Pomegranate, figs and pistachio mince pies with tahini pastry

 

Ingredients

For the pastry

• 180g plain flour, plus extra to dust
• 75g unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
• 1 tbsp golden caster sugar
• 1large free-range egg yolk
• 3 tbsp tahini

For the mincemeat

• 200g mincemeat (best quality shop bought)
• 3 tbsp pomegranate molasses
• 3 dried apricots, finely chopped, plus extra to garnish
• 2 dried figs, finely chopped
• 3 tbsp unsalted pistachios, roughly chopped, plus extra to garnish
• Fresh pomegranate seeds, to garnish
• 1 tsp sesame seeds, toasted in a dry pan, to garnish

You’ll also need…

• 12-hole muffin tin

Method

1. Sift the flour with a pinch of salt into a bowl. Rub in the butter with your fingers. Quickly stir in the sugar, egg yolk and tahini with
   a round-bladed knife. Add 1-2 tbsp cold water, a little at a time, until the mixture comes together to make a dough. Form into a disc, wrap in cling film and chill for at least 30 minutes.
2. Mix together all the mincemeat ingredients except the sesame seeds, then cover until needed.
3. Use scales to weigh out 12 equal pieces of dough. With your fingers, press the dough into each hole of the muffin tin, working it about 3cm up the side of each hole to make rustic pastry cases. Spoon in the mincemeat mixture, then chill for a further 30 minutes. Heat the oven to 190°C/170°C fan/gas 5.
4. Bake the pies for 15-18 minutes, turning the tin halfway through if one side is browning too quickly. Leave to cool for 5 minutes in the tin, then use a palette knife to transfer the pies to a wire rack to cool completely. Sprinkle with extra chopped apricots, pistachios, the fresh pomegranite and the sesame seeds to serve.