When I was about seven, my family took a winter road trip to stay with friends in Bathurst. I have the most vivid memory of arriving at their farmhouse in the evening, exhausted and cold, to be greeted with a beef pie – exactly like this one – being pulled from the oven. It was the most perfect act of hospitality and, even though I was so young, I’ve never forgotten how good it tasted.
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1kg chuck steak, cut into 3cm cubes
- 1 brown onion, finely diced
- 2 large carrots, diced
- 1 garlic clove, diced
- 400g tinned chopped tomatoes
- 3 thyme sprigs (optional)
- 400g tinned lentils, rinsed and drained or 150g fresh or frozen peas
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, just thawed
- milk, for brushing
Method
Heat two teaspoons of the oil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add half of the beef and cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Repeat with another two teaspoons of the oil and the remaining beef.
Add the remaining oil to the pan with the onion, carrot and garlic and cook for six minutes, or until softened. Return the beef to the pan, stir in the tomatoes, then add the thyme sprigs (if using) and 100ml of water and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 1.5 hours, or until the beef is tender. Discard the thyme sprigs and stir through the lentils or peas.
Transfer the remaining mixture to a 1.5 litre capacity baking dish and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180°C. Press the pastry over the beef, tucking in the edges. Brush the top with a little milk and bake for 15 minutes, or until golden.
Recipe taken from Something for Everyone by Louise Fulton Keats
Bring the whole family together for deliciously healthy meals with Something for Everyone. Louise Fulton Keats provides simple solutions for family meal times, from starting babies on solid foods and managing fussy toddlers, to broadening your family’s culinary horizons and avoiding having to cook two dinners every night. Each recipe contains nutritional advice to help you cater to the needs of every member of your family. Accompanied with beautiful photography throughout, Something for Everyone gives you all you need to instil a love of good food and healthy eating in your household.
You can purchase Something for Everyone at cooked.com.
Published by Hardie Grant Books.
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