Scotch Egg Pie Recipes

SCOTCH EGG PICNIC PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Tip the flour and butter into a food processor and process to fine crumbs. Add 2-3 tbsp cold water and pulse until it forms a firm dough. Tip out onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly to form a smooth ball. Roll out and line the base and sides of a 21-22cm deep flan tin or 20cm springform cake tin. Trim the edges and chill the tart case while you prepare the filling.
• Put the eggs in a small pan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 4 mins. Cool quickly under running cold water and peel off the shells.
• Chop the parsley and thyme. Tip the sausagemeat into a large bowl and add half the herbs, a little salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Press a third of the sausagemeat over the base of the pastry case and make a circular trench in the sausagemeat. Trim the ends off each egg and line them up to form a ring of egg, then cover with the remaining sausagemeat, forming a smooth dome and making sure the eggs are completely covered.
• Mix the remaining herbs with the breadcrumbs and oil, and sprinkle evenly over the pie. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 1 hr until the pastry is golden, the filling cooked and the topping crisp and golden. If there are any juices bubbling around the edge of the pie, carefully tip them into a jug and discard. Leave the pie to cool in the tin. Will keep in the fridge for a few days. Take to the picnic still in the tin covered in foil or cling film, and serve cut into thick slices with cornichons and salad, if you like.

SCOTCH EGG PIE

Steps:

• Put 6 of the eggs in a large pan of cold water. Bring to the boil, then remove from the heat. Leave for 5 mins, then lift out eggs and cool under cold running water. Peel.
• Snip the ends of the sausages and squeeze the meat out into a mixing bowl. Add the mace, thyme, 75g of the breadcrumbs, 1 egg and some ground pepper, and mix together well - you'll probably need to get your hands in.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Criss-cross 2 long strips of baking parchment in a 20cm pie tin or round cake tin (to help you lift out the pie). Roll out half the pastry on a lightly floured surface to line the tin. Scatter remaining breadcrumbs over the base of the pastry, then pat in about a quarter of the sausage mixture. Evenly space the peeled eggs on top, then gently pack the meat around and over - trying to evenly cover the eggs without leaving any gaps.
• Roll out remaining pastry, cover the pie, then trim the edges. Pinch and crimp edges to seal, poke a steam hole in the top, then glaze with the final egg, lightly beaten with a fork. Scatter with the sesame seeds, then bake for 30 mins.
• Remove the pie from the oven and carefully remove it from the tin. Place on a baking tray and return to the oven for 10 mins to brown the sides of the pie. Transfer to a wire rack to cool, then serve in chunky wedges.

SCOTCH EGG PASTIES

Steps:

• Bring a pan of water to the boil and lower in 8 of the eggs. Bring back to the boil and simmer for 6 mins. Drain, then cool under cold water. Peel carefully as the yolks will still be quite soft. Meanwhile, mix the sausagemeat and onions together using your hands.
• Roll out a block of pastry until large enough to cut 3 x 18cm circles (this is about the size of a large cereal bowl or a side plate). Re-roll the trimmings; you should get 4 circles from each block. Have 2 baking sheets ready, dusted with a little flour.
• Using slightly wet hands, squash out an eighth of the sausage mix over each of the rounds of pastry, going almost right to the edges. Slightly wet the edges of the pastry. Sit a peeled egg in the middle of the sausage, grind over a little salt and pepper, then pull the sides up over the egg and seal. Crimp the edges and put onto the baking sheet.
• Beat the final egg and brush over the pasties. Chill for 30 mins. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Bake the pasties, one tray at a time, for 25 mins until golden. Bake them on the morning of the picnic and take them along warm, or bake them the day before, allow to cool, chill in the fridge, then pack up for your picnic with your sauce of choice.

SCOTCH EGGS

Steps:

• In small bowl, stir together sausage and mustard. Divide mixture into 6 equal pieces. Flatten each into round 3 to 4 inches in diameter and 1/4 inch thick.
• Place 1 egg in center of each sausage round; fold sausage around egg to cover completely.
• In 3-quart heavy saucepan or deep-fat fryer, heat 3 inches oil to 350°F. Place sausage-wrapped eggs in hot oil; fry 3 to 5 minutes or until each side is golden brown. Drain on paper towel-lined plate. Serve warm or cold.