I was pleasantly surprised by all the wonderful comments I got for my blog entry about lard. It seems that lard is underappreciated in these modern times—maybe it’s due for a comeback. Anyway, lots of people asked for my mother’s pasty recipe, and here it is, just in time for the July 4th weekend. While traditionally pasties were made as lunches for miners or other workers, in our family they were always served at a summer picnic—with Heinz 57 ketchup, which now comes in an organic version. Our traditional accompaniment was pickled cabbage, but unfortunately I don’t have a good recipe for that…yet.
Ardie’s Pasties (Ardie is my mother—don’t try calling her anything else)
Ingredients:
The dough:
- 2½ cups flour (white or King Arthur White Whole Wheat)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup, plus a dab, cold lard
- 1/3 cup (by feel) cold water (or more, maybe a lot more; your mileage may vary)
The innards:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 4 peeled and cubed potatoes
- ½ onion, chopped
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- A few dabs of milk
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
2. Mix all the dough ingredients together in a bowl, adding the water in small amounts until you have a nice, soft, and fully moisturized wad of dough. It should hold together well. No need to refrigerate.
3. Separate the dough into 4 balls (or however many you want—fewer if you want big pasties, more if you prefer them smaller).
4. On a floured surface roll out each dough ball. Add the ground beef, potatoes, onions, salt, pepper, and a generous dab of butter. Pull the dough up around the stuffing and crimp together (the final shape should look kind of like a football). Dab a little milk on the top and poke some holes with a fork. Repeat until all pasties are assembled.
5. Place the pasties on a baking sheet (one that has raised sides, so dripping lard doesn’t leak all over the oven). Bake for 15 minutes at 425°, then turn down the oven to 375° and bake for another 40 minutes or until done (usually sooner).
6. Enjoy!
Once I had all my nieces and nephews over, and we all made our own pasties. When that happens, write your name on the top with fork holes to remember which one belongs to which person. There is no real right or wrong with this recipe, so feel free to adapt it to your preferences. But lard definitely makes the best crust…and the crust is the best part!
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Thank you for the input about lard in the crust. I was standing in the store aisle yesterday contemplating the vegetable shortening that my mom and dad always used in pasty dough vs lard, which would be my preference … it’s also what I thought I’d use more often. I didnt get either one because my husband was waiting in the car and all the lines were long, but for next time I’m at the store, your post gives me the courage to grab the lard! 🙂
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Behind wall voids, around doorways or window sills.
This can usher in mold spores problems as well.
Slugs and snails should be allergic to it.
sounds like a good pasty recipe, but use sirloin steak instead of ground beef. more authentic and much tastier. top w/ homemade chili sauce.
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The weird comments should be moderated lol. I wonder if you read these? I love the dough recipe but I added a drop of butter flavor to mine and that made it perfect! My filling is completely different but that is the beauty of the pasty, you can throw in whatever. Thanks so much!