STEAK AND ALE PIE
for the whole stew it is 15.5 syns - rounded up to 4 syns a serving
Add 6 syns for 35g of pastry should you want it
SO 4 syns a serving without pastry, or 10 syns a serving with.
Either way, it is a meal worth the syns!!!!! I do tend to have it without the pastry, just as a stew I suppose with mashed potato.
INGREDIENTS
Jus-rol light puff pastry sheet
1 kg/2lb 4oz lean braising steak, cut into smallish chunks
3 tbsp plain flour (10.5 syns)
salt and freshly ground black pepper
300ml brown ale (black sheep is good!) (5 syns)
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 onions diced
250g/9oz carrots sliced
2 sticks celery finely sliced
1 fresh or dried bay leaf
handful fresh thyme sprigs
300ml/½ pint beef stock
1 tbsp tomato purée
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
500g/1lb 2oz chestnut or white mushrooms cut into quarters.
1. Toss the meat in the flour (I use a tupperware tub to do this)
2. Add half of it to a large non stick pan with some fry light. Lightly brown, add a splash of stock if it starts to stick a lot. Set the meat aside.
3. Splash a teeny bit of ale into the pan to scrape up any meaty bits and pour over the previously browned meat.
4. Repeat with the second batch of meat.
5. Add the meat to the one pan and add all the veg and herbs. Mix in a jug the ale, stock, balsamic vinegar and tomato puree and pour into the pan.
6. The beef needs to be covered with stock to prevent it drying out, if you need to add a bit more stock. You don't want to add loads or it will take ages to thicken, just so it is JUST covered!
7. Bring to the boil and cover and simmer on low for 1½ - 2 hours until it has thickened.
I sometimes do it just like this with mashed potato and veg like broccoli. I don't always bother with the pastry.
If you want the puff pastry, even the light is highly synned. I use 35g a person, cut into thin strips. I add the stew to a pie dish and arrange the strips of pastry on the top in a lattuce pattern. Wash with egg yolk or milk (don't do the edges or it won't puff up) and bake until puffed and golden.