Beef Hotpot Pie

METHOD

1. Defrost pastry the night before – according to instructions. Take out of the fridge before using according to the instructions.

2. Preheat oven to 180C.

3. Soften the onions and garlic in a little oil over a medium heat.

4. Add the frozen mince until no longer frozen and starting to colour. When it’s mostly brown add the frozen veg and stir thoroughly. Wait 5 minutes then pop in the stock pot to melt. Plus the dried herbs.

5. Add the gravy granules to your pan plus enough boiling water (probably about half a pint) to make it into a nice pie filling.

6. Let it bubble for a few minutes, then pop into your pie/baking dish.

7. Roll out your pastry (using a little flour), so it’s bigger than the pie dish, but just by a bit. Read the hack below. Top the pie, then trim off the excess around the edges with a knife. Glaze with a beaten egg. Snip or slice two little air holes in the middle to allow steam to escape.

8. Bake in the oven for 30-40 mins until the pastry is cooked and it’s golden and crispy.

9. For the last 5 mins, pop your frozen broccoli on to cook.

ALTERNATIVES: Try this with a splash of red wine just before the gravy stage.

HACKS: Dampen the edges of your pie dish with a little egg wash to help the pastry to stick. Try crimping it with a fork. But don’t worry if it falls inwards a bit – all the best pies are very rustic looking!

INGREDIENTS:

1 x tbsp oil

Small handful Iceland frozen chopped onions

1 tbsp Iceland frozen chopped garlic

½ packet of Iceland beef mince

1/3 packet of Iceland frozen country veg

3 tbsp Gravy granules

1 x tbsp dried herbs

Pepper

1 block shortcrust pastry

1 egg, beaten

TO SERVE:

Iceland frozen broccoli