There is no substitute for good quality beef from your butcher or local farm shop for this classic favourite.

Serves 4

Ingredients

900g good quality stewing beef, diced

25g flour, seasoned with salt and freshly ground black pepper, plus extra for dusting

100g butter

Olive oil 2 onions, peeled and roughly chopped

2 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped

250g chestnut mushrooms, trimmed and sliced

2 sprigs fresh thyme

1 bay leaf

400ml Yorkshire ale

500ml beef stock

2 good tbsp tomato puree

2 tbsp Dijon mustard

1 tbsp Worcester sauce

2-3 shakes balsamic vinegar

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 whole egg beaten with 1 egg yolk

300g ready-made rolled puff pastry

Method

Toss the meat in the seasoned flour, shake off any excess flour.

Heat a large pan and add half the butter and a drizzle of olive oil.

Add the meat and cook, turning frequently, until golden brown and sealed - about 10 minutes

Next add the onions, garlic, mushrooms and herbs then pour in the ale and stock. Add the tomato puree, Dijon mustard, Worcester sauce and balsamic vinegar and stir well.

Cover the pan with a lid and simmer gently for about 2 hours until the beef is meltingly tender.

Taste and season the stew. You may need to thicken it at this point. If you have too much liquid left drain some of it off and then thicken the remaining gravy.

Transfer the mixture to an ovenproof pie dish. Cool.

Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured work surface.

Cut a strip of pastry roughly the width of the rim of the pie dish.

Firmly place the pastry strip on the pie dish.

Brush with beaten egg.

Cover the filling with the remaining pastry, pressing the edges firmly together.

Pinch and flute the edges of the pastry then trim off any remaining pieces of pastry from around the edge.

Make 2-3 small slashes in the centre of the pie to allow the steam to escape.

Cut out a few decorative leaves and stick in position around the steam vents using a little of the beaten egg.

Brush the pie top with beaten egg and place in the oven for approximately 25 minutes at 220c / gas mark 7, until the pastry is golden brown.