Cheese and Onion Pasty
Shortcrust pastry parcels filled with grated cheddar, potato and onion, baked until golden. Makes 4 in 1 hour.
Don't Make These Mistakes
Slice the potato thin so it cooks through.
Crimp the edge firmly to seal.
Cool for 5 minutes; the filling is very hot.
Cooking Cheese and Onion Pasty
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Heat the oven to 200°C / 390°F (180°C / 355°F fan). Roll out the pastry and cut four rounds about 20 cm across.
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Mix the potato, onion, cheese, salt and pepper.
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Pile a quarter onto the middle of each round, brush the edge with egg, fold over to make a half-moon and crimp firmly.
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Set on a lined tray, brush with egg and bake for 15 minutes. Lower to 170°C (150°C fan) and bake for 20 minutes more until golden.
Why It Works
It is the vegetarian cousin of the beef pasty, and the filling is cheap: onion, potato and cheddar, bound with a little pepper. It does not need cooking before it goes into the pastry.
Slice the potato very thin and dice the onion small, so both soften in the time the pastry takes to brown. Thick chunks stay hard at the heart.
The cheese melts around them and makes its own sauce. Season with black pepper generously, since cheese is salty and the potato soaks up the flavour.
Seal the edge firmly with a crimp, folded over itself. A weak seal opens in the oven and lets out the filling. Bake at a high heat for 15 minutes to set the pastry, then lower the heat for the filling to cook through. The pasty is a good option for meat-free days, and filling enough to count as a meal. Eaten warm from the oven with pickle on the side, it is an easy supper for a cold evening.
Storage and Reheating
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat at 180°C for 15 minutes. Freezes for up to 2 months.
Good With
- Salad
- Pickle
- Baked beans
- Brown sauce
Questions and Answers
How long does Cheese and Onion Pasty take to make?
About 1 hour in total — 25 minutes of preparation and 35 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Cheese and Onion Pasty?
Slice the potato thin so it cooks through. Crimp the edge firmly to seal. Cool for 5 minutes; the filling is very hot.
What should I serve with Cheese and Onion Pasty?
Salad; Pickle; Baked beans; Brown sauce.
Can Cheese and Onion Pasty be made ahead or frozen?
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat at 180°C for 15 minutes. Freezes for up to 2 months.
Is Cheese and Onion Pasty suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Cheese and Onion Pasty?
About 724 kcal per serving, with 19 g protein, 63 g carbohydrate and 44 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutrition per Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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