Churer Meat Pie (Churer Fleischtorte)

A popular dish from Graubünden in south eastern Switzerland 

Ingredients for four people:

Pastry:

• 3 1/4 cups flour
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1 tsp salt
• just under one cup water
• yolk of two eggs

 Filling:

• 18 oz mixed ground meat
• 2 oz bacon, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup cream
• 6 oz white bread, diced
• hot milk
• salt
• nutmeg
• pepper

Oven temperature: 450 degrees

Method:

Pie:

1. Rub together the four, margarine and salt
2. Mix the water and one egg yolk, and add to the flour mixture, combining them to form a dough
3. Allow to rest

Filling:

1. Mix together the ground meat, bacon and cream
2. Soften the bread in the hot milk, squeeze dry, then add to the meat along with the onion
3. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg, and stir well

Assembling:

1. Use two thirds of the dough to line a baking tin. Prick with a fork, and spread the filling over it
2. Roll out a lid with the rest of the dough, and lay it on top
3. Paint the lid with the remaining egg yolk, and prick with a fork
4. Bake for 50 minutes

Serve with a green salad