Ham and leek pie kinkku-purjo piirakka

Hyvää laskiaistiistaita! Happy Shrove Tuesday one and all!

For a little Laskiais celebration (in addition to the obligatory laskiaispullat) I've made kinkku-purjo piirakka, Ham and leek pie.

This is how I make it!

For the pastry

175g/6oz plain flour, plus extra for dusting

50g/ 1 ¾oz butter

50g/ 1 ¾ oz Smetana (sour cream, crème fraiche)

salt (I used salted butter so didn't add any)

Sift the flour together with a pinch of salt in a large bowl. Combine the butter and sour cream and mix together with the flour, do not overwork. Rest it in the fridge for 30 minutes. Roll out and line the pie dish with it. I used the excess for a few little individual ones.

Filling

180 ml, ¾ cup of cubed smoked ham

180 ml, ¾ cup gently fried leaks

180 ml, ¾ cup cream or milk (or as I used half sour cream, half milk)

2 to 3 eggs

120 ml, ½ cup of grated cheese of your choice (I used Emmenthal)

Pepper and herbs to taste (Iused black pepper and fresh parsley)

Saute the leaks until tender and cool down (I sauted the ham too for extra flavour). Scatter the leaks and ham on the pastry case, and then the cheese. Whisk together the milk/cream and eggs, add the herbs and pepper to the mixture and pour into the pastry case.

Cook in 225°C for 30 mins

My tin is 35cm×11cm (14in×4.5in) and I had a little left over filling and pastry I used for individual pies. Some people like to blind bake the pastry case first, I've not found it necessary. I just place the tin on a hot baking sheet and it cooks well from underneath.

I used the more traditional fillings but there is of course lots of different things you can use, with pescaterian and vegetarian options too. Goats cheese is great, as is asparagus and smoked salmon (with dill and lemon pepper) to name a few. Enjoy!

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