Beef Beer and Chestnut Pot Pies
A great pub classic recipe with slow cooked boneless beef shin, chestnuts, onions, mustard and stout covered with a layer of puff pastry. Delicious!
prep time
15 mins
cook time
3 hours 10 minutes
serves
4 people
Ingredients
- 450g lean boneless beef shin, cut into 2.5cm cubes
- 2 tablespoons plain flour seasoned with salt and freshly milled black pepper
- 3 tablespoons rapeseed or sunflower oil
- 1 red onion, peeled and sliced
- 100g vacuum packed whole peeled chestnuts, halved
- 300ml stout
- 150ml good, hot beef stock
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard
- 1 bay leaf
Fot the 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 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 170°C, 150°C, Fan, Gas Mark 3 for 1½ hours.
- Remove the casserole from the hob or oven and turn up the oven to 190°C, 170°C, Fan, Gas Mark 5.
- Remove the bay leaf and spoon into a 1.2L 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.
