Australian Meat Pie

Photo: flickr user phototram

Ingredients

FILLING

750 grams Minced steak (ground beef)

2 Beef stock cubes

Salt, pepper to taste

2 cups Water

1 pch Nutmeg

2 tablespoons Plain flour

1 3/4 Water extra

1 teaspoon Soy sauce

Pie Base

2 cups Plain flour

1/2 teaspoon Salt

2/3 cup Water

60 grams Beef dripping

Pie top

375 grams Purchased puff pastry

1 Egg yolk

1 teaspoon Water

Preparation

Filling: Place meat into pan and stir over low heat until well browned. Pour off fat. Add crumbled stock cubes, water, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Stir until boiling, reduce heat, cover and simmer 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Combine flour and extra water, add to meat and stir until combined. Return to heat and stir until meat boils and thickens. Add soy sauce (for colour) and

Allow to cool.

Pie Base: Sift flour and salt. Place water and dripping into saucepan, stir until dripping melts. Remove from heat. Make a well in centre of flour and add liquid. Stir until combined. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll out pastry to line 8 greased pie tins.

Cut excess pastry from edges. (Hold pie tins upside down and trim upside down). Fill centre with cold meat filling.

Pie Top: Roll out puff pastry and cut rounds for top of pies. Wet edges of base pastry and gently press tops in place. Trim around edges with sharp knife. Pierce centre with a sharp knife. Brush tops with combined egg yolk and water. Bake in hot oven for 5 minutes or until golden brown. Reduce heat to moderate and cook for a further 10 minutes.

Note: If you buy pie tins especially - never wash them, wipe them out with paper towel.