The juicy mince meat (hamburger) pie ( with tomato sauce, of course) has long been an Aussie staple, just like fish and chips in the paper. Both of them still outsell the US import, the hamburger, the pie in particular, because you can get a hot meat pie at almost any corner store, straight from the little reheating ovens. Here is my version, using Hot Water Pastry (recipe below):

Filling Ingredients:
(Serves 2 or 3)

• 1 pound ground beef
• ½ a medium onion, finely chopped
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• ½ cup ketchup
• ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon Vegemite (Yes, that Aussie goo mentioned in a Men At Work song) You can substitute Marmite or Bovril.
• ½ cup water
• ½ teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon Bisto or other browning/gravy mix (optional)
• ½ teaspoon Corn starch for thickening

1. in a heavy pot, heat a little cooking oil, add the beef, chopped onion, pepper and salt, garlic and brown the meat well. Drain any fat.
2. Add ½ cup of water, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and Vegemite, and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often to break up the meat into small particles.
3. Add Bisto, if using.
4. Reduce heat, and simmer meat, covered, for about an hour. If the meat sauce gets too thick and more water.
5. Toward the end of the cooking time, mix the cornstarch with a small amount of water, and stir the paste into the simmering stew. You want a fairly juicy consistency.
6. Remove from heat and allow to cool while you prepare the pastry.

• 500 gm (2 cups) flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 125 gm (about ½ a cup) of lard (I use butter)
• 150 ml of milk and water mixed in equal proportions (about 75 ml of each)

1. Sift flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre.
2. Heat the lard/butter in the milk and water until fully melted.
3. Pour the hot liquid into the well in the flour/salt mixture and stir quickly with a wooden spoon until thick.
4. Continue working by hand until it is a smooth, moist dough. If it becomes a little dry, add warm water, a tablespoon at a time, kneading well into the dough.
5. If you allow the dough to cool for half an hour or so in the fridge, it will not be so tough.
6. Split up the dough into parts enough for a bottom and a lid for each pie.
7. Roll out the pastry to fit your pie pans (A bottom and a lid to each pan)

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 deg.
2. Dust the insides of the pie pan(s) with flour to prevent sticking.
3. Line the pie pan(s) with the bottom dough.
4. Spoon cooled meat mixure into the pie pan till just below the rim. (Do not heap it in the centre).
5. Wet the rim of the bottom crust with water or milk; top pies(s) with the lid pastry; crimp together around the pan rim with a fork; and trim off excess pastry.
6. Pierce the top(s) of the pie(s) in two or three places to allow steam to escape.
7. Cook the pie(s) in the pre-heated oven for 30 to 40 minutes.
8. Remove from oven an allow to cool for about five minutes before serving.
9. Serve with vegetables. Aussie usually opt for fries and peas, and gravy, and, of course, tomato sauce (ketchup, to you North Americans!)

Note: For a GENUINE Aussie meat pie, use the shortcrust for the pie bases, but use commercial puff pastry for the pie tops. If you do this, halve the amounts for Hot Water Pastry.
I tend to make four six inch pies for myself - one for tonight's meal, and one to have cold for lunch tomorrow, and two to freeze to reheat for a treat on some cold night soon - all with tomato sauce, of course, of course!

Contributed by Ted