1cup(2 sticks) unsalted butter (very cold or frozen)or ¾ cup cold beef tallow
6tablespoonslow sodium beef brothcold
2sweet onions, thinly sliced
2tablespoonsunsalted butter
2cupssliced cremini (baby bella) mushrooms
2tablespoonsall-purpose flour
1-cuplow sodium beef broth
½cupheavy cream plus additional for brushing over pies before baking
2cupsdiced leftover cooked beef steak
salt and pepper
2cupsshredded Gruyere cheese
2chopped green onions
finishing salt of your choiceI used a hickory smoked version
Instructions
Whisk flour, salt and pepper together in a large bowl.
Grate butter or crumble beef tallow over the top. Toss it well with a fork insuring the fat gets separated into bits and coated with the dry mixture.
Add broth, two tablespoons at a time, tossing mixture around with the fork. Using your hands, bring the dough together into a ball. Flatten like a pancake and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill at least 30 minutes which allows the dough to hydrate evenly. Roll out your dough to fit your pie pans.
In a skillet, cook onions in 1 tablespoon of butter over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 40 minutes or until golden brown and caramelized. Transfer onions to a bowl.
In same skillet, cook mushrooms in remaining butter until they have released their liquid and brown. Sprinkle with flour, cook 2 minutes, stirring. Stir in broth and cream; bring to a boil. Let mixture reduce until thickened.
Remove from heat. Stir in beef. Season well with salt and pepper.
Line Pie plate with pastry.
Spread half the cheese over bottom of pastry. Top with an even layer of onions. Spoon mushroom-beef mixture evenly over onions. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and green onions.
Dab a small amount of cold water on bottom crust edge. Cover pie with top crust. Seal and flute edges.
Brush top of pie lightly with heavy cream and sprinkle with finishing salt. Cut slits in top of pie for steam to escape while baking.
Bake at 400F for 40 to 50 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbling hot.
Notes
These pies can be frozen before baking. Do not make steam vents or glaze if the plan is to freeze them for later. Let bake for 10 minutes to soften the crust. Then add steam vents and continue baking until hot and bubbly.