Classic Natchitoches Meat Pie Recipes

NATCHITOCHES MEAT PIES

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat; whisk in flour, and cook until flour turns from white to a nutty brown color, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in onion and cook until transparent, about 5 minutes. Add meats and brown until no longer pink, 10 to 12 minutes; stir in Cajun seasoning and garlic powder; drain fat. Cool to room temperature.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch. Use a 5 inch diameter round cookie cutter or cut around a saucer to make a round of dough. Place a heaping tablespoon of meat filling in the center of each round. Fold dough over filling and seal edges closed by pressing with a fork or fingers. Repeat to make 15 pies, re-rolling dough scraps as needed.
• Heat oil for frying in deep fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Deep fry pies in small batches until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Or bake pies on greased cookie sheets in preheated 350 degree F (175 degrees C) oven 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

CLASSIC NATCHITOCHES MEAT PIE

Steps:

• In a small Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add beef, pork, oregano, salt, red pepper, black pepper, and cayenne. Cook, stirring frequently, until meat is browned and crumbly, about 6 minutes. Drain any excess liquid. Sprinkle with flour, and stir to combine. In a large saucepan, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook until tender, about 2 minutes. Add garlic, bell pepper, and celery; cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir into meat mixture. Let cool completely. Cut Meat Pie Dough into 40 pieces. Reserve 12 pieces for another use. On a lightly floured surface, roll 28 pieces of dough to a 5½-inch circle, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for 10 minutes. Using a 5-inch round cutter, cut rounds from each piece of dough. In a small bowl, whisk together egg and 2 tablespoons water. Place 2 tablespoons filling in center of each round. Lightly brush edges with egg wash. Fold dough over filling, and press to seal. Using a fork, crimp along edges of pie. Using a pastry wheel, cut along edges to further seal. Freeze pies before frying. In a large Dutch oven, pour oil to a depth of 4 inches, and heat over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 370°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with paper towels, and place a wire rack on top. Remove pies from freezer. Using a slotted spoon, gently place pies, 3 at a time, in hot oil. Fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from oil, and let drain on prepared pan.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder. Using a pastry blender or 2 forks, cut in lard until mixture is crumbly. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. Pour egg mixture over flour mixture, and lightly toss with your hands until a dough starts to form. Knead together twice, and let rest for 10 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until using.

NATCHITOCHES MEAT PIES

Steps:

• 1. Combine beef, pork, onions, and seasonings in a large Dutch Oven. Cook over medium heat, stirring until the meat loses its color. Do not over cook the meat. Sift the 1/3 cup flour over meat mixture, stirring often, until well combined with the meat. Remove from heat and cool to room temp. Place meat in a large colander to drain off excess grease.
• 2. For crust, sift flour and cut shortening into flour. Add beaten eggs and cold milk. Form dough into a ball and then separate into 6 or 8 smaller balls of dough. Dough should be wet and a little sticky. Roll each ball of dough on a lightly floured board or pastry cloth. Cut dough into a 5 or 5 1/2 inch circle.
• 3. To assemble, place a heaping tablespoon of filling on one side of the pastry round. Dampen the edge of pie containing meat with fingertips, fold top over meat and crimp with fork dipped in water. Prick twice on top with fork. Fry in deep fat fryer at 350 degrees until golden brown. Pies freeze well in plastic sandwich bags. To fry frozen pies, do not thaw before frying.
• 4. Makes 48-56 small meat pies.

NATCHITOCHES MEAT PIES

Steps:

• filling: make a roux of flour & shortening.
• add all other ingredients, cover and cook on LOW heat for 30 minute.
• drain off fat.
• cool while making pastry.
• Pastry.
• mix flour & baking powder; together add shortening, then eggs.
• add milk to make a stiff dough.
• roll very thin about 1/8" thick.
• use a saucer to cut circles of dough.
• fill 1/2 full.
• fold dough over and dampen edges w/ water
• crimp w/ fork
• Fry in deep fryer till golden brown.
• keep warm till served.

AUTHENTIC NATCHITOCHES MEAT PIE

Steps:

• In a heavy skillet, add beef and pork; cook thoroughly until no pink is visible; drain and return to skillet
• In same skillet, add onions, bell peppers; saute 3 minutes on medium high or until green bell peppers are tender; add garlic; stir
• Add cayenne, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves and sage (if your pork doesn't already have sage in it); allow to cook for 15 minutes on medium; (See Recipe Notes)
• While meat is simmering, make a slurry: In a two-cup measuring cup, add 4 tablespoons flour (¼cup) and fill the measuring cup with milk; mix with fork until smooth; pour this mixture (slurry) into the skillet with the beef; combine well. (The "slurry" will thicken the meat mixture.)
• Allow this to cook for about 5-8 more minutes, or until the beef mixture begins to thicken; once the mixture thickens a little, turn off the heat; remove bay leaves; taste for salt & pepper; cover and refrigerate; now make the pastry dough
• Get out two bowls: one large, one small
• In the large bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder
• In the small bowl, add cold eggs and cold milk; slightly beat together until combined
• Slice cold butter into small (tiny) cubes
• Add the tiny cubes of cold butter to the dry ingredients; "cut it in"using your fingers; (crumble the butter pieces and combine with the flour until butter until the mixture looks grainy)
• Once the flour mixture looks grainy, gradually fold in the cold egg/milk mixture; combine with a spatula; form into a ball; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 20 minutes ( See Recipe Notes)
• Sprinkle some flour onto a clean surface; place the dough on the counter and roll it out till it's about ¼" thick
• Cut dough circles out of the dough that are approximately 7" in diameter; use a saucer or the bottom of a 9" salad plate as a guide--doesn't have to be perfect! (see recipe notes)
• Spoon ⅓ cup of the cold meat mixture onto the center of dough disc; fold one side of the dough over the meat so the edges of the circle form a half moon; press the edges together using your finger and a little water
• Use a fork to "cinch" the dough together; trim with a pizza cutter or sharp knife; repeat process for the remaining meat and dough rounds; set aside
• Refrigerate pies for 15-20 minutes
• Heat a heavy bottomed stock pot with oil; bring to 312-325ºF; if oil begins to smoke, remove pot from burner and reduce heat immediately
• Use a long handled, slotted spoon and place formed pies into hot oil; work in batches; usually 3 at a time; remove cooked pies and place on paper towel; repeat until all pies are done; each pie takes 2-4 minutes
• Preheat oven to 400ºF
• In a small bowl, make an egg wash. Add one whole egg and a teaspoon of water to the bowl; combine well
• Use a pastry brush and coat the top of each pie with the egg wash
• Place pies on a parchment covered baking sheet
• Bake pies for 20-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160ºF

NATCHITOCHES MEAT PIES

Steps:

• In a large skillet heat oil and cook beef and pork, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the onions, bell peppers, celery, salt, Essence, cayenne, and black pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are wilted, about 10 to 12 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Dissolve the flour in the water and add to the meat mixture. Stir until the mixture thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the green onions. Mix well and let cool.
• In a mixing bowl, sift together flour, salt, and baking powder. Cut in the lard until mixture resembles coarse meal. In a small bowl, beat the egg with the milk. Gradually add the egg mixture to the flour mixture, working it to make a thick dough. Divide the dough into 12 equal portions and roll each portion of dough into a thin round about 5 inches in diameter. Place about 1/4 cup of meat filling in the center of each round and brush edges lightly with egg wash. Fold edges together and crimp closed with a fork.
• Heat shortening in a deep pot or electric deep-fryer to 360 degrees F. Fry the pies, in batches, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and serve immediately.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.