MiamMiam
School
of Cookery
Homity
Pie
Serves
12-16 depending on size of slice
Pastry case
200g plain wholemeal flour
100g unsalted butter
pinch of baking powder
ice cold water to bind
Rub the butter into the flour and baking powder until it
resembles breadcrumbs, then gradually add a glug of water and use and
round bladed knife to bring the pastry together.
You can use a processor to reach the breadcrumb stage if you
prefer – I'd then tip the pastry into a mixing bowl and add the
water by hand.
Rest the pastry in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Ahead
of the game
Bake 6 large jacket potatoes, then cool, peel and dice finely
and place in a large mixing bowl
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500g onions, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic – finely chopped or roasted
paste
3 tbsp rapeseed oil
salt and black pepper
5 tbsp of freshly chopped parsley – 3 tbsp for the
filling and 2 for the topping – use less if you are
using dried
300g of grated cheese – I use a mixture of mature
cheddar, Gruyere and Red Leicester – 200g for the
filling and 100g for the topping
Sauté the onion and garlic in the oil, add to the potatoes and
season with salt and black pepper. Add the cheese and parsley, mix
thoroughly.
Roll out your pastry and line a greased baking dish measuring
24cms in diameter x 5cms deep.
Tip your potato mixture into the pastry case and pack it down
tightly and flat – it will look as if you'll never get all the
filling into the case – persevere – you will succeed.
Top with the remaining cheese and parsley.
Bake in a pre-heated oven – 190fan/170c/Gas 7 for 40 minutes
– check after 20 minutes.
Alternatively you can make mini homity tarts using the same
recipe, you'll get 18, 7cm “cases” - based on a bun tin of a
similar size . Roll out the pastry and cut out circles using a
straight sided 7cm cutter.
I'd recommend passing the potato through a ricer before adding the
remaining ingredients. I'd also suggest using an ice cream scoop –
measuring 5cms in diameter – to fill the cases. Press the filling
down gently to flatten and garnish and bake as per the original
recipe.
Whether you're making the large pie or the individual cases you
can make them ahead and freeze. Once you've lined the greased baking
dish, freeze until required. Once lined, place the bun tin in the
fridge for 30 minutes. Remove the tin and ease out the cases, bag
and freeze until required.
In the unlikely event that you have any leftover it freezes really
well – freeze in individual portions.
Either version of the homity is useful – serve the pie as part
of your Boxing Day lunch, or as the centre piece of your buffet. The
tarts are a great size for a canapé or serve as a starter warmed
with antipasti or garnish with diced chorizo, fried – not
forgetting a drizzle of the delicious oil.
By the way ...