Simon Rimmer's peppered mushroom and Stilton pie recipe

This hearty vegetarian pie is the perfect comfort food - the buttery pastry, tangy Stilton and creamy mushrooms are delicious.

Ingredients

For the pastry:

• 225g (8oz) plain flour
• 100g (3½ oz) butter
• 1 egg
• A little milk to bind, if needed
• Egg wash, to glaze

For the filling:

• 1 onion, sliced
• 500g (1lb 2oz) button mushrooms, halved
• 2tbsp vegetable oil
• 1tbsp tomato purée
• 1tbsp soy sauce
• 1tbsp green peppercorns in brine, drained
• 250ml (9fl oz) vegetable stock
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 200g (7oz) Stilton cheese

Method

1. For the pastry, simply pulse the ingredients together to form a dough, adding a little milk if needed. Wrap in cling film and chill for at least 30 mins.
2. To make the filling, start by frying the onion and mushrooms in hot oil until soft.
3. Add the tomato purée and cook for 5 mins, then add the soy sauce, peppercorns and stock, bring to the boil, then reduce heat slightly and cook until the liquid has reduced by half. Season to taste.
4. Divide the mixture between four individual pie dishes. Crumble the Stilton and divide that between the dishes too.
5. Preheat the oven to 200°C (fan 180°C, gas mark 6). Cut the pastry into four pieces and roll into four circles, just bigger than the dishes.
6. Damp the rim of the dishes with water and cover the pie dishes with pastry, trim the edges and cut a little hole in the top. Brush all over with beaten egg to glaze. Bake the pies for about 20 mins until crisp and golden.