Savoury Baking and Pastries
Including both meat and vegetarian pastries
Cheese Scones
Cheese scones are very easy and quick to make. The secret is to handle the dough as lightly as possible and not overwork or over roll it.
- Time: 10 minutes to prepare 25 minutes to make
- Complexity: very easy
Feta and Peppadew Muffins
Savoury muffins are delicious as a savoury snack at any time of the day or served with soup instead of bread. They are also a great way to use up leftover cheese, cooked meat and cooked vegetables. Just substitute the Feta for any other cheese that you fancy and the Peppadew's can be substituted for cooked meat such as ham or bacon or vegetables. The jars of antipasti artichokes, courgettes etc stored in oil work well and remember to use the oil up in the recipe instead of the olive oil. Makes 15.
- Time: 20 minutes to prepare. 20 minutes to bake.
- Complexity: easy
Flaky Pastry or Rough Puff Pastry
Here is a recipe for quick flaky pastry also known as rough puff pastry. Freezing the butter before grating helps keep the pastry easier to work and the pastry nice and light. Sausage rolls and cheese straws are my favourite use for this pastry although my Grandma used to make the most amazing apricot pie.
- Time: 5 minutes and 30 minutes to chill
- Complexity: medium
Pork Pies
Pork pies are much easier to make than you might imagine. Just a little time needed to prepare the filling and the pastry and some patience required with the crimping and sealing of the pies.
- Time: 3 hours including chilling time for the pastry
- Complexity: advanced
Roasted Squash and Blue Cheese Pizza
The sweet flesh of squash and pumpkin works so well with blue cheese of any type. Perhaps not strictly a pizza but delicious. Use crusty bread for bases if you don't have time to make a dough. Try different cheese to replace the goats cheese. Experiment!
- Time: 30 minute roasting time for the veg and 20 minutes to bake in the oven
- Complexity: easy
Shortcrust Pastry
Shortcrust pastry is very versatile and can be used for all types of savoury and sweet pies. Using lard gives a lovely crisp pastry and is also very economical at around a quarter of the price of butter. Don't overwork the dough. Light, cold fingers are supposed to make the best short crust pastry.
- Time: 10 minutes
- Complexity: easy
Spring Cabbage, Mushroom, Dill and Cream Cheese Pie
A delicious vegetarian pie which can be served with a dill flavoured béchamel sauce. Use shortcrust pastry or make a quick puff pastry topped pie (buy ready rolled puff pastry) Cook the cabbage filling, place in a dish and top with a puff pastry lid. Creme fraiche can be added to the pie filling for a creamier finish.
- Time: 40 minutes plus cooking time
- Complexity: medium
Stilton Walnut Crisps
Rich, cheesy biscuits with a bit of a kick. Very moreish! Make ahead as they will store in an airtight container for about a week, or make the dough then slice and bake as you go. Makes about 40/50. Both the uncooked dough and the baked biscuits freeze well.
- Time: 30 minutes (dough will need to chill for 1 hr)
- Complexity: easy
Swiss Chard and Gruyere Souffle
A savoury souffle is not as hard as it looks and can turn very economical ingredients into a luxurious dish. For a perfectly fluffy and towering souffle, remember no peeking while it's cooking. Put it in the oven (don't slam the door or you'll knock the air out) and patiently wait for the cooking time to elapse. Experiment by using different cheeses and swap spinach for mushrooms, cooked leeks, roasted peppers or anything else you fancy.
- Time: 20 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook one large souffle.
- Complexity: medium