Name: Hearty Beef & Stilton Pie
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 1 h 40 min
Total time: 2 h 10 min
Ingredients: 1.5 pounds beef chuck or stewing beef, cubed; 1 large yellow onion, chopped; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 medium carrots, diced; 2 stalks celery, chopped; 2 cups beef stock; 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 1 tablespoon tomato paste; 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 1 bay leaf; 1 teaspoon dried thyme or a few fresh sprigs; Salt & black pepper to taste; 5 ounces Stilton cheese, crumbled; 1 sheet ready-made shortcrust pastry (for base); 1 sheet ready-made shortcrust pastry (for top); 1 egg yolk, beaten with water for egg wash

Description

This Beef & Stilton Pie is a comforting classic perfect for chilly nights.

Ingredients

Scale

1.5 pounds beef chuck or stewing beef, cubed
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 medium carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 cups beef stock
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried thyme or a few fresh sprigs
Salt & black pepper to taste
5 ounces Stilton cheese, crumbled
1 sheet ready-made shortcrust pastry (for base)
1 sheet ready-made shortcrust pastry (for top)
1 egg yolk, beaten with water for egg wash

Instructions

Begin by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). While it’s warming up, heat a drizzle of oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add your cubed beef in batches—make sure not to crowd the pot. Sear the beef for a few minutes on each side until it’s beautifully browned. After achieving that perfect crust, transfer the beef to a plate and set it aside.
In the same pot, add a little more oil if needed and toss in the chopped onion, minced garlic, diced carrots, and chopped celery. Sauté the vegetables for about 5–7 minutes or until they soften and the onions become translucent.
Return the seared beef to the pot and pour in the beef stock, followed by the Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Stir well to incorporate all the ingredients. Let it simmer for about 1.5 hours, covered, stirring occasionally, until the beef becomes tender and the gravy has thickened.
Grease your pie dish and line it with one sheet of the ready-made shortcrust pastry. Chill the base for about 10 minutes before adding the filling. Pour the filling into the lined dish, lay the second sheet of pastry over the top, and seal the edges well. Brush the top with the egg wash.

Notes

Allow the filling to cool before adding it to the crust; this helps keep the pastry crisp.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Category: Dinner

Nutrition

Calories: 600 kcal
Sodium: 800 mg
Protein: 30 g