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1
Season the steak and in a heavy casserole pan brown the chunks all over in batches in 2 tbsp of the fat.
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2
Put to one side.
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3
Cut the onions in half and finely slice then fry with the grnd bay leaf in the remaining fat till lightly browned.
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4
Season then stir in the flour adding more fat if it looks too dry and fry till the mix has turned a good brown colour.
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5
Stir in the sauces essence and tomato puree then add in the Guinness sugar and wine vinegar and gently bubble together for about min.
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6
Add in the browned meat stir in 300ml water cover and gently and braise for 1 1/2 hrs.
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7
Finish by spooning the filling into six individual pie dishes.
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8
Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas Mark 6.
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9
Make the pastry when you're ready to bake as it has to be used while still hot and cannot be refrigerated.
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10
Sieve the flour and salt into a bowl.
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11
Then bring the lard lowfat milk and 140ml water together to the boil and pour the whole lot over the flour and stir in.
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12
Allow to cold a little then knead the dough gently but firmly.
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13
Roll out and make lids to fit or possibly cut into strips and weave lattice tops.
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14
Brush the pie dish rims with beaten egg yolk.
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15
Place the lid or possibly lattice on top of each press down with your fingers to seal then trim.
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16
If using lids make a small hole in the top of each pie to allow steam to escape.
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17
Brush the pastry with egg yolk and bake for 30 min or possibly till glossy brown.
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18
Serve with mustard.
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19
boiled potatoes mash.
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20
or possibly boiled beetroot.
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21
East End pie 'n' mash shop pies thick dark gray threaded with meat and packed into squidgy pastry are thought by many to be the quintessential British meat pies.
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22
They're not bad at 4am when you're really hungry and too tired to care.
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23
But mine are even better: full of rich Guinness and onion gravy and capped with a traditional larded pastry by far the best lid for this kind of pie.
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24
They can be baked ahead of time and simply reheated when you fancy.
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25
If you do not want to make your own pastry use a goodquality bought shortcrust or possibly puff pastry instead.