Coal Miners Pasties

Coal miners in the Midwest would take one of these pasties for their lunch. They keep warm rather long wrapped in a towel. Some housewives would stuff one end with a savory filling, and the other with a sweet one. That way you could have your dessert with your dinner! For a true coal miner meal experience, be sure to roughly chop the potatoes.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 45 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 1186 Calories

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 ½ cups lard
• 10 tablespoons ice water
• 2 pounds top round steak, cut into 1/4 inch cubes
• 5 red potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 3 turnips, peeled and cubed
• 1 ½ cups chopped onion
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Step 2

Place flour, 2 teaspoons salt, and lard in a bowl. Quickly rub lard into flour with your fingertips until it resembles small peas. Pour in ice water and form into a ball. Add more water if it feels too dry. Divide dough into 6 balls; wrap in plastic and chill for one hour.

Step 3

In a bowl, combine steak, turnips, potatoes, onions, remaining 1 tablespoon salt, and pepper.

Step 4

Roll out one ball of dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Using a cake pan, trace a 9-inch circle in dough; cut out the circle. Place about 1 1/2 cups of steak mixture into middle of the circle. Fold edges of the circle up to meet along the top of filling; crimp dough along the top to seal. Repeat until dough is used up. Use a spatula to transfer pasties to an ungreased baking sheet.

Step 5

Bake pasties in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until golden. Serve hot or at room temperature.