Hand pies, also known as pasties, are a delectable pastry that combines a flaky crust with a variety of savory or sweet fillings. They trace their origins back to 13th century Cornwall, England, where they were traditionally filled with meat, vegetables, and cheese. Hand pies gained immense popularity among the working class due to their portability and ability to be eaten on the go. Today, hand pies are enjoyed all over the world and come in an array of flavors, from classic beef and cheese to unique concoctions like apple and brie or Nutella and banana. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a beginner, making hand pies at home is a fun and rewarding experience. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and let's embark on a culinary journey to create these delightful hand-held treats.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
BEEF & POTATO HAND PIES (CORNISH PASTIES)
Simple beef and potato hand pies (aka: classic Cornish Pasties) made with leftover roast and healthier store bought pie crust!
Provided by Dena Norton
Categories lunch
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment.
- Roll out pie crusts and use a 8-9" tart pan or other pan, inverted, to cut the dough into 4 large circles. You may have to reform and roll the dough between cuttings to get all four circles. Lay 2 dough circles on each parchment lined baking sheet.
- Pile about 1 1/2 cups of the meat and potato mixture (with juices) onto one half of each dough circle. Spread evenly over that half of the dough circle, leaving about 1/2" rim around the edge for crimping. Sprinkle some sea salt and pepper over the meat and potato mixture.
- Use a pastry brush to brush the 1/2" rim of pastry with some of the beaten egg - this will serve as "glue" to seal the pastry edges.
- Gently fold the "blank" side of each dough circle over the meat and potato filling side, matching the edges of the pastry to create a half-circle shaped hand pie. Use your finger to press and seal the edges of the pastry together, fluting them for decoration if desired.
- Once each hand pie is formed, use a very sharp knife to lightly score the top of each pie.
- Use a pastry brush to cover the surface of each hand pie with beaten egg.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until crusts are golden and firm to the touch.
HAND PIES (PASTIES)
Welsh "pasties" are also enjoyed in Ireland. I've heard them called hand pies, as they bake up small and firm enough to carry them around in your hand. My family usually makes them as veggie pies, but you could use a bit of ground beef or cooked crumbled sausage to round it out to a meal. We've had the pork sausage version, and it's pretty good -- some of the newer artisan sausage might be good, too -- chicken, sage and apple sausage is sounding pretty good right now.....
Provided by Cinnamom in Illinois
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 1h30m
Yield 5-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Bring pie crust out and to room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Lightly grease, spray or use parchment on a large baking sheet.
- Mix vegetables, and pork sausage if using. Don't precook the sausage - it will cook when the pies bake.
- Cut crust into small circles, about 2-3 inches across. You should be able to get five or six circles out of each crust if you re-roll the pastry leftovers.
- Place an equal amount of the filling on half of the circles, and top with another circle.
- Fold the edges over each other towards the top, and crimp together like a traditional pie crust. Make a small slit in the center to vent steam, and brush with an egg wash if you like.
- Place each little pie on the prepared baking sheet, and bake for approximately one hour, checking for over-browning.
- Can be eaten hot or cold.
BEEF AND RUTABAGA HAND PIES WITH JALAPENO KETCHUP
Steps:
- For the pastry: Combine the flour, sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the cold butter and pulse until the butter is the size of small peas. Whisk the egg yolk, vinegar and 1/2 cup ice water together in a spouted measuring cup. Drizzle over the flour mixture and pulse just until the dough comes together. (If the dough is too crumbly, add a little more water; add more flour if it is too wet.) Dump the dough onto a floured counter and knead a few times to bring it together. Roll into a fat log and wrap in plastic. Chill until firm, about 1 hour.
- For the filling: Combine the beef, carrot, potato, rutabaga, onion, thyme, salt and pepper in a large bowl and mix well.
- To make the pastries, cut the chilled dough crosswise into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece on a floured surface to an approximate 6-by-8-inch oval. Pack a scant cup of the filling in a measuring cup and invert near the bottom of the oval to make a high mound of filling. Beat the remaining egg white in a small bowl with a splash of water. Brush the edges of the pastry with the egg wash. Fold the top of the pastry over the filling and press the dough to make a circular mound of filling in the center. Trim the edges of the dough, if needed, to even them out. Crimp the edges of the pastry and cut two air vents in the top. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling. Chill 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Brush the chilled pastries with egg wash. Bake the pastries 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue to bake until deep golden and cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes more.
- Serve the pastries with Spicy Ketchup.
- Combine the ketchup, jalapenos, brine and Worcestershire in a small bowl. Chill while the pasties bake.
BEEF AND POTATO HAND PIES
Store-bought puff pastry makes these pies extra easy. Serve them with a green salad.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Appetizers Finger Food Recipes
Time 1h
Yield Makes 8
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Add onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook until translucent, 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds.
- Add beef and cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until browned, 5 minutes. Stir in paprika, potato, and raisins; season to taste with salt and pepper and remove from heat.
- On a lightly floured work surface, gently roll out puff pastry sheets to smooth creases. Cut each sheet into 4 squares. Place 1/3 cup beef mixture in center of each pastry square. Brush edges lightly with water, fold over filling to form triangles, press to seal, and sprinkle with paprika.
