Steak & kidney pie

This steak and kidney pie is a classic but great as hearty and comfort dish

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Photo: istockphoto

Ingredients for Steak & Kidney pie

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, peeled and chopped
1 kg beef skirt or other braising steak, trimmed and cut into 4 cm cubes
250 g ox kidney, skinned, cored and sliced
3 tablespoons plain flour, seasoned with salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 1/2 cups beef stock
2 cups Guinness
Bouquet garni
125 g field, flat or open-cup mushrooms, wiped and quartered
625 g puff pastry, homemade or bought
1 egg, beaten

Preparation method for Steak & Kidney pie

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a heavy-based saucepan, add the onion and fry on low heat until softened, but not browned, then remove and put on a plate.

Heat the remaining oil in the pan and fry the steak and kidney in batches until evenly browned. Remove the meat as it browns and put it with the onion.

Stir the flour into the pan, then gradually stir in the stock and Guinness. Bring to the boil, stirring and scraping any brown residue off the bottom of the pan. Return the meat and onion to the pan, adding any juices left on the plate. Bring to the boil, add the bouquet garni, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer on the lowest possible heat for 2 hours, or until the meat is tender. Add the mushrooms and cook for 10 minutes more. Remove from the heat, cool and chill overnight. The next day, remove the bouquet garni, season the meat to taste and transfer it to a 1.25-litre pie dish. Add enough of the meat juices to cover and reserve the remainder. On a floured surface, roll out the pastry to 5 cm larger than the top of the pie dish. Trim off a strip 2–3 cm wide from around the edge. Brush the edge of the pie dish with water, press the pastry strip onto it, then brush the strip with water. Cover the pie with the remaining pastry, pressing the edges together to seal. Trim and decorate the edge. Brush with the beaten egg and make a small hole in the centre of the pastry. Chill while heating the oven to 220°C. Bake the pie for 25–30 minutes, then cover loosely with foil to prevent further browning. Reduce the oven temperature to 160°C, and cook for a further 20–25 minutes, or until the pastry is cooked. Reheat the reserved meat juices and serve separately with the pie. To reheat the pie, lay a sheet of foil loosely over the top to prevent it from overbrowning.