British Meat Pies for Bolton Food & Drink Festival Recipe
Enjoy a traditional British Meat Pie, perfect for the Bolton Food & Drink Festival. This recipe features a flaky shortcrust pastry filled with seasoned lean ground beef, aromatic onions, garlic, and rich beef broth, finished with a golden egg wash for a perfect crust.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 medium-sized pies 1x
- Category: Savory Pie
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry
- 2 cups shortcrust pastry
Filling
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1 tsp dried thyme
Finishing
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Prepare the filling: In a skillet over medium heat, sauté the finely chopped onion and minced garlic until softened and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Add the lean ground beef, cooking until browned and no longer pink, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Add seasoning and broth: Stir in the dried thyme and pour in the beef broth. Simmer the mixture for 10 minutes until the liquid reduces slightly and the flavors meld. Remove from heat and let the filling cool.
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the pies.
- Roll out pastry: Roll out the shortcrust pastry on a floured surface and cut rounds slightly larger than your pie tins or desired pie molds.
- Assemble pies: Line your pie tins with pastry rounds. Spoon the cooled beef filling evenly into each shell. Cover with a second round of pastry and seal the edges by crimping with a fork or your fingers.
- Egg wash: Beat the egg and brush it over the top of each pie to help achieve a golden, glossy crust during baking.
- Bake: Place pies on a baking tray and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and crisp.
- Cool and serve: Allow pies to cool slightly before serving to let the filling set and avoid burning your mouth. Enjoy warm for the best flavor.
Notes
- You can use pre-made shortcrust pastry to save time.
- For a richer filling, add a splash of Worcestershire sauce with the beef broth.
- Make sure the filling is cooled before filling the pastry to prevent sogginess.
- These pies can be frozen before baking; just add extra baking time when cooking frozen pies.
Keywords: British meat pies, shortcrust pastry, beef pie recipe, Bolton Food & Drink Festival, savory pies, homemade meat pies