PORK PIE
Ingredients
- 400g/14½oz pork shoulder
- chopped
- 150g/5oz lean smoked bacon
- chopped
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh sage
- 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
- ½ tsp freshly ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground allspice
- 2 tsp anchovy essence (or 1-2 fresh salted anchovies
- finely chopped
- or 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce)
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 450g/16oz plain flour
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 50ml/2fl oz whole milk
- 50ml/2fl oz warm water
- 150g/5¼oz lard
- chopped
- 1 free-range egg yolk
- beaten
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
- For the filling
- place half of the pork shoulder and bacon into a food processor and pulse to a coarse mince.
- Combine with the rest of the pork
- bacon
- sage
- rosemary
- nutmeg
- allspice and anchovy essence (or 1-2 fresh salted anchovies
- finely chopped
- or two teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce)
- and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- For the pastry
- sift the flour and salt and freshly ground black pepper into a bowl and set aside.
- In a pan
- heat the milk
- water and lard together and gradually bring to a simmer
- or until all the lard has melted.
- Bring the milk mixture up the boil and then pour this onto the flour mixture. Mix well with a wooden spoon to create a firm dough.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and knead the dough quickly for a few minutes.
- Roll the dough out flat
- then press the dough into a pork pie tin
- saving a quarter of the dough for the lid.
- Spoon the meat mixture into the pastry-lined pork pie tin.
- Roll out the remaining quarter of pastry so that it's slightly larger than the tin all round.
- Brush the beaten egg yolk all over the pastry lid
- then place the pastry on top of the meat mixture and press down the edges to seal.
- Cut a small hole in the top of the pastry and transfer into the oven for 45 minutes to one hour
- or until the pastry is golden-brown and the meat is completely cooked through.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin.
- To serve
- turn the pie out of the tin and slice.

