Beef, pork & cheddar cheese Australia Day family pie

INGREDIENTS

• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 sticks celery, leaves removed, stalks diced finely
• 500g lean beef mince (ground beef)
• 1 medium-sized mild chorizo sausage,
• 200g free-range bacon, cut into small pieces
• 2 teaspoons curry powder
• 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons Worcester sauce
• 2 tablespoons HP sauce
• 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce
• 2 cups water
• Leaves from 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme
• Leaves from 1 sprig rosemary, finely chopped
• Salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon plain flour
• 1 large sheet pre-rolled short crust pastry
• 1 large sheet pre-rolled puff pastry
• Large handful vintage cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 egg yolk and a little milk for egg wash
• Olive oil for frying
• Tomato ketchup to serve (an Aussie must!)

METHOD

1. Pre-heat oven to 180C
2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic and saute for 5 minutes before adding in the celery and continue to cook for another 5 mins.
3. At the same time the above is cooking, add the chorizo and bacon into a separate frying pan and fry for 10 minutes over medium heat until the bacon is cooked.
4. Add both meats into the onion/celery mix, then using the same frying pan and a little olive oil, brown the beef mince then add into the pot with the bacon and chorizo along with the curry powder, nutmeg, Worcester sauce, HP & BBQ sauces, water, rosemary and thyme. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
5. Sprinkle in 1 tablespoon flour then simmer everything for 20-25 mins over low-medium heat until reduced and thickened. If the sauce gets too thick, simply add a little water.
6. Line a pie dish with the short crust pastry and blind bake in the pre-heated oven for 10-12 minutes. Remove and fill with the meat mixture, onto which scatter the large handful of grated cheddar. Top with puff pastry sheet and brush with egg wash.
7. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.

Serve piping hot with tomato ketchup.