Beef & Guinness Pie

Made with tender beef chunks and chunky carrots, mushrooms, celery, tomatoes and the unmistakable taste of real Guinness, this recipe provides a hearty meal that is very satisfying but also low in fat.

Served on their own, or with a side of mashed potato and vegetables, the simplicity of these beef and guiness pies make a traditionally winter dish enjoyable all year round.

This recipe is low sugar, low in sodium and high protein.

Ingredients

• 800g (1.7lb) beef chuck steak, diced
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 tbsp.tomato paste, reduced salt
• 1 cup beef stock
• 2 cups Guinness (1 can)
• 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp. cracked pepper
• 2 tsp. thyme (to taste)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp. brown sugar
• 3 carrots
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 3 celery stalks
• 2 sheets puff pastry cut into 4 squares each sheet
• Milk for glazing top of pastry
• 2 tsp. cornflour, mixed with ¼ cup cold water

Method

1.  We used a slow cooker but you can use pot on stove, low and slow.  Turn slow cooker on high.
2. Heat 1 tsp. oil in a non stick fry pan and brown the meat for 2-3 mins.  Take off heat, place in slow cooker, set aside and reheat 1 tsp. oil and cook onions for 5-10 mins until softened, add to slow cooker. Now add garlic,Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, Guinness, beef stock, bay leaves, sugar, diced tomatoes, season with cracked pepper and leave in cooker for a couple of hours. 
3. After 2 hours add celery and carrots. Simmer for a further hour, until meat is tender.
4. When cooked, add the cornflour mixed with cold water to the dish, stirring.  This will thicken the sauce in 1 minute.
5. Preheat oven 200C (400F), fan bake.
6. Cool mixture and spoon into 8 ramekins.  Place 1 square of puff pastry over each dish, press the edges to secure the pastry to the ramekin.  Brush the tops with a little milk. 
7. Bake in oven for 20 mins, until the pastry has puffed.
8. Serve with peas or steamed cauliflower.