Richard Knight’s Mince Pies

Hunky Dory Restaurant This dish is said to be from the 13th century and the days of the Crusades. The mixing of meat and sweetness became an English tradition long after that, especially around the holiday season. The meat part is often left out of modern-day recipes, so if you prefer you can omit the meat and just increase the other ingredients a little. * Special note: Also it’s been another long tradition of people accidentally inhaling the confectioners’ sugar on the first bite of the pie! Please be careful!
December 01, 2016

Ingredients

  • 3 cups diced cooked beef (shoulder is good)
  • 8 cups small-diced Granny Smith apples
  • 3 cups raisins
  • 1 cup apple juice
  • 1 large orange, peeled, sectioned and cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 1 cup molasses or treacle
  • 2 cups beef broth or stock
For the filling
  • In a large bowl, mix the cooked beef, apples, raisins, apple juice, orange, salt, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, molasses and beef broth. Refrigerate.
For the pastry
  • 3 cups (375 grams) plain flour
  • 1 heaping cup (260 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (125 grams) caster sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 beaten egg for glazing
Putting Them Together
  • 3 Satsumas, segmented
  • Zest of 1 lemon

Preparation

Place the flour and butter in a bowl and rub together into crumb consistency.

Add the sugar and the egg, and mix together. On a lightly floured surface, fold until the pastry until it just comes together.

Wrap the pastry in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.

Mix Satsumas, zest and pie filling together Heat oven to 400°; have a small glass of wine. Roll out the pastry to 1/8 inch thick. Using a round cutter, cut out 16 (4-inch) bases and place them into (sprayed) muffin pans.

Put 1½ tablespoons mincemeat mixture into each. Brush the edge of each pie with a little beaten egg.

Re-roll out the pastry, cut out 16 (2½-inch) round lids and press them on top to seal. Glaze with the rest of the egg, sprinkle with sugar, then make a small slit in each pie lid. Bake mince pies for 15–20 minutes, until golden brown. Leave to cool before releasing them from the muffin trays and dusting with confectioners’ sugar.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Ingredients

  • 3 cups diced cooked beef (shoulder is good)
  • 8 cups small-diced Granny Smith apples
  • 3 cups raisins
  • 1 cup apple juice
  • 1 large orange, peeled, sectioned and cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 1 cup molasses or treacle
  • 2 cups beef broth or stock
For the filling
  • In a large bowl, mix the cooked beef, apples, raisins, apple juice, orange, salt, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, molasses and beef broth. Refrigerate.
For the pastry
  • 3 cups (375 grams) plain flour
  • 1 heaping cup (260 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (125 grams) caster sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 beaten egg for glazing
Putting Them Together
  • 3 Satsumas, segmented
  • Zest of 1 lemon