Cheddar Cheese Pie Pastry Recipes

CHEDDAR CHEESE & SHALLOT PIE WITH FENNEL SEED PASTRY

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. First, make the filling. Boil the potatoes in a large pan of salted water for 10-15 mins until a knife is easily inserted but the potatoes still hold their shape.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over a low heat. Slowly sweat the shallots and spring onions with a pinch of salt until softened, stirring occasionally, about 10-12 mins. Meanwhile, whisk together the eggs, cream, thyme, cheese and some seasoning. Set aside.
• To make the pastry, melt the butter with 100ml water in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Tip the rest of the pastry ingredients and 1 / 2 tsp salt into a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and pour in the butter. Stir with a wooden spoon, then bring together with your hands, kneading lightly for a few mins.
• Grease a large 20-26cm pie dish. On a lightly dusted work surface, roll out two-thirds of the pastry big enough to fill the base and sides of your dish. Use the remaining pastry to roll out a lid.
• Add the potato and shallot mixture to the beaten egg filling, and spoon into your pastry case. Cover with the pastry lid and crimp the edges decoratively.
• Finally, beat the egg yolk with the milk and glaze the pie. Poke a couple of small steam holes in the top, chill for 10 mins, then bake in the oven for 40-45 mins.

CHEDDAR PIE DOUGH

Steps:

• Pulse flour and 1 teaspoon salt in a food processor until combined. Add butter, and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, about 10 seconds. Drizzle 1/4 cup water evenly over mixture. Pulse until mixture just begins to hold together (dough should not be wet or sticky). If dough is too dry, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse. Add cheese; pulse until combined.
• Shape dough into 2 disks, and wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes or up to overnight. Dough can be frozen up to 1 month; thaw before using.

CHEDDAR CHEESE PIE PASTRY

Steps:

• Combine flour, cheese and salt in large bowl.
• Cut in shortening until coarse crumbs form.
• Sprinkle water into mixture a tablespoon at a time. Press dough with one hand adding water until a ball forms.
• Let chill 1 hour.
• This recipe will make 1 (2 crust) 8 or 9 inch pie. Bake according to pie directions.
• This also works well in food processor.

CHEDDAR CHEESE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Bake pie crust for 10 minutes.
• Mix eggs, cream, cheese & scallions in a large bowl and pour into the prepared pie crust.
• Bake for 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle the toasted nuts on top of the pie and bake for an additional 20 minutes.
• Let cool and enjoy.

CHEDDAR CHEESE AND ONION PIE

Steps:

• Make dough:
• Blend together flour, butter, and salt in a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) just until most of mixture resembles coarse meal with some small (roughly pea-size) butter lumps.
• Drizzle evenly with 8 tablespoons (1/2 cup) ice water and gently stir with a fork (or pulse in processor) until incorporated.
• Squeeze a small handful: If it doesn't hold together, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring (or pulsing) until incorporated, then test again. (Do not overwork mixture, or pastry will be tough.)
• Turn out mixture onto a work surface and divide into 6 portions. With heel of your hand, smear each portion once or twice in a forward motion to help distribute butter. Gather dough together with scraper and press into 2 balls, one slightly bigger than the other, then flatten into disks. Chill each disk, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Make filling and glaze while dough chills:
• Peel potato and cut into 1/4-inch dice (3/4 cup). Steam potato in a steamer set over boiling water, covered, until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool.
• Cook onion in butter in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to plate to cool.
• Whisk together 2 eggs, cream, thyme, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until combined well. Stir in potato, onion, and cheese.
• Whisk remaining egg in a small bowl and reserve for egg glaze.
• Assemble and bake pie:
• Put oven rack in middle position and put a large baking sheet on it, then preheat oven to 425°F.
• Roll out larger piece of dough into a 13-inch round on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin and fit into tart pan. Spoon filling evenly into pie shell and brush some of egg glaze on rim of shell.
• Roll out smaller piece of dough into a 12-inch round in same manner, then cover pie with it. Trim edges of pie, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang, then press edges together and crimp decoratively.
• Brush top of pie lightly with some of remaining egg glaze. Cut several steam vents in top crust with a small sharp knife.
• Bake pie on hot baking sheet until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool on a rack at least 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

CHEDDAR CHEESE AND MUSHROOM PIE

Steps:

• Melt butter in large skillet over medium, heat.
• Add onion; cook 2 minutes.
• Add mushrooms, salt, pepper, Worcestershire and lemon juice.
• Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Drain mushroom mixture.
• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Combine mushroom and cheese; mix well.
• Turn into pastry shell.
• Arrange pastry strips, lattice fashion on top of filling. (I use full top and cut design in it).
• Trim ends even with edges of shell.
• Moisten and fold overhang over strip ends.
• Flute edges.
• Beat egg yolk and water and brush over pastry.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until pastry is golden.
• Serve hot or cold.
• Better to let cool for 5 to 10 minutes before cutting.

CAULIFLOWER, LEEK & CHEDDAR PIE WITH MUSTARD & THYME PASTRY

Steps:

• For the pastry, put the flour in a food processor with the butter, mustard and thyme leaves, and pulse until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add 4-6 tbsp cold water and pulse again until it forms a ball. Wrap and chill for 30 mins.
• For the filling, break the cauliflower into small bite-sized florets (keep the leaves for stock or roast until crisp and serve alongside the pie), and chop the stalk into 2cm pieces. Steam in a steamer or steamer basket set over a pan of simmering water for 8-10 mins until the stalk pieces are just tender, but not cooked through. Remove from the steamer and leave to cool and steam-dry on a plate.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan over a low heat and fry the leeks with a pinch of salt for 10 mins until softened. Add a splash of water if they start to turn lightly golden and cook until the water has evaporated. Remove from the heat.
• Cut off a third of the pastry and set aside. Roll out the rest on a floured work surface to a round large enough to line a 25cm wide and 7cm deep pie dish (enamel pie dishes work well for this). Line the dish and set aside.
• Whisk the eggs in a large bowl with some seasoning. Reserve a little of the beaten egg in a small bowl, then fold the cheese, cauliflower and leeks into the remaining egg. Tip the filling into the pie dish and spread out evenly. Roll out the remaining pastry and use to cover the pie, using some of the reserved egg to seal it to the edge. Crimp the edge and trim any excess, then chill for 20 mins.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Brush the top of the pie with the remaining beaten egg and bake for 45 mins until golden and crisp on top. Stand for 10 minutes before serving with roast potatoes.