Cornish Turnovers Recipes

CHICKEN AND LEEK CORNISH TURNOVER

Steps:

• Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• For the filling: Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Cook the leeks until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add the carrots, mushrooms, potato, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Stir frequently until the vegetables are tender, about 12 minutes.
• For the sauce: Melt the butter over medium heat in a 1-quart saucepan. Add the flour and whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the sauce is thick and smooth, about 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheese, salt, pepper and nutmeg.
• Combine the vegetable mixture, sauce and chicken in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Cool the filling completely, about 20 minutes.
• Roll out the pastry into a 10-by-10-inch square on a lightly floured surface. Transfer the pastry to the prepared baking sheet. Lightly brush the edges of the pastry with beaten egg using a pastry brush. Spoon the filling onto one side of the pastry. Fold the pastry over to encase the filling. Fold and crimp the edges of the pastry together to seal the filling. Brush the top of the pastry with beaten egg. Cut a 1/2-inch-long slit in the top of the pie using a paring knife.
• Bake until puffed and golden, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes and slice into 4 pieces.

ENGLISH PASTIES

Steps:

• Combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening. Add enough water or milk to moisten dry ingredients. Shape into a ball. Cover and set aside. , For filling, toss together beef, pork, potatoes, onion, salt and pepper. Divide the pastry in half and roll each into a 10-in. circle. Divide the filling over the center of each pastry; dot each with 1/2 tablespoon butter. Fold pastry over the filling, sealing edges tightly. Cut slits in the top of the pasties. If desired, brush tops with egg. Place on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 400° for 45 minutes. Spoon 1 teaspoon water per pastry in slits. Reduce heat to 350°; bake 15 minutes longer or until golden.

CORNISH BEEF AND VEGETABLE TURNOVERS

Steps:

• Make dough:
• Blend together flour, salt, and butter in a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) until mixture resembles coarse meal with some roughly pea-size lumps.
• Beat together yolk and 1/3 cup ice water, then drizzle over flour mixture and gently stir with a fork (or pulse in processor) until incorporated.
• Gently squeeze a small handful of dough: If it doesn't hold together, add more ice water, 1/2 tablespoon at a time, stirring (or pulsing) after each addition until just incorporated, continuing to test. (If you overwork dough or add too much water, pastry will be tough.)
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and divide into 6 portions. With floured heel of your hand, smear each portion once in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Form each portion into a disk, rotating on work surface. Wrap disks separately in wax paper or plastic wrap and chill until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 8.
• Make filling while dough chills:
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté mushrooms, stirring, until browned and dry, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to skillet and cook onion and garlic over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add onion to mushrooms. Peel potato and cut into 1/2-inch cubes, then add to mushroom mixture with steak, carrots, parsley, salt, and pepper, tossing well. Cool completely.
• Assemble pasties:
• Roll out 1 piece of dough on lightly floured surface into a 9-inch round (keep remaining pieces covered). Mound 1 cup filling on round, slightly off center. Brush a 1/2-inch border on dough with water and fold dough over to form a half-moon. Trim edge with a fluted pastry wheel or a knife, then crimp to seal. Cut 3 small steam vents in top crust with a sharp knife and put pasty on 1 of 2 buttered large baking sheets. Make more pasties with remaining dough and filling, then chill 30 minutes, loosely covered.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Brush pasties with egg and bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position and rotating sheets halfway through baking, until golden, about 40 minutes total. Cool slightly before serving.

CORNISH TURNOVERS

Steps:

• Prepare lard pastry refrigerate dough for 1 hour, covered. Heat oil in large skillet add meat and brown, stirring frequently. Add potato, green beans, carrot, green onions, salt, celery, parsley, pepper, Italian herb seasoning, and Tabasco®, stir-fry for 3 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon water, cover, and steam another 2 minutes. Cool. Roll out pastry dough 1/8 -inch thick cut into 5-inch rounds and fill with cooled filling. Moisten edges with water, fold rounds in half, and press down edges with tines of a fork. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Beat together egg yolks and 2 tablespoons water brush over pastries. Bake in a preheated 375° F oven for 30 to 40 minutes. Brush with egg wash 3 times during baking period to make crust crisp and golden. When cool, wrap in foil to transport to picnic.