Preheat oven to 190°C conventional.
Beef
Heat a large frying pan over a medium heat. Place spinach in the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, for 1-2 minutes until the spinach has wilted. Drain well and roughly chop.
Add a dash of oil to the frying pan with the onion and cook over a low heat for about 5 minutes or until the onion is soft but not coloured. Increase the heat and add the beef mince, stirring to break up the mince and prevent the onion from burning. Cook until the mince begins to brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in the spices and cook for 1 minute, then add the tomato paste and cook for a further minute. Stir in the beef stock, season and cook until the stock has been absorbed. Set aside. Once cool, stir through the chopped spinach, toasted pine nuts and cheese.
To assemble
Cut each sheet of pastry into 4 squares. Working with 1 pastry square at a time, brush the edges with beaten egg wash. Heap 3 tablespoons of mince filling onto one side then fold pastry over so corners meet to form a parcel. Seal edges with a fork. Place on a lined baking tray. Brush the tops with beaten egg wash to glaze and cut a small slit in the top of each pie to vent steam. Place in the oven and cook for 20 minutes or until golden.
Serve with your choice of tomato sauce or chutney and a green salad.
Tips
- These mince pies can be made up the day before, glazed then covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated. The next day, remove from refrigerator, glaze again and cook.
- Stirring the beef mince with a wooden spoon during browning helps to break up the meat ensuring even cooking.
- When you hear the beef mince sizzling it has been browned.
- Frozen spinach could be used instead of fresh. Thaw well then dry off in a hot frying pan to remove excess moisture.
- Grate in the zest of half a lemon for extra flavour.
- Kids love mince and being rich in protein, iron and zinc, it’s great for them too.
Recipe from recipes.co.nz
