English pub style steak and ale pie (for the busy and very hungry)

I love pie but they take so long to cook so I came up with my own recipe that would be practically waiting for me to serve out when I got home from work with the minimal amount of preparation.

This recipe cooks enough for a family of four with enough left over to freeze for another meal.

You will need

Chopped Onions - enough to cover the bottom of the slow cooker in a 1cm layer. Fresh (about 6 medium ) or frozen will be fine.
Stewing steak - enough to cover one layer in your slow cooker (approximately 1kg or 2 lbs)
One bottle of ale -
4 stock cubes - beef
Tomato puree - a squiiiiiiiige (which is approximately 2 tablespoons)
Bisto powder - or any gravy thickener
Ready made pastry - you can make your own if you like but this recipe is designed  for busy people

Step 1

Into the slow cooker put the ....

Onions and beef - there is no need to brown these.

Crumbled up stock cubes and tomato puree go in now too

If you are going to be in a rush the day you want to eat this then put it in the fridge at this stage. In the morning take it out and continue from here.

Pour over the ale and give it a stir.

Put on the lid and set if off to cook on high for 5 hours .... or ........ low for 8 hours. You cant really overcook it so don't worry if you go over the time.

Comments

[Kiteman]

This pie sounds nice, but, personally, those pie-dishes annoy me (many, many pubs oven-bake the pastry top, and balance it on a microwaved dish).

To me, a proper pie has a good, thick short-crust pastry on all sides.

[binkythehouseelf]

Yep your right, a Proper pie" does have pastry on the bottom too but......... The idea behind this is that I can cook it with very little fuss after a full day at work. If the pastry was on the base too, I would have to blind bake it and this would add another 20 to 30 minutes to the cooking time. With this recipe I can get the family fed and still get them out for their evening activities on time.

[Kiteman]

Oh, I wasn't decrying your recipe, just the mass-produced goo that some pubs pass off as "home made".

[lemonie]

Yes, that looks good - what's the beer?

L

[binkythehouseelf]

Its called "Piddle in the Hole" by Wyre Piddle Brewery. We tried it because it is 2/3rds of the price of other ales in our local supermarket but it actually tastes quite nice. It is not to heavy but still adds a good flavour to the pie or on its own.

[lemonie]

My local does a nice stout which is both better and cheaper than Guinness. But I'd prefer something lighter in a pie.

L

[mikeasaurus]

mmm, I want this right now!