Steak & Ale Pie with Stilton Crust

Name: Steak & Ale Pie with Stilton Crust
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 120 min
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 2 lb braising steak. cut into chunks; 2-3 tbsp plain flour. seasoned; 2 large carrots. peeled and cut into batons; 1 large onion. sliced; 12 oz button mushrooms. halved; 1 small bunch of thyme. chopped; 1 pint real ale (preferrably home-brewed with dark. caramel malt notes and a complex hop character); 2-3 Bay Leaves; 1 Beef Stock Cube; salt and freshly ground black pepper to season; pinch Cayenne Pepper (optional); Stilton. crumbled; 1 large knob of butter; 2 garlic cloves. finely chopped; serve with mashed potatoes; 1 sheet of puff pastry (thawed if frozen)

Over a year ago 8,672 views

Cook: 120 mins

British Main Course

Ingredients

2 lb braising steak. cut into chunks
2-3 tbsp plain flour. seasoned
2 large carrots. peeled and cut into batons
1 large onion. sliced
12 oz button mushrooms. halved
1 small bunch of thyme. chopped
1 pint real ale (preferrably home-brewed with dark. caramel malt notes and a complex hop character)
2-3 Bay Leaves
1 Beef Stock Cube
salt and freshly ground black pepper to season
pinch Cayenne Pepper (optional)
Stilton. crumbled
1 large knob of butter
2 garlic cloves. finely chopped
serve with mashed potatoes
1 sheet of puff pastry (thawed if frozen)

Accompaniment

Description

Who ate all the pies? You would if all pies tasted this good!

Method

1
1. Mix the cubed steak with the seasoned flour to coat.
2. Melt the butter in a large pan and add the floured steak to seal. Add the carrot, mushroom, onion and garlic and fry for a further 1-2 mins.
3. Add the real ale, stock cube, thyme and bay leaves to the pan and mix. Season with salt and pepper and add some cayenne pepper too if desired.
4. Cover and simmer gently for 1-1.5 hrs or until the meat becomes tender.
5. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
6. Roll out the puff pastry thinly. Crumble the stilton over the top of half the pastry and then fold the pastry over in two, encasing the stilton.
7. Let the pie filling cool a little before removing the bay leaves and transferring to a large oven-proof pie dish. Top with the stilton pastry and place in the oven for 25-30 mins, or until the pastry is cooked and browned on top.
8. Serve with mashed potato and your favourite pint of high quality ale.

Chef's Tips

Thyme can be substituted with Rosemary, Tarragon or Marjoram.

Add more flour if the filling doesn't thicken sufficiently during simmering.

Add water if necessary during simmering.

The quality of the ale will have a strong impact on the flavour.