Cheese and onion pie, a true British institution, my version adds potato and wholegrain mustard to sharp Cheddar and onions cooked two ways.
Cheesy Plate Pie with Mustard
Growing up in the UK, you just kind of assume that pies are savoury.
Of course, we have sweet pies, but hands down the most common pies are stuffed with savoury goodness.
This plate pie follows hot on the heels of my meat and potato pie, and I have offerings as diverse as corned beef pie, chicken and bacon pie, ham fidget pie, chicken and leek pie, lamb Scotch pie to rabbit pie.
This recipe is stonkingly good!
It features two types of onions, some deeply caramelised and then some just "steamed" in the pie.
It is rounded out with just a few potatoes and then lots of glorious wholegrain mustard.
If you want something a little "smaller" or something to put in a picnic or lunch box, then check out my cheese and onion pasty recipe, and if you can't be bothered with the faff of pastry, how about a cheese and onion sandwich?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use store-bought pastry?
Yes absolutely! There are some that claim that if your pastry has not been lovingly made with hands, then you ain't a cook.
I have words for those people, and those words you would not share with your gran, your priest or your kids!
I usually use my foolproof shortcrust pastry that relies on a food processor. Variants of it appear in everything from my traditional Cornish pasties to my corned beef and potato pies.
Can I use puff pastry?
I'm honestly not that keen on puff pastry as a pie casing, weird, huh? You could use it to top this pie, but you really should not use puff pastry as the base pastry.
Can I make this in advance?
Yes, this pie both reheats well in a moderate oven and can be eaten at room temperature.
Why do you let the pie sit for 20 minutes before cutting it?
For the same reason, you do something similar with lasagna, it allows the cheese to firm up a little, and it means you get a slice of pie that hangs together.
Failing to do so will lead to some pastry with the filling pouring out all over the plate.
Serving Suggestions
As a kid growing up, my Mom would have served cheese and onion pie with baked beans, and I would have licked the plate clean!
But I am older now and more grown up, apparently, and prefer this served at room temperature.
It is stunning to take on a picnic, and it works well with everything from my apple chutney to my red cabbage chutney.
Add a nice, simple garden salad on the side, and you have my idea of food perfection.
Equipment Used
I only name-check brands of equipment if I think that they make a material difference to a recipe. But if you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below the recipe.
- Hob/stovetop.
- Oven.
- Food processor, you could also make the pastry by hand in a mixing bowl.
- Cling film.
- Chopping board.
- Kitchen knife.
- Grater.
- 20cm or 8" saucepan.
- 28cm or 11" frying pan, not nonstick if possible.
- Stirring and serving spoons.
- Rolling pin.
- 22cm or 9" pie plate, I use an enamel plate from Ikea.
- Pastry brush.
- A combination of weighing scales, measuring cups and spoons.
Cheese and Onion Pie Recipe
Ingredients
For the Pastry:
- 200 g Flour 1½ Cups plus 1 tablespoon
- 50 g Lard 3 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon
- 50 g Butter 3 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon
- 3-4 tablespoon Water
- Pinch of Salt
- 1 Egg (beaten)
For the Filling
- 2 Medium Onions 350g
- 1 Small-Medium Potato 100g (choose a floury variety of potato)
- 1 tablespoon Cooking Oil
- 100 g Mature Cheddar Cheese 1 Cup
- 1 tablespoon Wholegrain Mustard
- 15 g Parsley ¼-⅓ Cup (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Add the flour and salt to the bowl of a food processor.
- Dice the cold lard and butter into the food processor and pulse to form a rough breadcrumb texture.
- Add the water to the pastry, pulsing until it just comes together.
- Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and just bring it together to form a ball. Wrap with cling film and place in the fridge for an hour.
- Peel and slice the onions into 5mm (¼") thick half-moon shapes.
- Heat a 28cm or 11" frying pan (not nonstick) over a medium-low heat and add the cooking oil.
- Add half of the sliced onions and allow them to caramelise for 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally, then cool.
- Bring a 20cm or 8" saucepan of water to the boil.
- Peel and cut the potatoes into a 7-10mm (¼-½") dice. Add 1 teaspoon of salt to the water and throw in the potatoes.Boil for 10 minutes before draining and cooling.
- Grate the cheese and place it in a bowl, and when cooled, add the remaining ingredients for the filling. Mix well and set aside.
- Take just over half of the pastry and roll out until 2-3mm (⅛") thick and large enough to fit your pie plate.
- Dust the plate lightly with flour. Add the pastry to the pie, gently pushing it into the sides of the plate.
- Add the pie filling.
- Roll out the remaining pastry to the same thickness as the first piece.
- Use a finger to apply a ring of water around the exposed pastry on the bottom of the pie. Add the lid, then use the prongs of a fork to seal, add any decoration you like and then brush with beaten egg.
- Bake in the oven at 180°C or 350°F for 45-50 minutes and allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before cutting.
ellis
Monday 7th of March 2022
this pie was amazing