A favourite home style pie best served with warm with cabbage & pickles or cold as part of a buffet.
Method
Method for the beef
Steam the potatoes, onion and swede ideally over the simmering
salt beef pan until fully cooked & tender, around 15 minutes
then crush together with a fork & chill
Shred the beef then mix through the crushed potato mix and add
chopped parsley & black pepper to taste.
Method for the salt beef brisket (poach)
Place the salt beef into a deep saucepan & rinse under cold
running water for a couple of minutes.
Bring the salt beef to the boil in a large pan of water then
skim any impurities that rise to the surface.
Add the vegetables, peppercorns & herbs then cover &
simmer for 2½ hours, until the beef is tender when pierced with a
skewer at the thickest point.
Leave the beef to cool in the cooking broth.
Method for the pastry
Sift the flour into a large bowl then add the salt, butter
& lard.
Gently rub the fats into the flour until the mix resembles fine
breadcrumbs.
Add the beaten egg & a little water mix together to create
a dough, adding too much water or overworking will make the pastry
tough.
Wrap in cling film & chill for a minimum of 30 minutes or
up to 2 days.
To assemble the pie
Preheat the oven to 200°C or 180°C fan assisted (gas 5).
Brush an oblong pie tin with melted butter then dust with
flour
Roll out ⅔ of the pastry to the thickness of a coin & line
the base
fill the pie with the chilled meat mix, brush the edges with a
little egg wash then roll out the remaining pastry, make 3 small
cuts in the centre & layer over the top of the pie & seal
together using your thumb & index finger to form a crimp
Bake for 1 hour or until the pastry is golden & crisp
Leave to cool for 30 minutes before removing from the tin &
serving.
To serve
Buttered cabbage hearts, brown sauce & a glass of Stout.