Steak, Dark Ale and Stilton Pie

Ingredients

• 1kg of chuck steak (cut into 3cm cubes
• 1 cup plain flour
• 6 cloves of garlic (cut in half)
• ½ bunch of thyme
• 1 teaspoon of black peppercorns
• 2 x 330ml bottles of dark ale or 500ml Guinness
• 8 golden shallots, peeled (cut in half if large)
• 1 tablespoon of Vegemite
• 500gm puff pastry (shop bought is fine)
• 100gm Stilton cheese or similar crumbly blue cheese (use cheddar if you don’t like blue)
• Celery salt
• 1 egg yolk

Method

1. Combine the cubed chuck steak with the ale, thyme, garlic, peppercorns and shallots in a bowl. Leave to marinate for at least 3 hours, or overnight.
2. After marinating the beef, drain and reserve the liquid. Pat the beef dry, dredge it in seasoned flour and then fry in small batches until brown. Set aside.
3. Stir the Vegemite through the reserved marinade, and then add this to a casserole dish with the seared chuck steak. Cook gently over a low heat, or in low oven (150 degrees) for approximately 3 hours.
4. You will know when the meat is cooked, because it should be very tender. Season to taste with celery salt, and allow the mixture to cool, ideally to room temperature.
5. Grease a pie dish with butter. Roll out the puff pastry, and cut two discs – one large enough to line the dish and another to form the lid.
6.  Fill the pastry-lined pie dish with the beef mixture, then brush the edges with the egg yolk. Crumble the cheese over the top of the pie filling. Place the pastry lid over the pie dish, and seal with firm crimps (or the back of a fork to adhere the two pieces of pastry).
7. Brush the lid with the remaining egg yolk and place into an oven preheated to 180 degrees. Cook for between 45 – 60 minutes.
8. Serve with your favourite greens or mashed potato.