Happy Organic September!!! I apologise for the lack of recipe last week, we drove to Heathrow to take my Dad to the Airport and also fitted in a Thorpe Park visit! This organic baked plait can be made with organic beef mince (we love Daylesford or Ocado own brand) or organic vegan soya mince such as Clearspring. I made this for my Dad as he loves his pastry when he visits the UK from the Caribbean. Making all of this organic is much healthier and definitely better for the environment. A plait is a bit like a pie or pasty. I actually learned this technique at Junior School from an awesome Teacher that was also very good at cooking! I never forgot it and used to make it as a Uni student in the 90's using veggie mince and grated carrot, potato and onion.
Makes one plait that will serve upto 3 people.
For the pastry:
150g flour (any will work - so whatever is in your cupboard, go for it).
75g butter.
1/2 beaten egg for the mince, 1/2 beaten egg to glaze the pastry.
A splash of water to make the pastry come together.
For the filling:
100g minced beef or soya mince after hydrating (if it is dried).
1/2 a medium onion, finely chopped.
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped.
2 tsp balsamic vinegar.
2-3 tsp soya sauce.
A splash of oil to fry the onions, garlic and mince.
How to:
Rub the butter into the flour, add the egg and mix gently using your hands or a blunt knife. If it doesn't come together easily. add a splash of water until it does. Chill in the fridge while you make the filling.
Fry the onion and garlic gently in the oil until they are soft, care not to burn. Add in the mince and fry for another 5 mins if soya, and another 10 if beef.
Place your pastry on a sheet of baking paper, pop another piece on top and roll it out until it is about 1/4 cm thin. Remove the top layer of the paper and cut into a rectangle.
Cut diagonal strips towards the middle (see picture), but leave about a 7/8 cm width gap in the middle for the filling.
Fold each strip over - each side, one by one, so it looks like a plait.
Brush with the remaining beaten egg.
Bake on 200c (non-fan) for about 20-30 mins until golden.
Serve with vegetables, mashed potato and gravy! Enjoy.
