Best Meat Pasties Recipes

JAMAICAN BEEF PATTIES (AKA MEAT PIES OR PASTIES)

Steps:

• Make the crust: Combine flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder, and pinch of salt. Cut in 1/4 cup margarine and shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water until mixture forms a ball. Do not overstir; that makes tough crust. Shape dough into a log, and cut into 10 equal sections. Roll each section into a six inch circle (approximately 1/8 inch thick). Set aside.
• Next, prepare the filling.: Melt margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion until soft and translucent. Stir in ground beef. Season with 1 teaspoon curry powder, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper. Cook until beef is browned, stirring constantly. Stir in beef broth and bread crumbs. Simmer until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat.
• Now make the patties: Spoon some filling into each pastry circle. Fold over and press edges together, making a half circle. Use a fork to press edges, and brush the top of each patty with beaten egg.
• Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 25 - 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
• NOTE: If you have the time and organization, it might be best to make the filling in advance, long enough to cool down before fillng the pastry. Otherwise, it might melt the pastry somewhat. Just a thought from a review on another recipe.

BEEF PASTIES (MEAT PIES)

Steps:

• In a casserole, mix the cut-up sirloin steak, the peas and carrots, hash browns, minced onion, brown gravy mix, water, bay leaf and water. Bake in a 300 degree oven for 3 hours, or until meat is very tender. Taste and season with salt and pepper and any herbs you enjoy. Cool for at least an hour.
• Preheat oven to 375.
• Let pie crusts sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. Cut each crust into halves. Put the cooled meat mixture on half of a half-circle, fold the top over and seal (using water on the edges). This will make a little pie package. cut a few slits on the top. Do this with all the crusts. Place on a cookie sheet coated with non-stick spray. Brush a bit of milk over each pastie. Place in 350 degree oven for 35 minutes or until crust is golden.

FAMILY FAVORITE PASTIES (MEAT PIES)

Steps:

• 1. Crust: Cut shortening into flour and salt. Add water just until you have a dough that is no longer sticky (like pie crust). Mix until well blended. Form into 4 balls. (You can chill dough at this point, but I usually don't.) Roll into four 8" circles. Cover with waxed paper until ready to use.
• 2. Meat Filling: Combine beef, onion, rutabaga, potatoes, salt, pepper and parsley in a large bowl.
• 3. Put approximately 1 cup of filling onto right side of dough, dot with butter and fold in half. Brush edges with milk, then crimp edges securely to hold filling while it bakes.
• 4. Place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and cut two or three 1/2" slices in the top to allow steam to escape. Brush with milk, if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour or until golden. They will smell AMAZING while baking!
• 5. Traditionally served with ketchup, although I've also seen them served with gravy... which is another whole, big heated debate!

CAJUN MEAT PIE OR PASTIES (SEASONED PORK, BEEF & VEGETABLES)

Steps:

• Combine sugar, butter, and salt in a food processor or with an electric mixer, beating at high speed just until mixture is creamy (about 30 seconds).
• Add the egg, vanilla, and milk and beat until blended.
• Add 1 1/3 cups flour and beat just until blended (do NOT overmix).
• With floured hands, shape the dough into a round, flat patty.
• Lightly dust with flour, cover, and let sit for at least 1 hour before rolling out (will keep for several days).
• In a large skillet, melt the margarine over high heat; saute the onions and celery until wilted, stirring occasionally (about 4 minutes).
• Reduce heat to medium and add the pork, garlic, and seasonings.
• Cook for 4 minutes, stirring often; breaking up any large chunks and scraping the bottom of the pan (lower the heat if the onions start to turn dark brown).
• Add the beef and mix thoroughly.
• Lower the heat and let simmer for 5 minutes, stirring often.
• Mix in the potatoes and the stock.
• Cook for 10 minutes over med-low heat, stirring often.
• Strain the mixture very well and let cool at least 15 minutes before filling the pie shell.
• On a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin, roll out the dough to fit a 1.5" deep/8" round cake pan (dough should be 1/4" thick) or divide dough into 4 equal parts and then roll each out to 1/8" thickness.
• If making one large pie, grease and flour the cake pan and fit the dough inside, firmly pressing the bottom and the sides; trim the edges even with the top of the pan.
• Refrigerate dough for 15 minutes.
• Arrange pie weights or dried beans evenly on top of the dough, and bake at 350F for 20 minutes.
• Remove weights and bake just until the crust on the bottom part looks dry (15 minutes).
• Let cool for 5 minutes.
• In a small bowl, mix the ingredients listed under topping until smooth and thoroughly blended.
• Spoon the meat filling into the pie crust and spread the cheese topping evenly over the filling, being careful not to mix the two.
• Bake at 350F until the crust is golden brown (40-45 minutes).
• Let cool 10 minutes before serving.
• If making individual pies, place a plate upside down on each section of dough and trim around the edge to make it perfectly round.
• Place 1/4 of the filling to one side of the circle and spread the filling evenly over that half to within 1/2" of the edge.
• Fold the circle in half over the filling and seal by pressing the edge with a fork.
• Trim the edge to 1/4".
• In a deep pan or deep fryer, heat at least 2 inches of oil to 350°F.
• Hold the pies under the surface and cook until a rich golden-brown (1 1/2-2 minutes), then drain on a paper towel.
• Serve immediately.

