Fig and Fennel Pork Pasties

INGREDIENTS

Filling

  • 3 tbspn Currant
  • 1 Small brown onion
  • 2 cloves Garlic
  • 2 tspn Ground ginger
  • 2 tspn Ground cinnamon
  • 500g Pork mince
  • 4 tbspn Pine Nut
  • 3 tbspn Flat leaf parsley
  • 2 Egg
  • To taste Freshly ground black pepper
  • To taste Salt flakes

Pastry

  • 500g Cream Cheese
  • 300g Unsalted butter
  • 4 cup Plain flour
  • 8 tspn Salt
  • 1 Egg
Print Recipe

Preheat the oven to 230°C.

In a food processor pulse the cream cheese and cold butter. When combined, add the flour and salt. Pulse to combine, scraping down the sides of the bowl. If it doesn’t come together after a few pulses, add a little cold water.

Sprinkle a clean surface with a ¼ cup of flour. Turn the pastry out onto the work surface and bring it together with your hands. Knead for about 3-4 minutes until it forms a smooth ball. Wrap the pastry in cling film and chill in the refrigerator for 5 – 10 minutes.

In a small saucepan, heat the Verjuice and add the currants to the pan. Heat gently for a few minutes so that the fruit rehydrates. Set aside to plump and cool.

Sauté the onion and garlic in the Extra Virgin Olive Oil until translucent, but not browned. Add the ginger and cinnamon and continue to cook for a couple of minutes, until the spices give off a rich scent. Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to cool.

Put the raw pork mince into a large mixing bowl with the cooled onion mixture and all other ingredients, including the Verjuice and currants, and mix thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate until ready for use.

Take the pastry from the fridge and roll between two pieces of baking paper until approximately 2mm thick.

Cut the pastry into circles, approximately 18 cms in diameter. Add filling (approximately 100g) in a half-moon shape on the left side of the pastry circle, leaving a 1 cm edge. Fold the right side of the pastry over the filling and join the two edges of the pastry together by folding and crimping with your fingers.

Brush the tops of the pasties with egg wash. Put the pasties into the fridge for 10-15 minutes then cook in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown.