Steak and Kidney Easy

This might sound like an unlikely tale, and in some ways it is, but trust me, it really, really works. The tale begins with a tin, yes a tin of Marks & Spencer Steak and Kidney – lovely chunks of beef and perfect proportions of kidney in a rich gravy. This, coupled with a packet of Saxby’s ready-rolled shortcrust pastry, plus one or two other everyday ingredients makes a brilliant steak and kidney pie. The only shortfall is their addition of tomato purée has turned the meat an unappealing pink colour, but this is easily remedied by adding a little of that great old storecupboard standby, namely gravy browning.

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  Serves 2 generously

Ingredients
1 x 375 g pack fresh ready rolled short pastry (preferably Saxby’s)
1 medium onion
1 dessertspoon oil
1 x 425 g tin Steak and Kidney (preferably Marks & Spencer)
1/4 teaspoon gravy browning
1 dessertspoon Worcestershire sauce
salt and freshly milled pepper
1 egg, beaten

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This recipe first appeared in You magazine.

Method

Firstly, don’t make the mistake I made. Follow the instructions on the pastry packet and remove the pastry from the fridge 45 minutes before you need it, otherwise it cracks as you unroll it. Also, pre-heat the oven to gas mark 7, 425°F (220°C).

Next, peel, halve and slice the onion, then cut the slices in half again. Heat the oil and fry the onion until it’s quite brown and softened, which will take about 10 minutes. Then remove it from the heat and allow it to cool. Next empty the contents of the tin into a bowl, stir in the gravy browning and Worcestershire sauce to get a nice rich colour and add a little salt and a generous amount of freshly milled black pepper.

Now, unfold the pastry on to a floured board and roll it out until it’s about 1 inch (2.5 cm) larger all round, then transfer it to a well-greased baking sheet. Add the cooked onion to the meat, mix together and arrange over one half of the pastry, leaving a 1 inch (2.5cm) border. Then brush the border with some of the beaten egg and fold the other half of the pastry over. Seal it well, trim the edges and fold them inwards and either make an imprint wall round with your thumb, or the prongs of a fork. Lastly, brush the whole lot with beaten egg, make a steam hole about the size of a ten pence piece in the centre and bake on a high shelf in the oven for 25 – 30 minutes. Note: The pastry trimmings can be made into decoration leaves; not what you would expect of a cheat, but just in case you are feeling creative.

How to Cheat Hero Ingredient
1 x 425 g tin Marks & Spencer Steak and Kidney

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