Beef, oyster and ale pie recipe
 A beautifully balanced recipe for beef, oyster and ale pie with flavours of tarragon, dark ale, bacon. 1kg/2lb 2oz beef braising steak, choppedsalt and freshly ground black pepper50ml/2floz vegetable oil 175g/6oz smoked bacon, cut into large lardons125g/4½oz onion, chopped 125g/4½oz carrots, peeled, cut into batons 1-2 garlic cloves, peeled, chopped 125g/4½oz baby button mushrooms25g/1oz plain flour 500ml/17½fl oz dark ale1 tbsp chicken bouillon powder2 litres/3½ pints boiling water 1 large bouquet garni (bay leaves, parsley and thyme, tied together with kitchen string) 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard350g/12oz new potatoes, larger ones halved1 tsp tarragon, leaves only, chopped12 large fresh oysters, shucked250g/9oz ready-rolled puff pastry1 free-range egg, plus 1 egg yolk, beaten together with a pinch of salt 1kg/2lb 2oz beef braising steak, chopped salt and freshly ground black pepper 50ml/2floz vegetable oil 175g/6oz smoked bacon, cut into large lardons 125g/4½oz onion, chopped 125g/4½oz carrots, peeled, cut into batons 1-2 garlic cloves, peeled, chopped 125g/4½oz baby button mushrooms 25g/1oz plain flour 500ml/17½fl oz dark ale 1 tbsp chicken bouillon powder 2 litres/3½ pints boiling water 1 large bouquet garni (bay leaves, parsley and thyme, tied together with kitchen string) 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard 350g/12oz new potatoes, larger ones halved 1 tsp tarragon, leaves only, chopped 12 large fresh oysters, shucked 250g/9oz ready-rolled puff pastry 1 free-range egg, plus 1 egg yolk, beaten together with a pinch of salt Method Season the beef with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Heat a large pan until hot, then add the vegetable oil and fry the beef for 2-3 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned all over.Add the smoked bacon and fry for a further 1-2 minutes, then add the onion, carrots, garlic and mushrooms. Fry for 2-3 minutes, then add the flour and stir well to prevent any lumps from forming. Cook for a further minute. Pour in the dark ale, bring to the boil and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until reduced by half. Dissolve the chicken bouillon powder in the water, then add to the pan along with the bouquet garni, wholegrain mustard and new potatoes. Bring to the boil and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then reduce to a simmer and cook for two hours, or until the beef is tender. Add the chopped tarragon to the pan and season, to taste, if necessary. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside to cool. Discard the bouquet garni.Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Spoon the beef mixture into a 20cm x 15cm/8in x 6in pie dish and add the oysters, folding them gently into the beef mixture. Roll out the puff pastry until it is 3mm thick, then cut out pieces of pastry large enough to fit over the top of the pie dishes as a lid, with a bit of overhang. Crimp the edges with your fingers, securing the pastry to the dish. Prick the surface of the pastry with a fork, then brush with the beaten egg. Place the pies onto a baking tray and bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden-brown and crisp.Serve the pies with sides of lightly boiled seasonal green vegetables, such as green beans, broccoli or spinach. Season the beef with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Heat a large pan until hot, then add the vegetable oil and fry the beef for 2-3 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned all over. Season the beef with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Heat a large pan until hot, then add the vegetable oil and fry the beef for 2-3 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned all over. Add the smoked bacon and fry for a further 1-2 minutes, then add the onion, carrots, garlic and mushrooms. Fry for 2-3 minutes, then add the flour and stir well to prevent any lumps from forming. Cook for a further minute. Add the smoked bacon and fry for a further 1-2 minutes, then add the onion, carrots, garlic and mushrooms. Fry for 2-3 minutes, then add the flour and stir well to prevent any lumps from forming. Cook for a further minute. Pour in the dark ale, bring to the boil and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until reduced by half. Dissolve the chicken bouillon powder in the water, then add to the pan along with the bouquet garni, wholegrain mustard and new potatoes. Bring to the boil and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then reduce to a simmer and cook for two hours, or until the beef is tender. Pour in the dark ale, bring to the boil and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until reduced by half. Dissolve the chicken bouillon powder in the water, then add to the pan along with the bouquet garni, wholegrain mustard and new potatoes. Bring to the boil and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then reduce to a simmer and cook for two hours, or until the beef is tender. Add the chopped tarragon to the pan and season, to taste, if necessary. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside to cool. Discard the bouquet garni. Add the chopped tarragon to the pan and season, to taste, if necessary. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside to cool. Discard the bouquet garni. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Spoon the beef mixture into a 20cm x 15cm/8in x 6in pie dish and add the oysters, folding them gently into the beef mixture. Spoon the beef mixture into a 20cm x 15cm/8in x 6in pie dish and add the oysters, folding them gently into the beef mixture. Roll out the puff pastry until it is 3mm thick, then cut out pieces of pastry large enough to fit over the top of the pie dishes as a lid, with a bit of overhang. Crimp the edges with your fingers, securing the pastry to the dish. Roll out the puff pastry until it is 3mm thick, then cut out pieces of pastry large enough to fit over the top of the pie dishes as a lid, with a bit of overhang. Crimp the edges with your fingers, securing the pastry to the dish. Prick the surface of the pastry with a fork, then brush with the beaten egg. Place the pies onto a baking tray and bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden-brown and crisp. Prick the surface of the pastry with a fork, then brush with the beaten egg. Place the pies onto a baking tray and bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden-brown and crisp. Serve the pies with sides of lightly boiled seasonal green vegetables, such as green beans, broccoli or spinach. Serve the pies with sides of lightly boiled seasonal green vegetables, such as green beans, broccoli or spinach.