A delicious and rich meat pie. Allow time for the pastry to chill for at least 2 hours before rolling it out.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
Pastry Dough
2 1/2cupsall purpose flour
1teaspoonkosher salt
1cupplus 4 tablespoons2 1/2 sticks chilled butter, cut into 1 inch pieces
4tablespoonsice water
1tablespoonvinegarI use Apple Cider vinegar
For the Filling and Sauce
2large carrotswell scrubbed and coarsely chopped
2celery stalkscoarsely chopped
1large yellow onioncoarsely chopped
3-4garlic clovespeeled
Extra-virgin olive oil
2poundsground pork
3tablespoonstomato paste
1 14.5ouncecan chopped tomatoeswith their juices (I use Muir Glen Fire Roasted)
leavesfrom one bunch fresh thyme
4cupsdry red wine
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1egglightly beaten
4tablespoons1/2 stick butter
1/4cupall purpose flour
Instructions
Pastry Dough
Combine the flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor, pulse to combine. Add the cold butter and continue to pulse until the butter is incorporated and the texture of the dough looks like coarse breadcrumbs. Add the ice water and vinegar and process until the dough just comes together. Dump it out onto the counter and knead it a bit to bring it together. Divide the dough into two pieces, one somewhat larger than the other. The larger piece will be for the bottom crust, so approximately 2/3 to 1/3. Shape each piece into a disk and then wrap them separately in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least two hours or longer.
Filling
Combine the carrots, celery, onions and garlic in a food processor and pulse until coarsely and somewhat uniformly chopped.
In a large mixing bowl combine the chopped vegetables with the pork.
Add the tomato paste, canned tomatoes, thyme and wine. Cook for 20 minutes.
Using a ladle dip out 2 cups of the liquid from the pot and set aside for the sauce. Continue to cook the ragu until the remaining liquid has almost entirely cooked off, about another 20 minutes. Season well with salt and pepper and set aside to cool.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Roll the larger disk of dough ints round large enough to fit a 9 inch pie pan. Fit the dough into the pan and fill with the pork ragu. Roll out the second piece of dough and place over the filling. Pinch the edges together all the way around and pole a hole in the top (decoratively or not, as you like) to allow steam to escape.
Use a pastry brush to brush the entire crust with the beaten egg, Bake the pie until golden brown, about 40-50 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool at least 15 minutes before serving.
For the Sauce
While the pie bakes, melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium high heat. Whisk in the flour and cook over medium low heat, stirring almost constantly, for about 5 minutes. Whisk in the reserved cooking liquid and simmer for about 20 minutes, then ad the remaining tablespoon of butter, salt and pepper. Whisk to incorporate. Keep warm.
Serve the pork pie warm with warm sauce.
Notes
Adapted from just slightly from Tyler Florence's Porkie Pie