Beef and mushroom pie

Ingredients

1 kg chuck or boneless shin/gravy beef

1 medium onion, diced

250 g button mushrooms, halved

2 tbsp plain flour

3 cups beef stock

0.25 cup tomato paste

4 sprigs fresh thyme or small sprigs of rosemary or parsley

Pastry

1.5 cups (225g) plain flour

a pinch of salt

125 g chopped cold butter

0.25 cup (60ml) of cold water

Method

To make beef filling: Preheat oven to 180°C. Cut beef into 2.5cm-3cm cubes. Season with salt and pepper, add 2 tbsp oil, and mix well. Heat a large
Heat a large frypan over a medium-high heat. Brown the beef in 2 or 3 batches. Remove each batch and place in casserole dish. Reduce heat in the pan, add a little oil, add onion and mushrooms, cook for 12 minutes, and stir occasionally.
Sprinkle in the flour and stir until the onion and mushrooms are coated. Gradually pour in stock and add the tomato paste, stirring well. Add the herbs, stir until the mixture boils. Add to the casserole dish, stir to combine.
Cover the casserole dish, place in oven, and cook until the beef is very tender. Stir every 40 minutes or so, add water if needed to keep the ingredients just covered. Cool the beef mixture, at least until the steam has evaporated, or cool it completely if time allows.
To make pastry: Place the flour, salt and chopped butter in a food processor, process until the mixture is fine and crumbly. With the motor running, slowly add the water, and process. The mixture should begin to come together and then form a ball. Add a little more water if needed. Turn the pastry onto a lightly floured board, and gently knead for 30 seconds. Flatten it out to a small round, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
To assemble pie: Preheat the oven to 200°C. Take your pastry from the fridge so it warms up a little, making it easier to roll. Place the cooled beef mixture into the pie dish. Beat an egg and a little milk together (egg wash). Roll pastry out to the same shape as your pie dish, but just a little larger so it will sit comfortably over the top. Cut a ribbon of pastry from the edge of the rolled out pastry and press it around the rim of the pie dish.
Carefully roll the pastry onto the rolling pin and ease the pastry onto the pie dish.
Trim any overhang; seal the edge by crimping the pastry together. Make a small slash over the top of pastry (for steam to escape). Brush it with the egg wash. Decorate the top with the pastry trimmings if you like. Cook for 40-45 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown and beef mixture is bubbling.

Tips

Use two sheets of ready rolled puff pastry in place of making your own, if your prefer. Overlap the puff pastry sheets so they fit to a size that will cover the top of the pie dish. Carefully lift the pastry over the top and then press to edge of dish. Trim any overhang, being careful not to drag the knife around the edge.
Cooktop method for beef filling: Place the browned beef and other ingredients in a heavy-based pot. Partially cover, keep the heat low. Simmer until the meat is very tender. Stir occasionally; add water or stock if needed during the cooking time to keep ingredients well covered.
Beef casserole cuts and approximate cooking times: Chuck or boneless shin/gravy beef - 2 to 2½ hours Topside, round, blade - 1 to 1½ hours

Ingredients

Method

Tips

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