Australian Meat Pie Recipe

"In learning about Australia for the Tagging Game "The AmaZ'ing Race 2023," I discovered Australian meat pies. Meat pies are a well-known and popular food in Australia, and they have become an iconic part of Australian cuisine. Meat pies were introduced to Australia by early British settlers and have since become deeply ingrained in the country's food culture. They are commonly found in bakeries, sporting events, and as a popular takeaway food option. The savory pie fillings, often made with ground beef or minced meat, onions, and various seasonings, are encased in a flaky pastry crust. This version is a blending of many other ones I read, with ingredients that are available to me here in the USA. Using a prepared pie crust (refrigerated or frozen) would be a time saver."

Step by Step Method

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 390°F (200°C).

Step 2

To prepare the pie filling, heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic, sauté until they become translucent.

Step 3

Add the ground beef and cook until it browns, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.

Step 4

Stir in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, dried rosemary, salt, and pepper. Cook for another minute or two.

Step 5

Sprinkle the flour over the beef mixture and stir until everything is coated.

Step 6

Pour in the beef broth and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes or until the mixture thickens, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.

Step 7

While the filling cools, prepare the pie crust. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add the cold cubed butter and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Step 8

Gradually add cold water and mix until the dough comes together. Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.

Step 9

Take the chilled dough and roll it out on a floured surface to fit your pie dish. Make sure it's large enough to cover the bottom and sides of the dish.