ENGLISH MEAT PASTIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Line pie pan with one pie crust. Layer: steak, potatoes, onions. Sprinkle with seasoning salt, herbs and garlic powder to taste. Pour Kitchen Bouquet or Liquid BV over all (I usually use enough to give it some good flavor and keep the meat moist/no less than 1 tablespoon). Top with another pie crust and cut off excess around edges. Baste with one beaten egg and poke holes to vent crust. Bake pie for 15 minutes, then lay a piece of foil over the top to keep crust from burning. Lower temperature to 350° and bake 45 minutes.

AUTUMN MEAT PASTIES

Steps:

• Brown beef or lamb. Add garlic and let simmer 10 minutes. Drain grease and add to gravy (or use the grease to make the gravy).
• Cook all the veggies however you like best. Use anything that sounds good. I like root vegetables and as large a mix as I can get. Peeled or unpeeled, diced or minced. You want everything bite size or smaller. You want them cooked before you add them to the meat and gravy. If you like them crunchier, just steam them lightly. If you like them mushier, cook them longer.
• Add veggies to meat and gravy. Mix well.
• If you are making your own bread, before the second rise, you need to separate the dough into individual pastie sizes -- When I use the Elevated Challah recipe, I divide it into 16 parts for large pasties, twice that for small pasties.
• I just divide the dough in half, and in half again, until I end up with a size that will probably work. I would guess that a small pastie is about 1/2 cup of dough. A large one is about twice that. Let the bread do its second rise.
• If you are buying prepared dough, make it up as you go along. I've never done it that way, but I am sure it will work just as well. Divide it into pieces big enough to stuff with the gravy mixture. I think mine usually end up around 5-6" diameter.
• Preheat the oven to 375 f.
• Roll each pastie through a bit of flour. Roll out into a circle, about a quarter of an inch thick. Fill the middle with between 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the gravy mixture (depending on the size of the dough).
• Mix the egg white and tablespoon of water. Spread a small amount along the edge of the dough, then fold it over. Pinch the edges closed. It will look like a half moon.
• Another option is to roll out two smaller circles, fill one in the middle with the gravy mixture, and set the second over the top and then pinch the dough closed (it will look like a full moon).
• Score the top of the dough (take a knife and poke holes or cut small lines) and place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
• Very lightly coat each pastie with cream (this makes it brown pretty).
• Bake for 20-30 minutes, until it is golden brown on top.
• I always have leftover gravy mix, which never bothers me. I just eat it as it is.

SWABIAN MEAT PASTIES (SCHWABISCHE MAULTASCHEN)

Steps:

• Stir together flour and 1/2 teaspoons salt.
• Stir in 8 tablespoons water, vinegar and oil until mixture forms a ball.
• If necessary, add more water.
• Cover; let stand 20 minutes.
• Moisten bread in about 1 cup water; squeeze out moisture.
• Combine squeezed out bread with spinach, parsley, ground meats, sausage, CHOPPED onion, eggs, nutmeg, salt and pepper.
• Mix very well.
• Roll out 1/4 of the dough at a time until 1/8 inch thick.
• Cut into an even number of 3-inch squares.
• Place 1 1/2 tablespoons filling on centers of half the squares.
• Top with other squares.
• Crimp edges together with a fork.
• Bring stock or broth to a boil.
• Add pasties; simmer in uncovered pan about 10 minutes or until they rise to the top.
• Melt butter in a skillet.
• Saute SLICED onion in butter until golden.
• Serve pasties with sauteed onion rings.
• Garnish with breadcrumbs.
• Makes 6 servings.
• Best of International Cooking.

MEAT PASTIES

Steps:

• Remove puff pastry from freezer and allow to soften, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, place carrots and potatoes in medium-size pot, cover with cold water, place over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer for 15 minutes, drain and allow the vegetables to cool.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Dice the carrots and potatoes, and place them in a medium-size bowl with the pork, onion, beef broth, parsley, salt and pepper. Mix well with spoon or fingers.
• Unfold the puff pastry sheets. Using a sharp knife, trace a circle in the pastry around a 6-inch plate and repeat five times. In the middle of the lower half of each circle, place 1/2 cup of pork mixture. Fold the circles in half, wet your fingers and press the circles together. Use a fork to pinch the edges and to prick several steam holes in each pastie. Use a pastry brush to glaze each lightly with the beaten egg. Bake on cookie trays for 30 minutes.