Hairy Bikers' steak and ale pie recipe

The Hairy Bikers' steak and ale pie is easy to make ahead and can be frozen too. 

Comforting, hearty, and easy to prepare, this recipe from Si and Dave is a real crowd-pleaser. Using shop-bought pastry is quicker and easier than making your own but still looks impressive. With crisp buttery pastry and a hearty meat filling, this pie is perfectly served with mashed potatoes, greens, and lashings of thick gravy.

Ingredients

• 25g flour, plus extra for dusting
• 900g stewing steak, diced
• 100g butter
• 2 onions roughly chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
• 2 medium carrots, roughly chopped
• 150g button mushrooms
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 400ml good-quality ale
• 500ml beef stock
• Salt and pepper
• 1 egg, beaten for glazing
• 300g ready-made rolled puff pastry

Method

1. Pour flour into a bowl and season well. Coat the meat evenly with the seasoned flour.
2. Heat half the butter in a heated pan and add the meat. Sear all over until golden brown.
3. Add the onions, garlic carrots, mushrooms, thyme, ale and stock. Bring to a simmer, then cover with a lid and gently simmer for 1 hour. When cooked, season, add the remaining butter and pour into an ovenproof serving dish.
4. Heat the oven to 220C (200C fan, Gas 7). Brush the edge of the dish with the beaten egg. Roll out the pastry using as little flour as possible and place over the dish. Pinch the edges of the dish so that the pastry will stick to it and trim off any remaining pieces of pastry from around the edge. Cut out any decorations you like using the offcuts.
5. Brush the pastry top thoroughly with the remaining beaten egg and place on a baking tray.
6. Bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes until the pastry is golden brown on top and the filling is piping hot and tender.

Watch how to make Hairy Bikers' steak and ale pie

Top tips for making Hairy Bikers’ steak and ale pie

Si and Dave say: 'Make sure the filling is cooled slightly before adding the pastry otherwise the pastry will begin to soften and will be hard to manipulate into the pie top style you're after.' Continue reading for more simple tips and tricks. 

The Hairy Bikers' Perfect Pies: The Ultimate Pie Bible from the Kings of Pies by Si King and Dave Myers (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, £20) - View at Amazon

Si and Dave have plenty more inspiration if you want to make more delicious pies. Their cookbook is filled with sweet and savoury options and lots of useful tips too. 

If you like this recipe from Si and Dave you should also try the Hairy Bikers chicken pie or this Hairy Bikers fidget pie. We also have a delicious chicken pie recipe.