New Zealand Meat-Pie

INGREDIENTS

For the filling:

  • 1 lb. of ground beef or lamb
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup of beef or chicken broth
  • 1 cup of frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, and corn)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons of flour
  • 2 tablespoons of butter

For the crust:

  • 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 cup of cold butter, cut into small pieces
  • 6-8 tablespoons of ice-cold water

RECIPE

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef or lamb over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through.
  3. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet and sauté until the onion is translucent.
  4. Stir in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and broth.
  5. Add the frozen mixed vegetables to the skillet and stir well to combine.
  6. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
  7. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and butter to make a paste.
  8. Add the flour and butter paste to the skillet and stir well to thicken the filling.
  9. Let the filling cool while you make the crust.
  10. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
  11. Add the cold butter to the bowl and use a pastry cutter or your hands to work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
  12. Add the ice-cold water to the bowl, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together and forms a ball.
  13. Divide the dough in half and roll each half out on a lightly floured surface until it is about 1/4 inch thick.
  14. Use a circular pastry cutter or a large bowl to cut out circles from the dough.
  15. Spoon some of the meat filling onto one half of each dough circle.
  16. Fold the other half of the dough over the filling and use a fork to crimp the edges of the pie closed.
  17. Use a sharp knife to cut a few slits in the top of each pie to vent steam.
  18. Place the pies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  19. Bake the pies in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
  20. Serve the meat pies hot, garnished with chopped parsley if desired.