Cheap Budget Meals - Classic Mince Beef Pie

Last week it was Pie week, so of course I had to made a pie. As I was making it I realised that this is on of my best budget meals and I knew I had to share it with you this week.

This pie is a deliciously tasty, cheap pie to make and here is always some left over for the next day.
The beauty of a beef pie is that you can adjust to taste or to what food you have that may need using up.

I have found that it is better to buy meat from the local market. It is not only better value for money but also better quality.

When buying for your store cupboard go for the "value" alternatives. Both plain and self raising flour is just as good and a fraction of the cost of supermarket regular ones or branded ones. I always make sure I have flour in the cupboard!

Here is this weeks cheap budget meal recipe...

Classic Mince Beef Pie

Ingredients

Pastry

200g plain flour
100g butter
60mls cold water
1 egg

Filling

1 onion, chopped (16p)
3 carrots, sliced and halved (25p)
250g mushrooms, chopped (75p)
400g mince beef (£2. - I buy 1kg of minced steak from the market for £5)
300mls beef stock
Worcester sauce, optional
1tsp mixed herbs
1 - 2tsp gravy granules
Potatoes (50p)
Broccoli (49p)

Method

Pre heat the oven to 200C

1 - To make the pastry place the butter and flour into a food processor and blitz until you have a breadcrumb texture

2 - Gradually add the water until you have a rough dough

3 - Remove the pastry dough and work into a ball, flatten into a disc, wrap in cling film and place in the fridge whilst you make the pie filling

4 - Place the beef and onions in a pan and dry fry until browned off

5 - Add the mushrooms and carrots, cook for a couple of minutes

6 - Add the beef stock, herbs and Worcester sauce if using, bring to the boil and then simmer until the meat is cooked through and the carrots are soft

7 - Once the filling is cooked add the gravy granules to thicken the sauce

8 - Remove from the heat and allow to cool a little before placing in a pie dish

9 - Remove the pastry from the fridge and roll out on a well floured worktop

10 - Lay the pastry over the filling, cutting off any excess pastry and pinching around the edges to seal

11 - Cut an air hole in the centre of the pie, decorate if you wish with any of the left over pastry (I like a leaf design) and brush with the egg wash

12 - Place in the oven for 20 - 30 minutes or until your pastry is golden brown

This pie can be served with any vegetables to taste. I served ours with steamed potatoes and broccoli.
This meal cost me £4.15 to make as I used items out of my store cupboard.

We got 3 portions for our evening meal, lunch for the twins the following day and a leftovers meal for Joseph the following evening!

That works out at 83p per serving (counting the twins as 1 serving!) and you have got a well balanced meal that has been freshly made and has some of your 5 a day servings!

Enjoy x

 

I am sharing my cheap, budget recipe with Gina at Cold Tea and Smelly Nappies and the Thrifty Thursday linky. This week you can find the top 5 places to find second hand children's clothes at Thrifty Thursday