Raised Pork Pie

Dice pork for filling, season well and add herbs.

For hot water crust: warm a mixing bowl and sift in flour and salt, make a well in the center of the flour.

Heat lard in milk and water. When just boiling, pour into the well in the flour, stir quickly with a wooden spoon until thick, then work with hand to a dough. Turn on to a board or table, cut off a quarter of the dough, put it back in the bowl and cover with a cloth.

Pat out the rest of dough with the fist to a thick round, set a large jar in the center and work dough up sides. Let dough cool then gently lift out jar. Fill dough case with meat mixture. Roll or pat out remaining dough to form a lid, leave a small hole in it, then put on top of pie, seal edges. Glaze with milk if wished.

Slide pie on to a baking sheet and bake in preset oven for 1-1 1/2 hours at 350 degrees F. If pie is getting too brown, cover with damp greaseproof paper towards end of cooking time. Leave until cool before placing a funnel in hole in lid and filling up with jellied stock.

cook's notes

You must work quickly and mold pastry while it is still warm, otherwise lard sets and pastry becomes brittle.