The Christmas Dieter Issue #2- Healthy Spicy Mince Pies

This week we are going to be looking at festive foods you can still enjoy on a diet. Today we will look at Mince Pies- we will look at the actual Christmas Lunch/Dinner and how we can keep it just as tasty but make it much healthier next week.

Low Fat Mince Pies Recipe

I’m from England originally and when i was young my mum (thats ‘mom’ to our American guests) used to cook great mince pies and since then i have always loved them at Christmas time.  If you have never cooked them before its time to give them a try! Before we begin you should know mince beef is not used in these pies anymore so don’t let the name fool you. We now use “mince meat” which contains fruit instead of meat and so preserves the mince pies much longer and tastes great.

The recipe we are going to use is from Low Fat Veggie Foods

Spicy Mincemeat

1. Place 1 1/4lb/500g grated aples and 2lb/900g mixed dried fruit in a pan. Add 2 tsp mixed spice and 1pt/600 ml cider.

2. Simmer for about 20 mins or until mixture forms a pulp and most of the liquid has evaporated. Stir in 2 tbsp brandy, whisky or rum, and allow to cool.

3. Pack the mincemeat in sterilised jars and store in the fridge until required.

Healthy Chritsmas Mince Pies - 150 calories per mince pie

Six Filo Pastry sheets (12 x 8in/30 x 20cm) on top of each other. Cut into 6 square-shaped sections to end up with 36 individual squares.

2. Take 6 non-stick patty tins. In each tin, layer 4 individual pastry squares at slight angles to each other, brushing with beaten egg white in between each layer. Place 1/2 tbsp mincemeat (see mincemeat recipe) in the centre of each pastry case.

3. Brush remaining 12 pastry squares with egg white and scrunch them up. Place 2 scrunched-up squares on top of each portion of mincemeat. Bake in a preheated oven at Gas 5/190C/375F for 10 mins until crisp and golden.

And thats it! You can decorate your pastry however you want. Usually some kind of festive picture on top works well, such as a christmas tree cut out of the left over pastry and placed ontop before being put into the over. Sprinkle flour or sugar on afterwards according to taste.