Loosemeat Pie Recipes

AUSSIE MEAT PIE RECIPE

Steps:

• Sprinkle beef with 1/2 tsp salt and pepper.
• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large heavy based pot over high heat. Add 1/3 of the beef and brown aggressively all over, then remove. Repeat with remaining beef, adding more oil if needed.
• Turn stove down to medium high. Add garlic and onion, cook 3 minutes.
• Add flour, stir through.
• Slowly add beef stock while stirring constantly. Once flour is dissolved, add wine, tomato paste, Worcestershire, pepper and bay leaves.
• Return beef into pot, cover with lid, adjust heat so it's simmering gently.
• Simmer 1 hr 45 minutes. Remove lid, increase heat slightly and simmer 30 - 45 minutes, stirring regularly, or until beef is fork tender and liquid reduces down to a thickish gravy, just about covering beef (see video). Do not reduce liquid too much - thickens more as it cools & in pie.
• Remove from stove, cover and cool filling (I usually leave overnight).
• Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
• Cut out 6 rounds from the shortcrust pastry, then drape pastry into pie tins - don't stretch and pull pastry, causes shrinkage. (Notes 1 & 6)
• Place pies on tray. Top each pie with large sheets of parchment / baking paper and fill with pie weights (Note 7).
• Bake 20 minutes, remove, then use paper overhang to carefully remove pie weights.
• Return crusts into oven for 5 minutes or until base is light golden and dry (can skip, Note 8). Remove from oven.
• Fill pies with cooled filling, push down to fill. Should be slightly mounded.
• Cut rounds from partially thawed puff pastry - cut them slightly larger than the edge of the cooked pastry bases.
• Brush edge of pie crusts with egg, then place lid on filling, pressing edges to seal puff pastry to the shortcrust pastry.
• Brush lids with egg, then cut a 1cm / 0.5" incision in the middle using a small knife.
• Bake 30 minutes or until deep golden and puffed.
• Devour hot and fresh, topped with tomato sauce or ketchup if desired!

TOURTIERE (MEAT PIE)

Steps:

• Bring potatoes to a boil in salted water. Simmer 15 minutes or until tender. Drain well and mash.
• While potatoes are cooking, brown ground beef, pork, onion, and garlic until no pink remains using a spoon to break it up. Add remaining ingredients (including mashed potatoes) except for pie crust and bread crumbs.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes or until thickened. Add 1 tablespoon of breadcrumbs to help the mixture hold together if needed. Cool for 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Line a deep-dish pie plate with crust and add filling.
• Add top crust and seal edges. Add a few slits to allow steam to escape. Brush crust with beaten egg if desired.
• Bake for 45-55 minutes or until bubbly and crust is golden.

LOOSEMEAT SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Heat a medium skillet over medium high heat. Add oil and meat to the pan and brown the meat, breaking it up with the back of a wooden spoon as it cooks. Add chicken stock to the meat. Season the meat with paprika, Worcestershire, salt and pepper. When the liquid comes to a bubble, reduce heat to simmer. Cook meat 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Pile meat into buns or rolls and top with raw finely chopped onions.

THE BLUE MILL TAVERN LOOSEMEAT SANDWICH

Steps:

• Get out a cast iron skillet-they are the best for loosemeats-or other kind if you have no iron skillet.
• Melt fat over medium heat and lightly salt bottom of skillet.
• Break ground beef up in skillet and start crumbling it with the back of a wooden spoon-this is very important-the meat must end up being cooked up into small crumbles.
• Add chopped onion while browning meat.
• Keep working with the back of spoon to break up meat.
• When meat is browned, drain off any fat and return meat to skillet.
• Add mustard, vinegar, sugar, and just enough water to barely cover meat in the pan.
• Cook, at a simmer, till water is all cooked out-between 15-20 minutes.
• Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
• Heat your hamburger buns-they're traditionally steamed for loosemeats-I like mine toasted lightly-do it the way you like it.
• When buns are warm, put yellow mustard on them and add some dill pickle slices-I put on lots!
• *If you start changing this recipe and using things like olive oil for the fat and Dijon or honey mustard for the yellow mustard, you will not get the traditional yummy taste of a loosemeat sandwich.
• Likewise, don't add any liquid smoke or Worcestershire sauce.
• Make them just like this the first time so you can sample the simplicity of this famous Midwestern treat.
• If you want to start making changes after that by all means do so but I'd like you to taste the original recipe at least once.
• Serve with homemade potato salad and chips or with my Easy Cheesy Potato recipe.

LOOSE MEAT ON A BUN, RESTAURANT STYLE

Steps:

• Crumble the ground beef and onion into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring to break up lumps, until no longer pink. Drain off the grease and return to the stove. Add the Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, salt, pepper, and butter. Bring to a boil, then set the heat to low and simmer uncovered until the liquid is almost completely gone, about 40 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover, and let rest for 15 minutes before serving on buns.

RACHAEL RAY'S LOOSEMEAT SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Add oil and meat to pan and brown meat.
• Add chicken stock to the meat.
• Season the meat with paprika, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
• When the liquid comes to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Serve on buns and top with chopped onion.

NO-FUSS SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp sunflower oil in a medium saucepan, then soften 1 chopped onion and 2-3 chopped carrots for a few mins.
• When soft, turn up the heat, crumble in 500g lamb mince and brown, tipping off any excess fat.
• Add 2 tbsp tomato purée and a large splash of Worcestershire sauce, then fry for a few mins.
• Pour over 500ml beef stock, bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 40 mins, uncovering halfway.
• Meanwhile, heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4, then make the mash. Boil the 900g potato, cut into chunks, in salted water for 10-15 mins until tender. Drain, then mash with 85g butter and 3 tbsp milk.
• Put the mince into an ovenproof dish, top with the mash and ruffle with a fork. The pie can now be chilled and frozen for up to a month.
• Bake for 20-25 mins until the top is starting to colour and the mince is bubbling through at the edges. (To bake from frozen, cook at 160C/fan 140C/gas 3 for 1 hr-1 hr 20 mins until piping hot in the centre. Flash under the grill to brown, if you like.)
• Leave to stand for 5 mins before serving.