Old Homestead Pie

The inspiration for this recipe came from “The Prairie Homestead Cookbook” by Jill Winger. It’s a beautiful recipe to turn to if you need to clean your fridge or freezer. I adapted the original recipe to use what we had on hand. I’m doing my best to clear out my canned tomatoes and freezer meat from last season to make room for more in the coming months. This was a tasty dinner and the buttermilk biscuits baked on top of the pie sealed the deal. I used my soaked buttermilk biscuits method as I love the texture and added benefits of soaking the flour but if you forget to wash your grains the evening before just proceed with the recipe without soaking. I also really loved how easy this was to pull together and as a family we loved eating this on a random grey and rainy night. It hasn’t rained much this spring and the first dreary evening called for a cozy meal that helped clear the freezer! I hope you all enjoy this as much as we did. If you’re looking for a bit of comfort food that’s equal parts nourishing and delicious this is the meal for you and your family!

Ingredients

Buttermilk Biscuits

• 2 1/2 cups whole spelt flour (for a lighter biscuit you can substitute with half all-purpose flour)
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into a large dice
• 1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt

Filling

• 1 pound ground beef, lamb, or bison
• 1 medium-sized onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• A few grinds of freshly cracked pepper
• 1 1/2 cups canned tomatoes with their juices
• 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

Prepare the Buttermilk Biscuits

1. Soak the Flour:
   Mix the flour with the buttermilk to form a thick dough. Cover and leave in a warm spot in your kitchen for 12-24 hours. (If you don’t want to soak your flour, you can omit this step.)
2. Preheat Oven:
   Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
3. Mix Dough:
   If you soaked the dough, add it to the bowl of a food processor along with the butter, baking soda, and salt. Process until the dough is thick and comes together. (You can also knead by hand but the processor is convenient for this.)
4. Roll Out Dough:
   Roll the dough out on a generously floured work surface to about 3/4 inch thick. Cut the biscuits with a glass or biscuit cutter. Set aside.

Prepare the Filling

1. Cook the Meat:
   Brown the ground beef over medium-high heat in a large cast iron pan. Add the onion, garlic, salt, dried herbs, pepper flakes, and black pepper. Cook until the onion softens and the mixture is fragrant, about 6 minutes.
2. Add Tomatoes:
   Stir in the canned tomatoes with their juices and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook for 15-20 minutes allowing the flavors to meld and the mixture to thicken slightly.

Assemble and Bake the Pie

1. Add Cheese and Parsley:
   Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese and chopped fresh parsley over the beef mixture in the cast iron pan.
2. Top with Biscuits:
   Arrange the cut biscuits on the cheese and beef mixture.
3. Bake:
   Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes or until the biscuits are golden brown and the filling is bubbling around the edges.
4. Cool and Serve:
   Allow the pie to cool for a few minutes before serving to settle the flavors.

Additional Tips

• Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave before serving.
• Freezing: The assembled unbaked pie can be frozen for up to 3 months. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Bake from frozen, adding 10-15 minutes to the baking time.
• Variations: You can add other vegetables such as carrots, peas, or bell peppers to the beef mixture for added nutrition and flavor.
• Serving Suggestion: Serve the pie with a salad or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.

Enjoy this hearty and comforting Old Homestead Pie, perfect for any cozy night!