Christmas food ideas #9: Minced Beef Pie

Nothing brings the family together quite like this yummy homemade puff pastry minced beef pie. This is a really easy pie to make, one that can easily be adapted to suit your own tastes. Simply add your favourite filling and maybe some cheeky wine if you really want to be naughty. This recipe can easily be extended to feed the masses, I can guarantee that not one member of the family wants to miss out on a piece of pie this Christmas.
Prep time: 15 mins                                                                      Cooking time: 50 mins
Serves: 6 people

Recipe adapted from Taste

What you need:

• 2 sheets frozen ready-rolled puff pastry (mine is homemade pastry)
• 600g beef mince
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried mixed herbs
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled, finely chopped
• 1 cup peas
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• Red, yellow and green peppers, chopped
• 1 can of tomatoes
• 1 egg, lightly beaten

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C.
2.  Grease a 3cm-deep, 20cm (base) round or ceramic pie dish or any circular baking tin.
3.  Line base with baking paper. 
4. Heat oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot, peas, peppers, tomatoes and garlic. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add salt and herbs. 
5. Add mince. Cook until browned, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up mince. Add a quarter cup water. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 3 to 5 minutes or until liquid has almost evaporate.
6. Spoon into pastry case. Top with remaining pastry. Press edges to seal. Trim excess.
7.  Brush top with egg. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden. Stand for 5 minutes. Serve.

Nokhuthula xo