Recipe of the day: Mince and mushroom pies

The combination of juicy meat and the umami notes from mushrooms elevates this dish, making it a favourite among adults and children.

Whether baked from scratch or made using store-bought pastry, mince and mushroom pies offer versatility, as they can be easily customised with herbs and spices to suit personal tastes. Served with a side of vegetables or a fresh salad, these pies can transform an ordinary meal into a delightful feast. Perfect for any occasion, they are a delicious reminder of home-cooked comfort food at its best.

Prep Time: 45 minutes 

Cook Time: 30 minutes 

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: English

Serves 8 pies

Equipment

• 1 x 12-cup muffin tin

Ingredients 1x2x3x

Crust:

• 4 250g sheets of puff pastry

Filling:

• 500 g beef mince
• 500 g mixed button mushrooms, quartered
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 stalks celery, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp rosemary sprigs, roughly chopped
• 1 tsp mixed dried herbs
• 70 g tomato paste
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 375 ml beef stock
• 1 large egg, beaten, for egg wash
• 1 tsp dried herbs

Instructions 

• For the crust: Lightly flour a clean work surface. Roll out 2 sheets of the puff pastry quite thinly. Cut out 12 discs – large enough to be pressed into the bases of the muffin tin with a little excess to attach the lids. With the other two sheets, keep them slightly thicker. Cut out 12 smaller discs that will become the pie lids. Line each cup of the muffin tin with the larger puff pastry discs. Place the 12 lids on a lined baking tray and place all of the pastry in the fridge.
• For the filling: Heat a light drizzle of olive oil in a large frying pan. Fry off the mince until golden brown and set aside. In the same pan add a fresh drizzle of olive oil and sauté the mushrooms until golden brown and they have released all of their liquid. Season lightly and set aside with the mince. Add a fresh drizzle of olive oil to the pan and sauté the onion and celery until soft. Add the garlic, rosemary and dried herbs. Cook for a minute. Add the tomato paste and cook until it turns a dark brick red colour. Pour in the Worcestershire sauce and beef stock. Add the mince and mushrooms back to the pan. Bring everything to a simmer and cook until all the flavours have melded together. Taste to adjust seasoning. Remove from the heat and allow the filling to cool.
• To assemble the pies: Preheat oven to 180˚C. Fill the base of the pies with the mushroom mixture. Rub the edges with a little water to help the lids stick. Cover with the pastry lids. Pinch the edges of the pastry together to seal. Pinch them at even intervals to create a cute pattern around each pie. Cut out a little steam hole in the top of each pie. Brush them with egg wash and sprinkle with dried herbs.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and the pastry is cooked through. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before removing from the tins and tucking in!

• Recipe supplied by: Mushroominfo.co.za

Mince and mushroom pies

Mince and mushroom pies are a comforting culinary delight that perfectly blend savory flavors with a flaky crust. Ideal for family dinners or cozy gatherings, these pies are packed with tender minced meat and earthy mushrooms, creating a rich filling that warms the heart and satisfies the appetite.

• Author: mushroominfo.co.za
• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: English

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Crust:

• • 4 250g sheets of puff pastry

Filling:

• • 500 g beef mince

• • 500 g mixed button mushrooms, quartered

• • 1 onion, diced

• • 2 stalks celery, sliced

• • 2 cloves garlic, minced

• • 1 tbsp rosemary sprigs, roughly chopped

• • 1 tsp mixed dried herbs

• • 70 g tomato paste

• • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

• • 375 ml beef stock

• • 1 large egg, beaten, for egg wash

• • 1 tsp dried herbs

Instructions

1. For the crust: Lightly flour a clean work surface. Roll out 2 sheets of the puff pastry quite thinly. Cut out 12 discs – large enough to be pressed into the bases of the muffin tin with a little excess to attach the lids. With the other two sheets, keep them slightly thicker. Cut out 12 smaller discs that will become the pie lids. Line each cup of the muffin tin with the larger puff pastry discs. Place the 12 lids on a lined baking tray and place all of the pastry in the fridge.
2. For the filling: Heat a light drizzle of olive oil in a large frying pan. Fry off the mince until golden brown and set aside. In the same pan add a fresh drizzle of olive oil and sauté the mushrooms until golden brown and they have released all of their liquid. Season lightly and set aside with the mince. Add a fresh drizzle of olive oil to the pan and sauté the onion and celery until soft. Add the garlic, rosemary and dried herbs. Cook for a minute. Add the tomato paste and cook until it turns a dark brick red colour. Pour in the Worcestershire sauce and beef stock. Add the mince and mushrooms back to the pan. Bring everything to a simmer and cook until all the flavours have melded together. Taste to adjust seasoning. Remove from the heat and allow the filling to cool.
3. To assemble the pies: Preheat oven to 180˚C. Fill the base of the pies with the mushroom mixture. Rub the edges with a little water to help the lids stick. Cover with the pastry lids. Pinch the edges of the pastry together to seal. Pinch them at even intervals to create a cute pattern around each pie. Cut out a little steam hole in the top of each pie. Brush them with egg wash and sprinkle with dried herbs.
4. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and the pastry is cooked through. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before removing from the tins and tucking in!