British Meat Pie, A Great Meal for a Cold Day

 My gang took off for a football game on Sunday.  It was cold and raining and I knew they would be really ready for a good hot meal when they returned.

 I decided that a classic British meat pie was needed. This is a very hearty meal and perfect to warm up your heart and soul.

 Begin buy making enough pie crust to fill a large rectangular pan.  I made 4 regular sized crusts. Saute' a diced onion in some bacon grease or oil.

 I browned some pancetta and used the grease from it to saute the onion.

 Cut up some carrots, celery, turnips and parsnips into small dice and cook just until they begin to soften.

 Add 2 pounds of ground beef and cook, breaking it up until it is browned.

 Add a couple tablespoons of granulated garlic, the diced cooked pancetta, some diced fresh parsley, sage rosemary and thyme. Salt and pepper to taste.

 Add about 5 tablespoons of tomato paste and a few diced anchovies.  Add 3 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce.

 Add about 2 cups of beef stock and 2 tubs of Knorr's concentrated beef stock.

 Sprinkle with 1/3 cup of flour.

 Add several tablespoons of Maggi.


 Stir until it begins to thicken and set it aside to cool.

Make some mashed potatoes and keep them warm.

Line a heavy large rectangular pan with some of your dough.

Once the filling cools, spoon it into the pan.  Cover with a top crust.

Crimp the edges.

Brush with a beaten egg and a bit of water.

Bake at 350 degrees until the crust turns golden.  It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.  Let rest while you make some buttered peas.

Serve squares of it with the potatoes and peas and ladle rich gravy over it.  If you need the gravy recipe you can find it here:  http://octoberfarm.blogspot.com/2011/09/returning-guests-and-gravy.html
The gang was very happy to see this when they came home.

Comments

Marina in Blue said…
Oh!! Please stop! Or I'll get fatter and fatter,
Today I've had your honey bread for breakfast and at tea time
Marina
Robin Larkspur said…
Very major comfort food there!
Anonymous said…
Oh yes, that's perfect on a chilly day! I do it way to seldome though but they actually had it on the restaurant we buy our lunches from at work, unfortunately they don't know how to use spices in that place.

Have a great day!
Christer.
Dog Trot Farm said…
What a perfect meal for a cold Autumn evening. I so enjoy reading your posts, you make and photograph the most delicious meals, can I invite myself for dinner? Have a lovely day, Julie.
Kelly said…
I think this will be good for tomorrow night. I'll let you know how it turns out. What is Maggi?
Kelly said…
I might try it with ground lamb. We have loads of lamb in the freezer.
Guillaume said…
It looks delicious and perfect for the cold, rainy autumn days we are having here. But I have unfortunately seen nothing like it here.

We have something similar in Québec, which we call meat pie, but it is more akin to what the Brits call pork pies, with mince pork (and a bit of veal).
Happy Thanksgiving to all Canucks by birth or by heart!
PJ said…
I'll have to give British meat pie another try, as 24 years ago, at the tender age of 9, I realized they were not the same as our meat pies, and being very picky at the time, I never touched them again (it was on a two week trip anyway). I'd need some other guinea pigs to try a full recipe with me though.

However, as my brother Guillaume mentioned, back home we have our own meat pies, probably inspired or distant cousins of the British ones. Here's the recipe on my blog, for those who'd like to try.
Oh, does this look delicious, and comforting! I know my hubby would enjoy this!

How come you didn't go to the game?
Mmmmmmmmmmmm, a little brown sauce (HP) on the pie and that's a grand meal!
luckybunny said…
Oh yes after a long day of working outside splitting wood - this would be perfect!
Rue said…
Looks great! I do wish we were having some cooler days though. Well...it's cooler than September - but September was HOT here. I have yet to see rain. I'm a bit worried now about the length of Winter coming if it's still this warm. We may get smashed this year. Oh well. I tuned up my electric fireplace today - I'm good to go!
Barb said…
I can imagine your gang loved it! I agree, the perfect meal for a cold rainy day! Can you believe we have had none of those lately. Hopefully this week-end!
Well....I guess they WOULD be happy. I would have screamed and fainted dead away, woke up and woofed it down like a mad woman.
No...not really :) but I certainly would have been overjoyed at such a meal...I didn't have to cook!
You cook with passion and that's what makes it so good. Your love of cooking shows all over the place! Hugs...
Oh my gosh, that looks delicious!!!! Heart warming. Bone warming. Etc. :-)

"Auntie"
Unknown said…
That was one amazing pie that you made there! Wow! I bet they loved it! I started salivating at about picture 4!
That is the most wonderful meat pie I have ever seen. If there is someone that has not made your beef gravy they have no idea what they are missing. I could have the gravy over toast and be happy.
1st Man said…
New to your blog (love it) and this recipe just looks amazing. Thanks, I can't wait to peruse through your recipes! They look wonderful. You are doing what we want to do once we get our farm up and running, ha.
SharleneT said…
One of my favorite Fall meals! This is a great recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Unknown said…
Great blog and awesome food review! If you are looking for the best pie and mash shop in London you should definitely check Arments Pie and Mash. Pies are a classic English food at the heart of our traditional cuisine and way of life, and Arments remain true to that tradition and values. Here you can find more information - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OahxXDeRGXA Highly recommended!
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So much thanks for the sharing. I was looking for that and this is very important for me. Thanks!

Best Regards,

Cut Out Image
Unknown said…
In the tenth book of the Republic, when Plato has completed his final burning denunciation of Poetry, the false Siren, the imitator of things which themselves are shadows, the ally of all that is low and weak in the soul against that which is high and strong, who makes us feed the things we ought to starve and serve the things we ought to rule, he ends with a touch of compunction: ‘We will give her champions, not poets themselves but poet-lovers, an opportunity to make her defence in plain prose and show that she is not only sweet — as we well know — but also helpful to society and the life of man, and we will listen in a kindly spirit. For we shall be gainers, I take it, if this can be proved.’ Aristotle certainly knew the passage, and it looks as if his treatise on poetry was an answer to Plato’s challenge.

Aristotle, "The Poetics", p.1