THE LIFE OF
FOOD + DRINK
PIE
SHORTCRUST , FLAKY , HAND-RAISED , OR EVEN PASTRY-FREE , CELEBRATE BRITISH PIE WEEK IN SWEET OR SAVOURY STYLE .
Spiced Apple & Ginger Pie Recipe by : Belvoir Farm
Ingredients :
For the filling
• 3 tbsp Belvoir ginger cordial
• 850g cooking apple
• 1 / 2 lemon , juice and zest
• 100g caster sugar
• Milk for brushing
For the pastry
• 350g plain flour
• 175g cold butter , cubed
• Pinch salt
• 100ml good quality ginger cordial
Method :
For the pastry : 1 . Place the flour , butter and salt in a food processor and blitz until it looks like breadcrumbs . Alternatively , place the dry ingredients in a bowl and rub in the butter using your fingertips .
2 . Add the cordial to the pastry crumb mix and blitz in the processor or stir in with a knife , until the mixture comes together and forms a ball . Wrap and chill for 20 mins .
For the filling : 1 . Quarter , peel and core the apples then roughly slice them . Place in a large pan , add the cordial , lemon zest and juice . Bring to the boil , then cover the pan and simmer for about 5 minutes or until the mixture is just soft but some apple pieces remain . Taste and add more sugar according to taste ( and the sourness of your apples !). Set aside to cool .
For the pie : 1 . Preheat the oven to 180 º C / 160 º C Fan / Gas Mark 6 . Roll out half the pastry on a lightly floured surface until it is 3mm thick , then line the base of a 23cm pie tin , pressing the pastry well into the base of the tin . Leave the excess pastry hanging over the sides of the tin . Place on a baking tray , line with baking parchment and baking beans and bake for 15 minutes . Remove the baking beans and cook for a further 5 minutes .
2 . Roll out the remaining pastry on a lightly floured surface then cut out a circle about 5cm larger than the pie dish .
3 . Spoon the apples into the centre of the pie , brush the pastry edges with milk , then lay the pastry over the filling . Use a knife to trim off the excess pastry , then use a fork to seal the edges and make a pattern . Roll out the reserved trimmings and use these to decorate the top of the pie . Brush with milk , sprinkle with sugar and bake on the baking tray for 30 - 35minutes until golden and crisp .
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