Venison Dartmouth pie recipe
 A rich and comforting venison pie that’s warming wintry food at its finest. Make the filling and pastry ahead and you can knock this pie out in 45 minutes. Ideal in the run up to Christmas or for the days in between Christmas and New Year. 250g/9oz self-raising flour150g/5½oz shredded suet½ tsp baking powderpinch English mustard powderpinch salt 250g/9oz self-raising flour 150g/5½oz shredded suet ½ tsp baking powder pinch English mustard powder pinch salt 2 tsp black peppercorns1 tsp allspice berries1 blade mace1 stick cinnamon2 tsp coriander seeds1kg/2lb 4oz diced venison1 tbsp plain flour, seasoned with a little salt3 tbsp vegetable oil or beef dripping2 large onions, thinly sliced500ml/18fl oz beef or chicken stock150g/5½oz dried apricots, roughly chopped150g/5½oz dried prunes, roughly chopped100g/3½oz raisins1 orange, zest and juice1 free-range egg, beaten, to glaze1 carrot or parsnip (optional) salt and black pepper 2 tsp black peppercorns 1 tsp allspice berries 1 blade mace 1 stick cinnamon 2 tsp coriander seeds 1kg/2lb 4oz diced venison 1 tbsp plain flour, seasoned with a little salt 3 tbsp vegetable oil or beef dripping 2 large onions, thinly sliced 500ml/18fl oz beef or chicken stock 150g/5½oz dried apricots, roughly chopped 150g/5½oz dried prunes, roughly chopped 100g/3½oz raisins 1 orange, zest and juice 1 free-range egg, beaten, to glaze 1 carrot or parsnip (optional) salt and black pepper Warm red cabbage salad Warm red cabbage salad Warm red cabbage salad Method To make the pastry, place all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Add about 125ml/4fl oz very cold water and mix until you have a soft dough. Wrap in cling film and place in the fridge to rest for at least 20 minutes before using.To make the filling, grind the peppercorns, allspice berries, mace, cinnamon and coriander seeds in a spice grinder to a powder.Toss the venison in the seasoned flour. Heat the oil or dripping in a casserole and brown the meat on all sides. Do this in batches if needed. Sprinkle over the spices then add the onions and return all the meat to the pan. Cook, stirring regularly, for another 10 minutes. Add the stock, stir well to scrape up any browned bits from the pan and bring to a simmer. Add the apricots, prunes, raisins and orange zest and juice. Simmer the venison on a very low heat or transfer to a pre-heated low oven (150C/130C Fan/Gas 2) and cook for 1½–2 hours, or until the meat is tender. When tender, season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and leave to cool. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6. Transfer the mixture to a deep pie dish, placing a pie funnel in the centre of the dish. If you don’t have a pie funnel, I sometimes use a peeled carrot or parsnip.Remove the pastry from the fridge and leave at room temperature for 15 minutes before using. Roll out the pastry to a thickness of 5mm and cut a strip to fit around the edge of the pie dish. Brush the edge of the dish with the beaten egg and place the strip around the edge.Brush the pastry strip with egg and drape the remaining pastry over the pie, making a hole for the funnel. Trim the excess pastry and crimp around the sides to seal. Brush all over with egg and bake for 20 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4 for another 20 minutes. Serve with a warm red cabbage salad or vegetables of your choice. To make the pastry, place all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Add about 125ml/4fl oz very cold water and mix until you have a soft dough. Wrap in cling film and place in the fridge to rest for at least 20 minutes before using. To make the pastry, place all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Add about 125ml/4fl oz very cold water and mix until you have a soft dough. Wrap in cling film and place in the fridge to rest for at least 20 minutes before using. To make the filling, grind the peppercorns, allspice berries, mace, cinnamon and coriander seeds in a spice grinder to a powder. To make the filling, grind the peppercorns, allspice berries, mace, cinnamon and coriander seeds in a spice grinder to a powder. Toss the venison in the seasoned flour. Heat the oil or dripping in a casserole and brown the meat on all sides. Do this in batches if needed. Sprinkle over the spices then add the onions and return all the meat to the pan. Cook, stirring regularly, for another 10 minutes. Add the stock, stir well to scrape up any browned bits from the pan and bring to a simmer. Toss the venison in the seasoned flour. Heat the oil or dripping in a casserole and brown the meat on all sides. Do this in batches if needed. Sprinkle over the spices then add the onions and return all the meat to the pan. Cook, stirring regularly, for another 10 minutes. Add the stock, stir well to scrape up any browned bits from the pan and bring to a simmer. Add the apricots, prunes, raisins and orange zest and juice. Simmer the venison on a very low heat or transfer to a pre-heated low oven (150C/130C Fan/Gas 2) and cook for 1½–2 hours, or until the meat is tender. When tender, season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and leave to cool. Add the apricots, prunes, raisins and orange zest and juice. Simmer the venison on a very low heat or transfer to a pre-heated low oven (150C/130C Fan/Gas 2) and cook for 1½–2 hours, or until the meat is tender. When tender, season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and leave to cool. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6. Transfer the mixture to a deep pie dish, placing a pie funnel in the centre of the dish. If you don’t have a pie funnel, I sometimes use a peeled carrot or parsnip. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6. Transfer the mixture to a deep pie dish, placing a pie funnel in the centre of the dish. If you don’t have a pie funnel, I sometimes use a peeled carrot or parsnip. Remove the pastry from the fridge and leave at room temperature for 15 minutes before using. Roll out the pastry to a thickness of 5mm and cut a strip to fit around the edge of the pie dish. Brush the edge of the dish with the beaten egg and place the strip around the edge. Remove the pastry from the fridge and leave at room temperature for 15 minutes before using. Roll out the pastry to a thickness of 5mm and cut a strip to fit around the edge of the pie dish. Brush the edge of the dish with the beaten egg and place the strip around the edge. Brush the pastry strip with egg and drape the remaining pastry over the pie, making a hole for the funnel. Trim the excess pastry and crimp around the sides to seal. Brush all over with egg and bake for 20 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4 for another 20 minutes. Serve with a warm red cabbage salad or vegetables of your choice. Brush the pastry strip with egg and drape the remaining pastry over the pie, making a hole for the funnel. Trim the excess pastry and crimp around the sides to seal. Brush all over with egg and bake for 20 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4 for another 20 minutes. Serve with a warm red cabbage salad or vegetables of your choice.