Beef, Stilton and Guinness Pie

• serves 4

• Preparation time: 40

• Cooking time: 120

Ingredients

braising beef 1kg, chuck, flank or brisket all work well
trimmed of excess fat and cut into large chunks
garlic 2 cloves, chopped
thyme a small bunch, leaves stripped
black peppercorns 1 tbsp
Guinness 500ml can
flour 6 tbsp, seasoned
oil for frying
shallots 8, halved
puff pastry 500g, fresh or frozen (defrosted)
Stilton 100g, crumbled (Colston Basset is good)
egg 1 beaten, to glaze

Method

1. Put the beef, garlic, thyme, peppercorns and Guinness into a bowl. Cover and marinate for 2-3 hours (or preferably overnight). Take out the beef, pat dry and toss in the flour (strain the marinade and keep the liquid).

2. Heat some oil in a large casserole dish and brown the beef all over in batches; you want it to colour, not stew. Remove, brown the shallots in the casserole then return the beef and the marinade to the pan.

3. Cover and simmer for about 1.5 hours or until the beef is tender (or cook in the oven on 160C/fan 140C/gas 3). Cool slightly.

4. Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Roll the pastry to the thickness of a two dollar coin. Sprinkle the Stilton over one half, fold the other half on top and roll again to the same thickness. Cut around the tops of 4 pie dishes (or use one big one). Divide the filling between the dishes, brush a little egg around the rims and top with pastry. Trim the edges then brush more egg over the top. Cook for 20-25 minutes until the pastry is crisp and golden.

Notes