AUSTRALIAN PIES RECIPES

Steps:

• Process flour and butter until crumbly. Add egg and enough of the water to make mixture come together. Knead pastry on floured surface until smooth. Cover; refrigerate 30 minutes.
• For the beef filling, heat oil in large saucepan; cook onion and beef, stirring, until beef is browned. Stir in undrained tomatoes, paste, sauce and stock; bring to the boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, about 20 minutes or until thick. Cool.
• Oil six ⅔ cup (160ml) pie tins. Divide pastry into six portions; roll each portion between sheets of baking paper until large enough to line tins. Lift pastry into tins; press over base and sides. Trim edges. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Cut six 11cm (4½-inch) rounds from puff pastry. Refrigerate until required.
• Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F.
• Line pastry-lined tins with baking paper; fill with dried beans or rice. Place tins on oven tray; bake 10 minutes. Remove paper and beans; bake further 5 minutes. Cool.
• Fill pastry cases with beef filling; brush edges of pastry with extra egg. Top with puff pastry rounds; press edges to seal. Brush tops with extra egg. Cut steam holes in top of pies.
• Bake pies about 20 minutes or until pastry is browned lightly.

Steps:

• Make fruit mince three days ahead. Finely chop apple and half the sultanas. Combine in bowl with remaining sultanas and remaining ingredients, mix well. Transfer mixture to sterilised jar. Store in refrigerator for at least three days before using. (Makes about 2 cups fruit mince.)
• Grease two 12-hole (1-tablespoon/20ml) shallow round-based patty pans.
• Sift flour into a large bowl and stir in almond meal; rub in butter. Stir in rind and sifted icing sugar. Stir in egg yolk and enough of the milk to make ingredients cling together. On a lightly-floured surface, knead dough until smooth. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced).
• Roll pastry until 3mm thick, then cut out 7.5cm rounds and press into patty pans. Drop tablespoons of fruit mince into each pastry case.
• Roll pastry scraps on floured surface, cut out desired shapes. Brush each pastry shape with beaten egg and place pastry egg-side down on fruit mince.
• Bake pies about 20 minutes or until browned lightly. Dust with a little sifted icing sugar before serving.