Have you ever thought about going savoury with these babies? Serve up these bobotie mince pies as canapés to your friends and family as they arrive for Christmas lunch or dinner.

MAKES 12 // COOKING TIME 1 hour, 45 minutes

INGREDIENTS
For the pastry
500 g flour
2 tsp salt
250 g butter
For the filling
½ cup milk
2 slices white bread
Olive oil, to fry
2 onions, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
1 kg lean beef mince
1 cup sultanas
2 tbsp mango chutney
1 tbsp mild curry powder
2 bay leaves
Salt and pepper
To assemble the pies
1 egg, beaten
50 g flaked almonds, lightly toasted

METHOD
For the pastry
1. Sieve together the flour and salt in a bowl.
2. Rub butter into the flour until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
3. Use a knife to mix in 1–2 tbsp chilled water to bind. Turn out on to a floured surface and lightly knead the dough until it forms into a ball. Wrap tightly in cling film and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
For the filling
1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
2. Pour the milk over the bread and set aside to soak.
3. Heat a glug of oil in a pan over medium heat and fry the onions for 10 minutes until soft and slightly brown. Add garlic and fry for 1 minute.
4. Add the mince and mix well, breaking it up. Add the sultanas, chutney, curry powder and bay leaves, and season. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Drain the bread, break it up into pieces and add to the mince mixture. Pour into a baking dish, press down and smooth the top. Bake for 30–35 minutes.
To assemble the pies
1. Grease a 12-hole muffin tin.
2. Roll out the pastry to 5 mm thick. Use a biscuit cutter to cut out 18 circles. Press 12 circles into the muffin tin.
3. Take the remaining 6 circles and cut a star from the centre of each one, so you have 6 stars and 6 circles with star-shaped holes. Set these aside.
4. Place a circle of baking paper and some baking beans in each pastry case. Blind-bake them for 10 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
5. Remove from the oven and fill each case with a dollop of the bobotie mixture.
6. Place the stars and circles on top of the bobotie pies. Brush with the beaten egg and bake for 15 minutes.
7. Sprinkle with almonds and bake for a further 10 minutes. Remove the pies from the oven and serve.

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