This is national pie week, so it inspired me to make my version of a steak and blue cheese pie. Yes, there is a bit of work involved but I guarantee it will taste 100 times better than anything you’ll buy in a supermarket.

Before you blue cheese haters turn your nose up at this. I have served this to people who detest blue cheese and they loved it (admittedly I didn’t tell them there was blue cheese in it until they had finished).  So be brave and give it a try, you can try a really mild blue cheese if you’re not sure.

If cheese just isn’t your thing, just leave it out, this recipe will still give you a really tasty steak pie.

I used homemade pastry but you can use shop bought short crust pastry if you’re short on time. I usually make the meat filling and pastry the day before (you can also freeze it if you’re organised enough to make a double batch) .

For the pastry

400 Grams Plain flour

200 Grams Butter (cut into cubes)

1 Tbsp Mustard powder (optional)

1 Egg

Plus 1 Egg yolk (for glazing the pastry before it goes in the oven)

For the filling

800 Grams Stewing steak (cut into 4-5cm chunks)

50 Grams Plain flour

1 Tsp Mustard powder (optional)

1 Onion (finely chopped)

2 Stalks of celery (finely chopped)

1 Tbsp Tomato puree

2-3 Tbsp Oil

100 Grams Stilton or other blue cheese

500-750 ml Beef stock

Salt and Pepper to taste

Method

1. To make the filling, add a pinch of salt and pepper to flour as well as the mustard power and mix. Coat the cubes of meat in the flour
2. Add a tablespoon of oil to a large heavy bottomed pan, add the meat in small batches and seal on each side before removing and setting to one side. Continue doing this until all the meat has been sealed, add more oil to the pan if you need to
3. When all the meat has been sealed add another tablespoon of oil to the pan and gently fry the onion, tomato puree and celery for 5 minutes. Return the meat to the pan and the beef stock. Cover and simmer gently for 60 minutes. Uncover and simmer for a further 30 minutes until the gravy has reduced by at least a third (it should be quite a thick gravy). When the meat is tender remove from the heat and allow to cool completely
4. I use a food precessor to make pastry, but you can also use the traditional “rubbing in” method if you prefer. Add the butter, mustard powder and flour to the food processor and pulse until it looks like bread crumbs.
5. Add an egg and pulse, gradually add small amounts of cold water while pulsing until the pastry starts to come together
6. Turn out on a floured surface and form into a ball. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes
7. While the pastry is chilling, grease a 9in x 9in loose bottom baking tin
8. Remove the chilled pastry from the fridge. Cut one third of the pastry and set to one side.
9. I like to roll out pastry between two sheets of baking parchment because I think it makes it easier to transfer to the tin, but you can simply roll it out on a floured surface if you prefer
10. Roll the pastry out until its about half a centimeter thick and transfer to the prepared tin. Make sure to press it gently into the edges
11. Spoon your cold meat filling into the pie case and spread evenly
12. Sprinkle the crumbled cheese on top of the steak filling
13. Roll out the remaining 1/3 of the pastry and top the pie, brush the edges with a little water and then press the edges of the pastry together to seal (you can crimp or press down with a fork)
14. Brush with egg yolk and add 7-8 little cuts on the lid to allow steam to escape
15. Bake in an oven preheated to 180 degrees (Celsius) for 45-50 minutes until deep golden brown