Douze-pointe pies
- Preparation and cooking time
- Prep:
- Cook:
- Easy
- Makes 12 pies, 4 of each flavour
Ingredients
- a little oil, for greasing
- 500g pack all-butter shortcrust pastry
- a little flour, for dusting
- 1 egg, beaten
For 4 polish pierogi pies
- 85g potato, cut into chunks
- 1 tbsp butter
- 85g white or green cabbage, finely shredded, then roughly chopped
- 3 spring onions, chopped
- 3g mature cheddar, grated
- 1 egg yolk, beaten
For 4 spanish pepper pies
- 1 small red pepper, deseeded and diced
- ½ onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ x 400g can cherry tomatoes or chopped tomatoes
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp vinegar (Sherry, red wine or malt)
- 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley
For 4 greek cheese pies
- 50g feta cheese, crumbled
- 75g ricotta
- 1 egg yolk
- zest 1 lemon, plus a squeeze of juice
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 75g spring green, roughly chopped
Method
- STEP 1
Grease the holes of a 12-hole muffin tin, then line each row with a long, thin strip of baking parchment (to help you remove the cooked pies). Roll out two-thirds of the pastry on a lightly floured surface and stamp out 12 x 11-12cm circles (you may need to re-roll the trimmings). Press a circle into each hole. Wrap the remaining pastry and any scraps in cling film.
- STEP 2
To make the Polish filling, boil the potatoes in salted water until tender. Drain well, tip back into the pan to steam-dry for 1 min, then mash. Add the butter to a frying pan and gently fry the cabbage until soft. Stir intothe mash with the spring onions, cheese, egg and seasoning. Set aside.
- STEP 3
For the Spanish pies, put the pepper, onion, garlic, paprika and oil in a pan and fry until softened. Add the tomatoes, sugar, vinegar and parsley, and simmer for 10 mins until thickened. Set aside to cool.
- STEP 4
To make the Greek pies, put the feta, ricotta, yolk, lemon zest and juice, and garlic in a food processor. Whizz until smooth. Tip in the greens, pulse for a few secs to chop in, then season well.
- STEP 5
Fill 4 cases with the Polish filling, 4 with the Spanish and 4 with the Greek. Roll out the remaining pastry and stamp out 12 x 6-7cm circles. Add a top to each pie, pressing the edges together to seal. Re-roll the trimmings and stamp out the numbers ‘1’ and ‘2’ with mini number cutters. Stick a 1 and 2 onto each pie with a little of the beaten egg, then brush the whole lids with more egg. Cover with cling film and chill for up to a day.
- STEP 6
Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bake the pies for 25-30 mins until golden. Cool in the tin – these are best served just warm. Carefully lift the pies out of the tin using the parchment strips, transfer to a platter and serve.