Homemade Pies Recipe

Hot or cold, sweet or savoury, the much-loved, humble pie has been a staple of British cooking for centuries - and for good reason. Cheap, filling and very tasty, pies are incredibly versatile - from traditional recipes to new combinations of ingredients and flavours, there's something for everyone. So, to celebrate Pie Week, we've rounded up our favourite sweet and savoury homemade recipes for you to try...

Savoury pies

Is there anything more tempting than a homemade chicken and leek pie on a cold evening? Or perhaps a light spinach and feta filo pie in your picnic basket? Now all you need is a great recipe. Here are our favourites...

Homemade Pies Recipe

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Serves: 4-6

INGREDIENTS

• 340 g plain flourpinch of salt
• 150g margarine
• 3 – 4 tablespoons cold water
• Sift the flour and salt into a bowl.
• Cut the margarine into small pieces and rub into the flour untilthe mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Add enough water to mix to a soft dough

FOR THE FILLING

• 1 onion,
• chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced/crushed
• 1 green pepper chopped
• 2 green chillies chopped
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1/4kg mince meat
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp tomato ketchup/tomato paste150 ml beef stock (improvise with water)
• 2 tsp plain flour
• 1 – 2 tbsp water (the paste works as a thickening agent)
• salt and pepper to taste
• beaten egg to glaze

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1.

Fry the vegetables in the oil until soft. Add the minced beef and cook gently for 5 minutes. Stir in the chili, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup and stock, and simmer gently for 15 minutes.

Step 2.

Mix the flour with a little cold water to form a smooth paste, add to the pan and simmer for a further 5 minutes. Season and leave to cool.

Step 3.

Roll out dough thinly on a lightly floured work surface into circles.

Step 4.

Spoon the mince mixture in each at the center.

Step 5.

Dampen the edges of the pastry with a little water and bring one half on top to cover. Seal the edges with a fork GENTLY.

Step 6.

Brush with beaten egg and bake in a moderately hot oven 180dc till golden brown. 

NOTE

Try using different flavoured sausages and stuffing for variety, or use vegetarian sausages if you're veggie.

Enjoy!!