk.
Add the cold butter in cubes and the shortening/lard. Beat for 10-15 seconds until the mixture is crumbly and the butter is the size of small pebbles.
With the motor running, slowly drizzle in ice water and beat until a dough ball begins to form. If the mixture is too dry add extra ice water, 1-2 tsp at a time.
Once the dough is formed stop beating.
Remove the dough from the bowl and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll it into a large flat rectangle.
To make a regular rectangle, use a knife to cut the edges.
Place the dough in a bowl and put a plastic wrap on top. Refrigerate for 30 - 45 minutes.
While the dough chills, in a large skillet add beef, salt and pepper to taste. Make sure to break the meat with a spatula.
When the meat is brown, add potato, carrot, onion and season generously with thyme and rosemary.
Combine until well mixed and cook for 10 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400º F / 205º C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll it in a floured surface. Use a dough press to cut circles. You can also use a round container as a mold.
With the dough in the dough press, spoon the beef mixture into the center of dough and top it with 1/4 tsp of butter.
Fold the dough press over the beef, and make sure to press enough to seal it. If the dough separates and it is not sealed, brush beaten egg and press again. If you are doing this manually, you can seal the pie edges with a fork.
Transfer the meat pies to a lined baking sheet and brush the top of the dough with beaten egg.
Move the meat pies into the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the top is lightly browned. Then lower the oven temperature to 350º F / 175º C and bake for another 15-20 minutes.
Remove the meat pies from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes.