Pendarvis House Cornish Pasty Recipes

AUTHENTIC CORNISH PASTIES

Steps:

• 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, 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.)
• To Make the Cornish Pasties: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.Cut it into 6 equal pieces (rolling the dough into a log and then cutting makes this easier). 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.
• Layer the filling (see note at end): 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 pats of butter on top of the beef and sprinkle a little flour over the filling.
• 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).
• Assemble the remaining pasties and lay them on a lined baking sheet. Use a sharp knife to cut a slit in the center of each pasty. Lightly brush each pasty with the beaten egg mixture.
• Bake the Cornish pasties on the middle rack for 40-50 minutes until golden in color. 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 (recommended for a crispier crust) or microwave. NOTE: Depending on how full you stuff the pasties you may have leftover filling. No worries, just fry it up together or add it to soup and enjoy it as a separate meal.

PENDARVIS HOUSE CORNISH PASTY

Steps:

• First prepare the crust. Combine the flour and salt and work in the lard. Add 2/3 cup water (more if necessary) until dough holds together. Knead well and form into a ball. Refrigerate until needed. Then prepare the filling. Remove bone, gristle, and membranes from the meat and cut into 1/2 inch cubes. Combine the meat, potatoes, onions, and suet. Add the salt and pepper, mixing it in well. On a well-floured board roll out the dough into a circle approximately 16 inches in diameter. Place circle onto baking sheet with half of circle lapping over edge of pan. Place the filling onto the circle, keeping the mixture 1 inch from the edges and as straight as possible. Moisten the 1 inch edges with water and with a quick, careful motion flip lapping side over. Press edges together well, then fold over 1/2 inch and pinch to seal well. make 3 cuts in top cruse to allow steam to escape. Bake at 350 degrees F for 2 hours. Use 4 large spatulas to lift onto serving platter. Serves 6-8.

CORNISH PASTY

Steps:

• Make pie crust: Mix flour by hand with 1/2 of shortening till crumbly.
• Add remaining shortening and continue to mix.
• Salt may be added to flour if desired.
• Add water- mix with fork until forms into a ball.
• Roll out into top and bottom crust.
• Or may use purchased crust.
• Preheat oven to 350.
• Put uncooked pie crust into bottom of 9" pie plate.
• Cover with a layer of sliced potatoes.
• Sprinkle with 1/3 of the onions.
• Crumble 1/2 ground chuck and spread over potatoes.
• Continue layering ending with potatoes and onions.
• Cover with top crust.
• Put a few holes in it for steam to escape.
• Bake approximately 1 1/2 hours until potatoes are soft.
• Let sit 10 minutes before slicing.
• Serve in slices as a pie with Chili Sauce on the side.

PASTY PASTRY FOR CORNISH MINERS' PASTIES

Steps:

• Mix dry ingredients in mixing bowl.
• Cut in shortening with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Add ice water a little at a time, tossing with a fork to make a pastry-like dough.
• Add a bit more water if it seems dry and won't hold together when squeezed lightly.
• Gather into a ball, press firmly now, then wrap with plastic wrap and chill while preparing the pasty ingredients (see Recipe # ).
• Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface (or on top of a piece of plastic wrap which can easily be folded over and then peeled off once the pasty ingredients are loaded).
• Edges of pasty should be brushed with a smidgen of water and then crimped VERY firmly with a fork (and I fold them and crimp again -- so none of the liquid seeps out).
• Brush tops of finished pasties with milk to enhance the crust (it will bake to a beautiful golden brown).
• NOTE: Like pastry dough, pasty dough should be handled as LITTLE as possible to ensure flakiness. So, *handle with care* !

CORNISH PASTIES

Steps:

• Combine ½ cup flour, shortening, 6 tbsp ice water and salt in large bowl and beat well with large whisk or wooden spoon.
• Using fingertips, blend in remaining flour until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• If too dry, add up to 2 tbsp more ice water, a few drops at a time.
• Gather dough into ball.
• Refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• Combine beef, potatoes, onion and herbs and season generously with salt and pepper.
• Stir in enough beef gravy to bind mixture.
• Roll dough out on lightly floured surface to thickness of 1/8 of an inch.
• Using 5-6 inch in diameter, round cutter, cut 10 circles.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Lightly grease baking sheet.
• Mound meat mixture lightly in center of each circle; brush border with milk; fold dough in half over filling, pinching edges together to seal.
• Brush pastries with milk.
• Arrange on prepared sheet.
• Bake 10 minutes, reduce oven temperature to 340F and continue baking until pasties are light brown, about 45-50 minutes.
• Serve hot or at room temperature.