Porky Pie

Most of us knows about Cottage Pie and Shepherd's Pie and what differs in these two pies is the meat used.  Cottage Pie uses minced beef but on the other hand minced lamb is used to make Shepherd's Pie.  In the case of my home cooking, I prefer to use minced pork to make Pie, with which I named it "Porky Pie."  For many years this recipe has been in my  home-cooked list, though I did not get to bake it that often but only once a while when my children are back home for their holiday breaks.  Let me share this precious recipe to all those PIE lovers out there...

Ingredients: 
1 kg minced pork
1 celery stick, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 onions, chopped
2 tbsp cooking oil
2 tbsp plain flour
1 1/2 cup chicken stock (part)
1 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp tomato sauce
1 1/2 tbsp tomato paste
2 bay leaves

Topping:
1 kilo potatoes, peeled and diced
30 g butter (room temperature)
1/2 cup milk (to add slowly)

Methods:

1. Heat the oil in a wok over medium heat and saute the onion, carrot and celery, stirring occasionally for few minutes.  Add the minced pork and stir to mix, then stir in the flour and cook for additional 2 minutes.  Add 1 cup chicken stock, light soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, tomato paste and bay leaves and simmer over low heat for about 8 to 10 mins. If the mixture is too dry add the remaining chicken stock. Once cooked through scoop the mixture into a large bowl, remove the bay leaves and leave it to cool.
2. To make the topping, boil the potato in salted water until cooked through.  Drain and place the potato in a large bowl and mash with the butter and enough milk to make a firm mash.
3. Preheat oven to 180 degree Celsius and lightly grease a 2.5 litre ovenproof dish or round cake tin.  Spoon the filling into the dish and spread the topping over it.  Fluff with a fork.  Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Notes:  To make two Pies, I use a smaller ovenproof dish or round cake tin.  The leftover pie can be kept covered in the refrigerator.  It can be eaten cold, based on preference or warm up in a toaster oven.

Let's enjoy....