So, once a week I (Emma) am going to be sharing a recipe (or something similar) with you. I thought it would be fun to start with something Australian (since I am) and kind of ironic to do a meat recipe since I am a vegetarian! I recently made this for friends. We had an ‘Amazing Race’ competition and whoever won got to choose a meal from the country of their choice! Since the winner loves all things Australian he chose this dish, an Aussie classic.
If you want to be authentic in your enjoyment of this dish make sure you pronounce it OZ-EE, not OS-EE and serve it with tomato sauce (that is Ketchup). Oh, and FYI Koala’s aren’t bears.
Australian Meat Pie SERVES 4-6
1 lb ground beef 1/2 onion, finely diced 1 cup water, divided 2 beef bouillon cubes 1/4 cup ketchup 1 1/2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce Pepper to taste 1/2 teaspoon oregano 1 pinch nutmeg 3 tablespoons flour 1 sheet puff pastry (this is found in the freezer isle, next to the frozen desserts) 1 short crust pie crust, recipe below
1. Pre-heat oven at 400 degrees. 2. Brown meat and onion over low heat. 3. Add 3/4 cup of the water, bouillon cubes, ketchup, worcestershire sauce, pepper, oregano, and nutmeg. 4. Bring to simmer and cover for 15 minutes. 5. Blend flour with the remaining 1/4 cup water until it becomes a smooth paste; add to the meat mix. 6. Let cool. 7. Add the cooled filling mixture to pie shell; place sheet of puff pastry over mix, trim edges. Brush pastry with a little milk, press edges down with a fork. 8. Bake in oven for 15 minutes. 9. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for 25 more minutes, or until golden brown. 10. Serve with fries, or salad.
Short crust Pastry MAKES ONE 9” PIE CRUST
1 cup flour 1 pinch salt ½ cup cold butter, cut into small pieces 4-5 tablespoons of cold water
1. Put flour, salt and butter in bowl. Rub flour and butter together with finger tips until the mixture resembles course bread crumbs. 2. Add water a small amount at a time while stirring. The dough should be fairly stiff. 3. Roll ball into disk (be careful not to kneed dough) and refrigerate for 15 minutes. 4. Roll dough out until it is sufficient size to fill a 9” pie dish. 5. Place dough into pie dish. Line with greaseproof paper and fill with dry rice or beans. Bake 15 minutes 375 degrees. Remove greaseproof paper and bake for a further 10 minutes or until beginning to brown.
Click HERE to see a video of someone making short crust pastry.
I guess you could also use ground turkey, and stir in some frozen vegetables (carrots, corn, peas etc.) if you were trying to be a little healthier!