Cheese n Onion Pie

Very crispy pie...

 

 

Ingredients

 

For the pastry

 

60gms butter , cut into small pieces
200gms self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting
pinch salt

 

For the filling

 

25gms butter
3 onions , roughly sliced
salt and freshly ground white pepper
250g Lancashire cheese ( or any cheese of your choice), coarsely grated
milk for sealing and glazing

 

Preparation method

 

Preheat the oven to 180C and place a baking tray in the oven to heat through.

 

For the pastry, place the butter and lard into a large bowl with the flour and salt.

Gently rub the fat into the flour using finger tips until the texture resembles very coarse breadcrumbs.
Alternatively use a food processor to bind the fat and flour.

 

Add 2-3 tbsp ice cold water to bind the mixture. Lightly knead the dough until well binded, dust with flour and wrap in a cling wrap.

 

Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes before using.

If you are in a rush, you can use the dough straightaway.

 

For the filling, heat the butter in a saucepan and fry the onions for 10 minutes, without changing the colour.

 

Stir in 150ml water, salt and freshly ground black pepper and cook until almost all the liquid has evaporated.

 

Remove the onions, spread out onto a plate and set aside to cool.

 

Roll out two-thirds of the pastry until it is about 0.5cm/¼in thick and line a greased 20cm/8in loose-bottomed tart tin, (make sure the pastry has been laid flat in the bottom) leaving any excess pastry overhanging the edge.

 

Now roll out the remaining pastry to a similar thickness which will also be generously wide enough to use as a lid to the pie.

 

Cover the base of the pie with half of the onions and then cover with half the grated cheese.

 

Repeat the layering process in step 6 until all the mixture is used up.

 

Roll out the remaining pastry to make a lid for the pie.

 

Brush the edges of the pastry case with milk to seal the pastry lid upon it, while also pressing the edges together lightly before trimming off any excess overhang.

 

Brush the surface of the pie with milk.

 

Make three small incisions into the centre of the pie using the point of a sharp knife and, if you wish, further decorate to make a lattice effect.

 

Here are few ideas for different pies.

 

 

 

Place the pie into the oven and bake for 40-50 minutes, or until golden-brown.

 

Remove from the oven and leave for a good 20-30 minutes before un-moulding and cutting into generous wedges.

 

Serve the pie warm or at room temperature (not piping hot).