- Transfer to two parchment-lined rimmed baking sheets and bake until pastry is golden and puffed, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 560 g, Fat 34 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 22 g, SaturatedFat 7 g
TRADITIONAL ENGLISH BEEF & POTATO PICNIC PIES - PASTIES
Delicious little "hand pies" which are ideal for picnics as well as for brunch, lunch & light snacks. These are very easy to make & can be made ahead & frozen for up to 3 months. I made these using individual 5" disposable aluminium pie tins; however, the ingredients listed would also make a large double-crusted plate pie. Serve them warm or cold with pickles, relishes, chutneys & assorted salads. Also wonderful with hot gravy! The individual 5" pies that have been made here are quite generous, so if you wish, make them smaller than that - maybe in a muffin tin!
Provided by French Tart
Categories Savory Pies
Time 2h
Yield 6 individual pies, 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- First peel and cut your potatoes into even size chunks & then boil for about 15-20 minutes or until very tender, but not too mushy.
- Drain the potatoes and add the milk, butter, salt & pepper to taste.
- Mash very well with a potato masher or using a hand-held mixer.
- Mash/mix until there are no lumps left.
- The mashed potato should be smooth but fairly firm and not too soft.
- Heat up the oil in a large roomy pan and add the diced onions. Add the garlic if using with the onions.
- Cook the onions for about 15-20 minutes, until soft and golden.
- Remove the onions and set to one side in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the minced beef, adding a bit more oil if necessary. Stir the minced beef all the time to break down any lumps. Cook for about 15 - 20 minutes until cooked & brown all the way through.
- Add the tinned tomatoes, soy sauce, herbs, tomato puree if using and a good twist of freshly ground black pepper. Mix together thoroughly.
- Continue to simmer and add the beef stock - stirring all the time for a further 5 minutes.
- Take off the heat and add the beef mixture to the onions.
- Mix them together thoroughly & then add the mashed potatoes - mix again well.
- Allow to cool slightly.
- Pre-heat the oven to 220C, 425F or gas mark 7.
- Grease 6 x 5" pie tins OR 1 x 9" ovenproof pie plate.
- Sprinkle some flour onto a board and roll out the ready-made puff pastry.
- Taking a saucer or a large cookie cutter, cut out six x bottoms for the pie tins, just slightly larger than the tins. (Invert the pie plate & cut around it for a plate pie.).
- Put the pastry bottoms into the buttered tins (or on to the buttered plate) and fill generously with the beef and potato pie filling.
- Cut out the lid/s and moisten the edges of the bottom pastry case with water; then place the lid/s on top - making sure they reach right up to the edge.
- Crimp the edges of the pastry with a fork or your fingers to make a seal.
- Cut two slits on top of the pies with a knife or scissors.
- Glaze with the beaten egg (or milk) and sprinkle some sea salt.
- Bake in the pre-heated oven for 25- 30 minutes until puffed up and golden brown.
- Serve warm or cold with pickles, chutneys and assorted salads.
- Ideal for picnics, snacks, light lunches & brunch.
- Freezer:.
- To freeze them, pack them with greaseproof paper between each pie in a freezer container. Defrost for at least 6 hours. Can be frozen before the final baking or after being baked. To cook when unbaked, defrost them & then follow the directions above.
UPPER PENINSULA PASTIES
I grew up in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where many people are of English ancestry. Pasties-traditional meat pies often eaten by hand-are popular there. -Carole Lynn Derifield, Valdez, Alaska
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h35m
Yield 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a large bowl, stir shortening and water until shortening is melted. Gradually stir in flour and salt until a very soft dough is formed; cover and refrigerate for 1-1/2 hours. , Cut potatoes and rutabagas into 1/8- or 1/4-inch cubes; do not make cubes too large or they will not cook properly. Gently combine ground beef and pork; break into small crumbles. In a large bowl, combine potatoes, rutabagas, onions, meat mixture and seasonings. , Divide dough into 12 equal portions. On a floured surface, roll out 1 portion at a time into a 8-in. circle. Mound 1-1/2 to 2 cups filling on half of each circle; dot with 1 teaspoon butter. Moisten edges with water; carefully fold dough over filling and press edges with a fork to seal. , Place on ungreased baking sheets. Cut several slits in top of pasties. If desired, brush with cream or beaten egg. Bake at 350° until golden brown, about 1 hour. Cool on wire racks. Serve hot or cold. Store in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 757 calories, Fat 44g fat (13g saturated fat), Cholesterol 46mg cholesterol, Sodium 1060mg sodium, Carbohydrate 69g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 19g protein.
Tips for Making Hand Pies and Pasties:
- Use a sturdy dough: A sturdy dough will help to hold the filling in place and prevent the pies from breaking apart. You can use a store-bought pie crust mix or make your own dough from scratch.
- Chill the dough before rolling it out: Chilling the dough will make it easier to work with and less likely to tear.
- Roll the dough out thinly: The thinner the dough, the crispier the pies will be.
- Use a variety of fillings: Hand pies and pasties can be filled with anything from meat and vegetables to fruit and cheese. Get creative and experiment with different flavors.
- Crimp the edges of the pies well: Crimping the edges of the pies will help to seal them and prevent the filling from leaking out.
- Bake the pies until they are golden brown: The pies are done baking when they are golden brown and the filling is hot and bubbly.
Conclusion:
Hand pies and pasties are a delicious and portable treat that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They are also a great way to use up leftover ingredients. With a little practice, you can learn to make hand pies and pasties that are perfect for any occasion.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love