Description
To truly appreciate this dish, it helps to understand what makes the combination so uniquely delicious. At its core, this flaky halal beef and cheddar hand pies recipe is a savory turnaround turnover made by encasing a seasoned ground meat filling and melted cheese within a premium laminated dough structure. Rather than baking a large, traditional family-sized pie that requires slicing and serving tools, these individual pastries are portioned out before they ever enter the oven. This design keeps the interior incredibly moist and succulent while allowing the hot air of the oven to circulate completely around each piece, creating a uniformly crisp exterior.
Ingredients
For the Filling
- ½ lb (225 g) halal ground beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ small onion, finely diced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
For the Pastry
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- 1 tbsp water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the onion until softened, about 3 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add the halal ground beef, breaking it apart as it cooks. Stir in paprika, cumin, salt, pepper, and tomato paste.
- Cook until the beef is browned and fully cooked. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese.
- Roll out the puff pastry and cut into 4 equal rectangles.
- Spoon the beef mixture onto one half of each rectangle, leaving a border around the edges.
- Fold the pastry over the filling and press the edges with a fork to seal.
- Mix the egg and water, then brush over the tops of the hand pies.
- Cut a small slit in the top of each pie to allow steam to escape.
- Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed.
- Cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 hand pie
- Calories: 390 kcal
Keywords: Halal meat pastries, savory beef turnovers, individual cheddar pocket pies