Authentic Cornish Pasty

• 3 1/2 cups (450 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 5 ounces (140 grams) unsalted butter, very cold, diced
• 5 ounces (140 grams) lard, very cold
• How to Render Lard (click the link to learn how to make it yourself. It's super easy and much cheaper than store-bought!)
• 2/3 cup (155 ml) ice-cold water

• 1 pound (450 grams) beef skirt steak or sirloin, cut into small cubes
• 1 pound (450 grams) firm, waxy potato, peeled and diced in 1/4 inch cubes (**starchy potatoes will disintegrate and turn mushy so be sure to use a firm, waxy potato that will hold its shape)
• 8 ounces (225 grams) rutabaga, peeled and diced in 1/4 inch cubes
• 7 ounces (195 grams) yellow onion, chopped
• salt and pepper to taste
• unsalted butter (for cutting in slices to lay inside the pasties)
• all-purpose flour (for sprinkling inside the pasties)
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten

METHODS:

1. To Make the Shortcrust Pastry: Place the flour and salt in a food processor and pulse a few times until combined. Add the cold butter and lard and pulse a few more times until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the water a little at a time, pulsing between additions, until the mixture begins to come together. DO NOT over-mix the dough or the pastry crust will be tough and won't be flaky. Form the dough into a ball, flatten into a 1-inch thick disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before using (this is crucial). (Can be refrigerated for a few days or frozen for up to 3 months.)

2. To Make the Cornish Pasties:
   
   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
   
   Roll the pastry dough into a log and cut it into 6 equal pieces. Wrap and keep the other 5 pieces chilled in the fridge while you're working on one at a time. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured work surface to a 8-inch circle that's about 1/8 inch thick. You can use an 8-inch plate as your guide and cut the dough around it to form your circle.

3. Layer the filling (each ingredient to be divided out between 6 pasties, there may be some excess remaining): Put layer of potatoes down the center of the pastry circle, leaving about 3/4 inch space on the top and bottom edges of the pastry dough. Lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper. Next add a layer of rutabagas, onions and finally the beef, adding a light sprinkling of salt and pepper between each layer. Lay a couple of pats of butter on top of the beef and sprinkle a little flour over the filling.

4. Wet the tips of your fingers and lightly moisten the edges of the pastry dough. For this next part work gently so that the filling doesn't puncture through the dough. If this happens, patch up the hole with some of the scrap pieces of pastry dough. Bring the sides up and seal the pasty down the middle. Turn the pasty onto its side and crimp the edges in traditional Cornish fashion (see blog post pictures as a visual).

5. Assemble the remaining pasties and lay them on a lined baking sheet. Use a sharp knife to cut a slit in the centre of each pasty. Lightly brush each pastry with the beaten egg mixture.

6. Bake the Cornish pasties on the middle rack for 40-50 minutes until golden in colour. Remove from the oven and let them sit for about 10 minutes (they will be very hot inside) before eating.
   
   They can be reheated in the oven or microwave.

The Daring Gourmet, January 2020