CORNISH PASTIES

CORNISH PASTIES

The Cornish “Pasty” as the name suggests originated in Cornwall and was brought to Indian during the time of the Raj by the Cornish Miners and soldiers.  It was a popular baked dish in the olden days.

Cornish Pasties are baked Pastries shaped like a ‘D’ and crimped on the sides. It typically has a filling of small chunks of meat either beef or lamb potatoes and onions with a light seasoning of salt and pepper. The uncooked filling is placed on one half of a flat circle of pastry and the pastry is then folded in half to wrap the filling in a semi circle. The edges are sealed and crimped and then the Pasty is baked to a golden brown. The filling inside the Pasty, automatically cooks as well.  These Pasties could be served as a meal with a few sautéed veggies or as Party Eats or Snacks. Good for picnics too.

These pasties were very much a part and parcel of our lives as children in Kolar Gold Fields.

Serves 6      Time Required: 2 hours (including baking)

Ingredients for the Filling:

4 medium size potatoes peeled and cut into small cubes

2 onions chopped

½ kg beef from the round portion (or mutton) chopped into very small bits

2 teaspoons pepper

½ teaspoon chillie powder (optional )

 Salt to taste

1 tablespoon chopped mint

Ingredients for the Pie Crust Dough

3 cups flour

3 tablespoons oil

2 teaspoons butter

½ cup water or just enough to make a soft dough

Heat a suitable pan and lightly fry the potatoes, chopped onions, mint, meat, chillie powder, salt and pepper together with a little oil on low heat for about 5 to 6 minutes. Keep aside. This is the filling for the Pasties.

Make the dough crust, mix the flour and oil and just enough water to make a soft pie crust dough.

Roll out dough into 6 equal circles using a saucer to cut them.

In the center of each circle spoon in the filling utilizing all the filling for the 6 Pasties.

Put a tablespoon of butter over each mound of filling.

Fold the circle over and crimp the edges.

Pre heat the oven to 150° C.

Place the pasties on a cookie sheet and poke with a fork or make a slit on the top of each.

Glaze the pasties with beaten egg.

Bake for about 1hour till done or till a tooth pick comes out clean.