Description
Traditional Northern Irish Pasties offer a delicious and hearty meal, made with a savory blend of ground beef, potatoes, carrots, onions, and seasoned with fresh herbs, all wrapped in a flaky, buttery crust. Perfect for any occasion, these pasties are a comforting, hand-held delight that can be baked or fried for an extra crispy finish.
Ingredients
For the filling:
1 lb. ground beef
6 yellow or russet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 6 cups)
2 medium onions, diced (about 3 cups)
3 carrots, diced (about 1 cup)
3 tsp. salt
2 tsp. black pepper
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. fresh thyme or sage (optional)
6 tbsp butter, divided
Preferred deep frying oil (e.g., avocado oil)
For the crust:
1 cup butter, diced
1 cup lard or shortening
2 cups boiling water
5 1/2 to 6 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. salt
Instructions
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Make the dough: In a mixing bowl, pour boiling water over the butter and lard. Stir until melted. Gradually mix in the flour and salt until a soft dough forms. Wrap and chill for at least 1.5 hours or overnight.
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Prepare the filling: Brown the ground beef in a skillet. Transfer to a large bowl. In the same skillet, sauté onions with 1 tbsp of butter until softened, then add to the beef.
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Prepare vegetables: Dice potatoes and carrots into ½-inch cubes. Add them to the meat mixture along with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and optional herbs. Mix thoroughly.
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Assemble: Divide chilled dough into 9 equal portions. Roll each portion into an 8-inch circle. Spoon 1½ cups of filling onto one half of the circle, top with small chunks of butter. Moisten edges with water, fold over, and crimp with a fork to seal.
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Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Place pasties on a lined baking sheet, cut small slits on top, and bake for 45 minutes.
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Optional fry: Heat oil to 375°F (190°C) and fry the baked pasties until golden and crispy on both sides. Drain on paper towels.
Notes
For a twist, try using sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes.
Mini pasties make great appetizers for parties.
Don’t skip the frying step if you prefer a crispy, golden crust.
Freeze baked pasties for later, and simply reheat in the oven.
