RECIPE: Perfect picnic pork pies

The sun is out and picnic season is upon us! Of course, you'll need some shiny new picnicware, but what should you pack to eat?

Homemade pork pies, of course! Here's a simple recipe for truly scrummy picnic-sized pies.

Ingredients

For the filling

• 400g minced pork
• Half an onion, chopped
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp sage
• Salt and pepper

For the pastry

• 375g plain flour
• 100g lard
• 1 egg, beaten

Method

1. In a large bowl, mix together the filling ingredients and season well with salt and pepper. Set aside.

2. Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 4/180°C/350°F. Grease a muffin tray with enough space for 6 pies.

3. Next, make the pastry. Sieve the flour into a different bowl and add a pinch of salt.

4. Cut up the lard into small pieces and put them in a saucepan. Add 125ml of water and bring the mixture slowly to the boil.

5. Very carefully, pour this boiling mixture into the bowl with the flour, and stir in with a wooden spoon until smooth. 

6. You need to construct the pies whilst the pastry is still warm, so work quickly. Tip the dough out onto a work surface and briefly knead.

7. Cut off about one third of the dough, wrap it in tea towel and set it aside. Cut the remaining dough into 6 equal parts and roll each part into a ball.

8. Place each ball into a hole in the muffin tray and press it flat with your thumb to line the hole, so that the dough covers the base and sides, and has a small overlap at the top.

9. Divide your filling into 6 equal portions, and put one portion in each of the pastry cases you have made.

10. Take the third of dough you originally set aside and divide it into 6. Flatten each piece into a circle that is slightly larger than each pie. Pop these onto the pies to form lids, and press the two overlapping edges together to seal them. Crimp around the edges and make them look lovely!

11. Make a hole in the top of each pie, then brush the tops with the beaten egg. Set aside the remainder of the beaten egg.

12. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, then carefully remove the pies from the muffin tray. Brush them all over with the egg, then place them on a flat baking tray.

13. Return to the oven and bake for a further 20-25 minutes, until they are a deep golden brown colour.

14. Leave to cool on a wire rack, then chill in the fridge overnight, ready to pack in your dotcomgiftshop lunch bag for the picnic!

Now that the food is sorted and the weather is fine, visit dotcomgiftshop for everything else you need, from pretty paper plates to paper napkins and flasks!

Image source: Gordon Bell