Get nostalgic for childhood picnics with these springtime homemade pasties
Prep:40 mins
Makes 4 large pasties
For the pastry175g cold butter, chopped into chunks350g plain flour, plus extra for dusting½ tsp English mustard powder1 egg, beaten for glazing
STEP 1Tip the butter, flour and mustard powder into a food processor with ½ tsp salt and whizz until you can’t see any lumps of butter. Add roughly 4-5 tbsp cold water, a spoonful at a time, while pulsing until the pastry comes together. Tip out onto a clean surface, bring together into a ball and chill while you make the filling.STEP 2Melt the butter in a frying pan. Add the onion and gently sweat for 10-15 mins until really soft, but not very coloured. Stir in the peas for 1 min, then turn off the heat and stir in the ham, mint and ricotta with plenty of seasoning.STEP 3Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and divide the pastry into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece to a neat 16-17cm circle – cut round a saucer or lid. Brush the edges with a little of the beaten egg, spoon a quarter of the filling into the middle, then bring up opposite sides of the pastry and seal. Crimp to make a pasty shape. Carefully lift onto a baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the pastry, then brush the finished pasties all over with egg. Bake for 35-40 mins until golden and crisp. Leave to cool slightly, then serve either warm or cold.
