"THE HOBBIT": TURKEY MEAT PIES.
Small and incredibly filling, these pies are great to take on long journeys. If Gandalf shows up at your house, you best make a batch and take them with you before leaving with him, cuz you're not coming home for a while. Serve this with a side of Mango Apple Chutney, it will surely be a legendary addon.
LOOT: 16 PIES
MATS.
PIE CRUST.
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup cold butter, cut into small cubes
1/2 cup ice water, + 1/2 cup reserve
1 egg yolk
1 tbsp water
FILLING.
1, 20 oz package lean ground turkey, raw
3/4 cup minced onion
1/2 cup grated carrot
1 1/2 tsp pepper
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp fennel seed
1 1/2 tsp dried sage
1/4 cup plain bread crumbs
1 egg
EQUIPMENT.
oven
pastry cutter
1 oz portion scoop
muffin tins
rolling pin
4" round cookie cutter
3" round cookie cutter
1/2" cookie cutter
brush
STRAT.
PIE CRUST.
1.) In a large bowl, combine the flour and the salt.
2.) Add the cold butter and cut into the flour with a pastry cutter. Cut until the butter is pea-sized.
3.) Add 1/2 of the cold water and cut into the flour and butter mixture with the pastry cutter. (It is important not to mix with your hands. The heat from your hands will melt the butter and fully incorporate the butter into the flour. By cutting the butter into the flour, it won't be completely mixed together and will create a flakier crust.)
4.) Mix until the dough starts to come together, where it is not wet, but stays together in a ball. If the crust is still dry, add 1 tbsp of ice water at a time and incorporate. If your dough is too wet, add flour 1 tbsp at a time.
5.) Cut the dough in half and pat into fat discs. Wrap each half in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours before using.
FILLING.
1.) Mix all of the filling ingredients together in a large bowl.
2.) Keep refrigerated until ready to use.
ASSEMBLY.
1.) Preheat oven to 450ºF. Grease your muffin tins with a little bit of oil.
2.) Lightly flour your counter and roll out one of your pastry dough discs until it is about 1/8" thick. Cut out 16 circles with your 4" cookie cutter. If you cannot get 16 from rolling out one disc, refrigerate your scraps, roll out your second refrigerated disc and finish making your circles. It is wise to alternate using your scraps and chilling the ones you aren't using, warm pie dough is difficult to work with.
3.) Press your 4" circles into the muffin tins. Make sure the dough goes all the way up the sides of each cup.
4.) Roll out your remaining dough and cut out 16 3" circles. In the middle of each circle, cut out a vent with a 1/2" cutter.
5.) Using your 1 oz portion scoop, scoop the turkey filling into the prepared muffin tins. Press the filling nice and snugly.
6.) Top each of your miniature pies with a 3" circle. Press together the top and bottom crusts to form a tight seal.
7.) In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and 1 tbsp of water to form an egg wash. 8.) Brush the tops of each of your pies with the egg wash. Bake for 40-45 minutes. Serve warm.
Inspired by "The Hobbit"
