Meat Pies

“Hot pies, cold drinks, get your hot pies, cold drinks here...”When I think of meat pies, I always think of being at an AFL (Australian Football League) footy game in my hometown of Melbourne, where meat pies, somewhat similar to empanadas, are a signature snack of the game. I’m sharing my recipe for the ultimate homemade version so you can bring a little Aussie footy spirit into your home. A super-buttery pastry dough is filled with seasoned finely chopped or ground meat and minced vegetables. Serve the pies with a simple green salad or—like we Aussies do—with ketchup.

“Hot pies, cold drinks, get your hot pies, cold drinks here...”When I think of meat pies, I always think of being at an AFL footy game in my hometown of Melbourne, where meat pies are a signature snack of the game. I’m sharing my recipe for the ultimate homemade version so you can bring a little Aussie footy spirit into your home. A super-buttery pastry dough is filled with seasoned finely chopped or ground meat and minced vegetables. Serve the pies with a simple green salad or with tomato sauce.

Filling:

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 small yellow onion, finely chopped

1 celery stalk, finely chopped

1 small carrot, finely chopped

2 ounces prosciutto di Parma (about 5 slices), finely chopped

1 3/4 pounds ground beef chuck

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 ounces chicken livers (about 3), rinsed, cleaned, and finely chopped

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 cup dry white wine 

1/2 cup whole milk

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3 cups low-sodium beef broth

To assemble the pies:

All-purpose flour, for dusting 

Buttery Pastry Dough (page 147), shaped into 12 disks and chilled

1 large egg 

1 tablespoon heavy cream

Filling:

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 small brown onion, finely chopped

1 celery stalk, finely chopped

1 small carrot, finely chopped

60g prosciutto di Parma (about 5 slices), finely chopped

875g beef mince 

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

90g chicken livers (about 3), rinsed, cleaned, and finely chopped

1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste

1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 cup dry white wine 

1/2 cup milk

1 1/2 tablespoons plain flour 

3 cups salt reduced beef stock

To Assemble the Pies:

Plain flour, for dusting Buttery Pastry Dough (page 147), shaped into 12 discs and chilled

1 large egg 

1 tablespoon cream

Cookbook

Good Food, Good Life

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Directions

PREP TIME

MINS

COOKING TIME

HRS

MINS

Serves

Make-Ahead:

The pies can be assembled up to 2 weeks ahead and frozen in an airtight container. Do not thaw before baking, but add 10 minutes to the baking time (50 minutes total).

Make-Ahead:

The pies can be assembled up to 2 weeks ahead and frozen in an airtight container. Do not thaw before baking, but add 10 minutes to the baking time (50 minutes total).

To make the filling:

Heat a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the oil, then add the onion, celery, and carrot and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender but not browned. Add the prosciutto and sauté for 2 minutes.

Crumble the beef into the pot and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up the beef, for about 5 minutes, or until the meat is just cooked and no longer pink. Add the chicken livers and cook for about 2 minutes, or until the livers are just cooked and no longer pink. Add the tomato paste and allspice and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes, or until the tomato paste is well blended. 

Stir in the wine and cook for about 2 minutes, or until it evaporates completely. Reduce the heat to medium, add the milk, and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 2 minutes, or until the milk has reduced by three-fourths and the sauce is thick and creamy. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, or until well blended. 

Add the broth, bring to a simmer, and simmer for 25 minutes, or until the liquid has thickened and reduced by one-fourth. Season with salt and pepper. Set the mixture aside to cool. (You should have about 4 1/2 cups filling.) 

To assemble and bake the pies:

Position a rack on the lowest rung of the oven and set a baking sheet on the rack. Preheat the oven to 400°F. (Being close to the source of heat will help the bottom crusts bake and brown properly.)

On a floured work surface, roll out 1 disk of dough to a 6-inch round about 1/8 inch thick. Line a 5-inch disposable aluminum pie pan with the dough. Repeat with 5 more dough balls and pie pans. Divide the filling among the pans, using about 3/4 cup filling per pie.

Roll out the remaining 6 dough pieces to 6-inch rounds and lay them over the filling. Trim the dough overhang to 1/2 inch. Pinch the bottom and top crusts together to seal, and fold them under. Crimp the edges. Using your finger, make a hole in the center of each top crust.

In a small bowl, whisk the egg and cream to blend. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the tops of the pies with the egg-cream mixture.

Place the pies on the preheated baking sheet in the oven and bake for about 40 minutes, or until the crust is deep golden and the filling is bubbling. If the crust begins to brown before the filling bubbles, tent the pies with foil. Let the pies cool on a wire rack until warm before serving.

To make the filling:

Heat a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the oil, then add the onion, celery and carrot and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender but not browned. Add the prosciutto and sauté for 2 minutes. 

Stir in the wine and cook for about 2 minutes, or until it evaporates completely. Reduce the heat to medium, add the milk and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 2 minutes, or until the milk has reduced by three-quarters and the sauce is thick and creamy. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, or until well blended. 

Add the stock, bring to a simmer, and simmer for 25 minutes, or until the liquid has thickened and reduced by one-quarter. Season with salt and pepper. Set the mixture aside to cool. (You should have about 4 1/2 cups filling.) 

To assemble and bake the pies:

To assemble and bake the pies, position a rack on the lowest rung of the oven and set a baking tray on the rack. Preheat the oven to 200°C. (Being close to the source of heat will help the bottom crusts bake and brown properly.) 

On a floured work surface, roll out 1 disc of dough to a 15cm round about 2.5mm thick. Line a 12cm disposable aluminum pie pan with the dough. Repeat with 5 more dough balls and pie pans. Divide the filling among the pans, using about 3/4 cup filling per pie. 

Roll out the remaining 6 dough pieces to 15cm rounds and lay them over the filling. Trim the dough overhang to 1cm. Pinch the bottom and top crusts together to seal, and fold them under. Crimp the edges. Using your finger, make a hole in the centre of each top crust. 

In a small bowl, whisk the egg and cream to blend. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the tops of the pies with the egg-cream mixture. 

Place the pies on the preheated baking tray in the oven and bake for about 40 minutes, or until the crust is deep golden and the filling is bubbling. If the crust begins to brown before the filling bubbles, tent the pies with foil. Let the pies cool on a wire rack until warm before serving. 