A hand pie is a sort of pastry that is wrapped around a filling, generally fruit or meat. Both savory and sweet fillings can be used in the dough, and the pies can be fried or baked.
The name “hand pie” likely originates from the fact that these pies are usually portable in the palm of your hand. They’re well-liked all across the world, especially in countries like the UK, AU, and NZ.
Hand pies are not as common in the United States as they are in other parts of the world. But that’s starting to change, thanks to creative bakers who are coming up with new and interesting flavor combinations.
One of our favorite hand pie recipes is for steak hand pies. The beef filling is robust and satisfying, and the flaky crust is the ideal match. These pies are great for a light meal or a potluck.
What You Need to Make Steak Hand Pies
These are the things you’ll need to get started:
a pound of flank steak, diced into 1-inch pieces after trimming
1 big onion, diced
One carrot, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Less than one teaspoon of salt
One-half of a teaspoon of pepper
Half a cup of beef stock
Reduce the Worcestershire sauce to 2 tablespoons
Step by Step Instructions for Making the Dough
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Combine the dry ingredients (flour, salt, and sugar) in a large bowl. Once the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, cut in the butter.
In another bowl, mix together the egg and milk. Stirring constantly, add this liquid combination gradually to the flour mixture until it is well incorporated.
Fold in the beef until it’s evenly distributed.
On a floured surface, roll out the dough until it is an eighth of an inch thick. Use a biscuit cutter or a glass to cut out circles of dough (you should be able to get about 12).
Divide the beef mixture in half, and place half on one side of each dough circle; the other side will be folded over to form a half moon. Seal the pies by pressing down on the edges with a fork.
Place the pies on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until they’re golden brown
Advice for Getting Ready to Fill
When it comes to steak hand pies, the filling is key. Here are some tips and tricks to get the perfect filling for your pies:
Start by grilling the steak in a pan with a little bit of oil. The steak should be well cooked, but not overdone.
Once the steak is cooked, add in any vegetables you want in your pie. Our favorite additions are vegetables.
Season the filling with salt, pepper, and any other spices you desire.
The filling needs to cool just a bit before being poured into the pie crusts. This will help prevent the crusts from getting soggy.
How to Assemble the Hand Pies
Set oven temperature to 375 degrees F.
Roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/8 inch on a lightly floured surface. Using a 4-inch circular cutter, cut out 8 rounds.
In a medium bowl, mix together the steak, onion, garlic, thyme, and salt and pepper.
Fourth, fill the middle of each round with the steak mixture, using 1/2 cup for each. Wet the outer edges of the dough and fold it over to make a half moon. Seal the edges by pressing them together with a fork.
Bake the pies at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, or until the crust is golden. 5. Place the pies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Recipe and Cooking Times
Turn the oven on to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a baking sheet by covering it with parchment or a silicone mat. Putting aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and pepper. Incorporate the chilled butter, which has been cut into small pieces, into the flour. Use a pastry blender or your fingers to work the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add the cheese and chives and mix well.
Roll the dough out onto a lightly floured board to ½-inch thickness. Make biscuits with a biscuit cutter about three inches in diameter. If necessary, re-roll the leftovers. There should be a total of 12 dough circles.
Spread out six dough discs on the baking sheet. Spread the steak filling with a soup spoon, using 2 tablespoons for each circle, but leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges.
Top each pie with another dough circle, pressing down around the edges to seal them completely. If you like, you can crimp the edges of each pie with a fork. Make sure the steam can escape by cutting two tiny slits in the top of each pie.
Cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is golden and the meat is thoroughly cooked. After 5 minutes, remove from heat and serve warm with dipping sauce (such as ketchup or barbecue sauce).
Serving Ideas
There are several viable options for presentation when serving steak hand pies. You can either serve them as is, with just the steak and gravy inside, or you can add some additional toppings to really take them over the top. Here are a few examples of delicious toppings:
Sauteed mushrooms
Onions that have been caramelized
Fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, etc.) -Shredded cheese
These steak hand pies are delicious any way you slice them.
How to Make Steak Hand Pies, Plus Some Variations
If you want to master the art of making steak hand pies, consider the following suggestions and variations:
Use store-bought pie crusts instead of preparing your own if you don’t have much time. Make careful you roll them out thin enough so the filling doesn’t get lost in the dough.
Chopped mushrooms or onions in the filling make for a heartier pie.
To make a vegetarian version, simply delete the steak and use more vegetables instead.
Try using different kinds of cheese in your pies for a different flavor profile. Cheeses like Gruyere, Swiss, and Cheddar all do the trick.
Bake your pies until the crust is golden brown and flaky. Dipping sauces like ketchup or gravy should be served alongside hot food. Enjoy!
Conclusion
Steak hand pies are the perfect way to enjoy a great and full supper without any effort. These delicious snacks may be made quickly with only a few basic ingredients. Those of us who like to prepare ahead of time will find this recipe for steak hand pies to be very useful when parties and celebrations resume in 2023. We’re sure it will be an instant hit with everyone!