beef pie

Hereford Beer Beef and Chestnut Pie

A great pub classic recipe with slow cooked boneless beef shin, chestnuts, onions, mustard and stout covered with a layer of puff pastry. Delicious!

Serves: 4

Total time (prep and cooking): 3 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 450g lean boneless Hereford Beef shin, cut into 2.5cm/1 inch cubes
  • 2 tbsp plain flour seasoned with salt and freshly milled black pepper
  • 3 tbsp rapeseed or sunflower oil
  • 1 red onion, peeled and sliced
  • 100g vacuum packed whole peeled chestnuts, halved
  • 300ml/½pint stout
  • 150ml/¼pint good, hot beef stock
  • 1 tsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp wholegrain mustard
  • 1 bay leaf

Pie Topping

  • ½ x 500g pack prepared puff pastry
  • 1 egg, beaten

Method

  • Place the seasoned flour and seasoning into a large plastic food bag.  Add the beef in batches and shake to coat.
  • Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan and cook the beef in stages for 4-5 minutes until brown on all sides.  Spoon into a 1.2L/2pint ovenproof casserole dish suitable for the hob and oven.
  • In the same frying pan fry the onions and chestnuts for 2-3 minutes.  Spoon into the casserole dish with the beef.
  • Add the rest of the ingredients, turn up the heat and boil then cover, turn down the heat and cook on the hob or in a preheated oven at Gas mark 3, 170°C, 325°F for 1½hours.
  • Remove the casserole from the hob or oven and turn up the oven to Gas mark 5, 190ºC, 350ºF.
  • Remove the bay leaf and spoon into a 1.2L/2pint ovenproof pie dish.
  • For the topping, roll out the pastry in a large square on a lightly floured surface to about the thickness of a pound coin. Cut the pastry lid large enough to cover the dish.
  • Spoon the filling into the casserole dish, dampen the edges with water and cover the top with a pastry lid. Cut a small slit on top of the pastry for the steam to escape.  Put the pie on a baking tray then brush the pastry with the beaten egg.
  • Cook for 25-30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden.
  • Serve the pie with creamy mash and seasonal vegetables.