Serves 4. Preparation Time: 20 minutes

plus 30 minutes chilling, cooking Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

• 400g plain flour, sifted

• seasoning

• 200g Country Life butter, chilled and cubed

• Beaten egg, to glaze

• 2 tbsp cracked black pepper

• 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced

• 75g swede, peeled and diced

• 75g carrots, peeled, diced

• 250g leg lamb steaks, cut into 1cm cubes

• 2 tbsp fresh mint

• 1 red onion, finely chopped

Method:

1. Season the flour and sift into a large bowl. Add the Country Life butter and rub into the flour using your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Sprinkle with 6-7 tablespoons of chilled water (enough to just bind the dough) and draw the mixture together with a knife. Knead gently on a floured board then wrap in clingfilm and chill for 30 minutes in the fridge.

2. Preheat the oven to 180C, fan 160C, 350F, Gas Mark 4.

3. Divide the pastry into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece on a lightly floured work surface. Roll using short strokes and always in one direction, giving the pastry a quarter turn after each roll. Roll to a thickness of a £1 coin. Cut into a circle about 18cm diameter using a plate as a guide.

4. Mix together the vegetables, lamb and mint. Arrange quarter of the mix in the centre of each pastry circle. Season.

5. Lightly brush the edge of the pastry with water then carefully bring up the edges to the centre to cover the filling. Pinch the join to create a sealed edge over the top of the pasty. Repeat with the other pastry circles.

6. Brush the pasties with beaten egg and sprinkled with cracked black pepper. Cook for 1 hour until the pastry is golden and the filling cooked through.

7. Serve hot or cold with chutney.

Tip: Try replacing the lamb with chicken or beef.