How to Make Pork Pies Like Jamie Oliver

Jamie Oliver is one of the world’s most popular celebrity chefs, known for his approachable recipes and focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients. In his quest to get people cooking simple, delicious food at home, Jamie has shared numerous pork pie recipes over the years. From classic Melton Mowbray-style pies to quick, easy versions, Jamie shows how achievable pork pies can be with the right technique.

A pork pie is a savoury pie made with pork and other meats baked inside pastry. It originates from the English county of Leicestershire. The most famous variety is the Melton Mowbray pork pie named after the town. True Melton Mowbray pies have a distinctive bow-shaped crust, jelly filling and are made with cured pork.

However, all kinds of pork pies are enjoyed today. Jamie Oliver simplifies the traditional multi-day process to make pork pies accessible for home cooks. His recipes use fresh sausage meat rather than cured pork and often omit the jelly, resulting in hearty pies that are still full of flavor.

Jamie Oliver’s Easy Pork Pie Recipe

One of Jamie’s simplest recipes for pork pies appears on his show Jamie at Home. It uses fresh sausages and a hot water crust pastry to create mini pie sized snacks in under 2 hours.

Ingredients:

• 6 good quality pork sausages
• 1 egg, beaten
• 150g lard or butter
• 500g plain flour
• Spices like allspice, nutmeg, salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).

2. Remove sausage meat from casings and mix with beaten egg and spices.

3. Make the hot water crust pastry by melting lard in water, then mixing into flour until a dough forms.

4. Line ramekins with rolled out pastry circles, pressing into bottom and sides

5. Fill lined ramekins with sausage meat mixture.

6. Cut pastry lids and seal pies by pressing edges together.

7. Make a hole in center of each lid to vent. Brush with egg.

8. Bake for 30 minutes. Reduce heat and bake another 2 hours 30 minutes until golden brown.

9. Allow pies to cool completely before removing from tins.

This hands-on recipe results in personal sized pies with a tender pork filling. The hot water crust makes the pastry wonderfully flaky and crisp. Jamie’s easy method shows how pork pies can be weeknight friendly.

Jamie’s Signature Pork and Turkey Pie

One of Jamie Oliver’s most popular and impressive pork pie recipes is his Turkey, Pork and Cranberry Pie from his magazine. It’s a showstopper pie flavored with cranberries, port wine, orange and spices.

Ingredients for Filling:

• Onions, bacon, sage, smoked turkey, pork shoulder, pork belly, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, nutmeg

Ingredients for Pastry:

• Plain flour, lard, egg

Ingredients for Topping:

• Cranberries, orange, brown sugar, cloves, cinnamon, port, honey

Instructions:

1. Soften onions and bacon in a pan. Mix with shredded turkey and ground pork. Season well.

2. Make hot water crust pastry with flour, lard and water. Line a cake tin, reserving some pastry for lid.

3. Fill pastry case with cooled filling. Top with pastry lid and seal edges. Make a hole in center.

4. Bake 30 minutes, reduce heat and bake 2.5 hours more until golden.

5. Make gravy with stock and gelatin. Pour through hole to fill pie.

6. Make cranberry topping by simmering cranberries with orange, sugar and spices. Cool and spoon on top of pie.

7. Finish with crispy fried sage leaves. Chill overnight before slicing.

This spectacular pie is packed with holiday flavors. The multi-meat filling ensures it’s extra hearty. Allowing it to chill overnight lets the gravy seep into the filling and lets the flavors meld. Garnished with spicy cranberries and fried sage, it makes an impressive centerpiece.

Jamie’s Quick and Easy Pork Pie

Jamie Oliver also has a recipe simply called Quick Pork Pie in his book Jamie’s Comfort Food. As the name suggests, it’s a much faster pork pie recipe that skips the jelly and intricate pastry shaping.

Ingredients:

• Sausage meat
• Plain flour
• Butter
• Egg yolk
• Mustard powder
• Milk

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 220°C (425°F).

2. Rub butter into flour until sandy. Mix in mustard powder.

3. Add egg yolk and milk to bind into a dough. Wrap in plastic and chill 30 minutes.

4. Roll out dough and press into a greased pan. Fill with sausage meat.

5. Brush edges with milk and top with dough lid. Press together to seal.

6. Brush milk over top and cut a cross shape into it.

7. Bake 30 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool before slicing.

In just 30 minutes in the oven, you can have homemade pork pies for a quick weeknight meal. Jamie’s shortcuts like using ready-made sausage meat, a simple dough and skipping the jelly allow you to enjoy pork pie flavors without the fuss.

Tips for Making Jamie Oliver-Style Pork Pies

Here are some helpful tips to ensure success when making pork pies like Jamie Oliver:

• Use good quality sausage meat or make your own from seasoned ground pork.

• Keep the pastry chilled before rolling it out to prevent shrinking and cracking.

• Work quickly while assembling pies to prevent the hot water crust from getting too warm and difficult to shape.

• Always make a hole in the center of the pie lid to allow steam to escape while baking.

• Brush egg wash over the top of the baked pie for an extra glossy, golden crust.

• Allow pies to fully cool before slicing so the filling can set up. Cut with a gentle sawing motion.

• Pork pies taste great at room temperature or chilled. They also freeze well for longer storage.

• Customize flavors with different meats like turkey or chicken, herbs, spices, chutneys or cheese in the filling.

With his simple, no-fuss recipes, Jamie Oliver makes outstanding pork pies completely accessible for home cooks. Follow his lead for fresh, flavorful pies perfect for meals, parties or picnics.