Individual Steak & Ale Pie for Christmas

You may be wondering why I would make steak and ale pie, typical pub food, as holiday food.  Did you know that it originates from a Christmas and New Year tradition in Glasgow?

In modern times typically during Christmas, the British eat Prime Rib and Yorkshire Pudding, a bread pudding made by pouring the batter into a roasting pan and cooking it along with the meat. I did not want to dive into Prime Rib for two, but I was craving Yorkshire Pudding.  So, I thought of a compromise.  Just as the British traditionally in Yorkshire, served Yorkshire pudding with gravy as a starter before the roasted meat, I sufficed my cravings with hunks of beef, accompanied by chunks of gold potatoes, and carrots—all wading in beefy gravy encrusted in a pastry.

A steak and ale pie is a similar creation to the steak pies that are served in Britain.  Steak pies are made from stewing steak and beef gravy, enclosed in a pastry shell. In Ireland Guinness Stout is commonly added along with bacon and onions, and the result is commonly referred to as a Steak and Guinness Pie.  The Steak and Ale Pie became popular in British pubs, using one of a variety of ales in place of the Guinness.

The reason I selected Steak and Ale Pie for my British holiday dish even though it is more popular as pub food in current times, is because its roots go way back to holiday food.  Steak and Ale Pie originates from the Ashetpan Pie, in Glasgow and surrounding areas.  It was traditionally ordered for New Year or Christmas from the butcher shop. The butcher would prepare the steak pie for pick up prior to the holiday. The Ashetpan was usually an enamel coated pie dish, rectangular in shape. An additional deposit would be required when the pie was picked up at the butcher. After the holiday, the pan was to be returned to the butcher.

Rooting back to Scotland and Ireland, today we have the famous British Steak and Ale Pie, a savory pie that is so pretty and tasty that it fits right into the holiday table, despite its pub food reputation.  Customarily a Steak and Ale Pie recipe involves braising the beef for 10 hours, to me that makes much more sense for Christmas dinner than bar food.  However, my recipe is slightly different and ideal for those of us who don’t have 10 hours to spare during Christmas.  Here is a much quicker and just as tasty recipe for Steak and Ale Pie:

Ingredients

7oz ready-made pastry

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp butter, plus extra for greasing

1lb sirloin or rump steak, fat trimmed off and meat cut into small pieces

2 shallots, finely chopped

½ cup button mushrooms, sliced

1 bay leaf

1Tbsp plain flour

1 cup brown ale

½ cup beef stock

1 Tbsp tomato puree

1 egg yolk mixed with 1Tbsp water, to glaze

salt and pepper

Utensils that you will need are a 3 inch round cookie cutter, 4 inch round cookie cutter, and a muffin pan for 12

Method

To make the filling, heat the oil and butter in a frying pan. Add the steak, shallots, mushrooms and bay leaf and fry, stirring until the steak is evenly browned.

Sprinkle the flour over the top, mix together, then add the brown ale, beef stock, tomato puree and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring from time to time, until the sauce has thickened. Leave to cool, then remove the bay.

Pre heat the oven to 350 F.

Lightly grease a 12 hole muffin tin.

Roll two-thirds of the pastry out thinly. Using a plain cookie cutter, stamp out 12 circles, each 4 inches in diameter. Press these gently into the prepared muffin tin.

Brush the top edges of the pie cases with a little of the egg glaze, then spoon in the filling.

Roll out the reserved pastry and any trimmings and using a plain cookie cutter, stamp out 12 circles, each 3inches in diameter for the lids. Arrange these on top of the pies, pressing the edges together well with a fork or your fingers to seal. Brush egg glaze over the tops. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper.

Bake for 25 minutes, or until the pastry is golden. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then loosen with a round bladed knife and transfer to a wire rack.

Personally, I think these pies would make a lovely Christmas present for any beer lover packed in a picnic basket with a couple of bottles of IPA beer or traditional ale.  Just make sure to let them know that your gift is perishable.

 – ‘Happy Christmas’