Best 6 Traditional Yooper Pasties Recipes

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In the heart of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, there lies a culinary treasure that has been passed down through generations: the Yooper pasty. This iconic dish is a savory hand pie, traditionally filled with a hearty combination of beef, potatoes, rutabagas, onions, and carrots, all wrapped in a golden-brown pastry. The Yooper pasty is not just a meal; it's a symbol of the region's rich history and cultural heritage.

This article presents a collection of traditional Yooper pasty recipes that capture the authentic flavors and techniques of this beloved dish. From the classic beef pasty to vegetarian and vegan variations, these recipes offer a taste of the Upper Peninsula's culinary traditions. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a novice in the kitchen, these step-by-step guides will help you create delicious and authentic Yooper pasties that will warm your heart and satisfy your taste buds. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and embark on a culinary journey to the heart of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Let's cook with our recipes!

TRADITIONAL YOOPER PASTIES



Traditional Yooper Pasties image

I am proud to say that I am a born and raised Yooper, and as such, grew up on these wonderful all in one meals, at least twice a week for 15 years of my life!!! They freeze wonderfully and make for a great "lunchbox meal", as you just remove it, and throw it in the microwave for a couple of minutes, and you have yourself a...

Provided by Jennifer McConnell

Categories     Beef

Time 2h

Number Of Ingredients 11

3 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 c shortening
1 c cold water
1 lb cooked beef roast, shredded
2 large potatoes peeled and cubed
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4 medium rutabega, cubed
1 c carrots peeled and chopped
6 Tbsp margarine or butter
salt and pepper to taste

Steps:

  • 1. 1.In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water until mixture forms a ball. Shape into a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate.
  • 2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • 3. 3.In a large bowl, combine meat, potatoes, onion, rutabaga and chopped carrots. Season with salt and pepper. Divide dough into six pieces, and shape into balls. On a lightly floured surface, roll each ball into a 6 inch round. Place approximately 1 cup filling on one half of each. Dot each with 1 tablespoon margarine. Draw the other half of the pastry over the filling. Crimp edges to seal in filling. Prick with a fork and place on prepared baking sheet.
  • 4. 4.Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes - 1 hour, or until crust is a gorgeous golden brown. To achieve the perfect golden brown color, rub each pasty with just a little bit of milk.

SIMPLE YOOPER STYLE PASTY PIE AN ORIGINAL RECIPE BY: CATHY HURKMANS TOLMAN



Simple Yooper Style Pasty Pie an original recipe by: Cathy Hurkmans Tolman image

Years ago being a busy working mom with 3 growing boys, I needed to find a way to still have my families favorite , pasties, but not having a nack for crust making and not having a lot of time for peeling & chopping, I developed this much loved and often requested recipe for my own version of the Upper Michigans famous original...

Provided by Cathy Hurkmans Tolman

Categories     Savory Pies

Time 2h

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 pounds ground chuck
1 pound ground pork
1 med to large onion chopped fine
1 - 2 pound bag southern style ( the cubed kind) frozen hashbrowns
1 can beef broth or 1 ½ c. hot water mixed with 1 tbs.beef soup base
1 ½ to 2 cups matchstick or fine chopped carrots
2 cans diced rutabagas - drained
4 ready to use premade pie crusts

Steps:

  • 1. Bring 4 ready made refrigerated pie crusts to room tempature . I usually just take them out while prepare the meat mixture and they are softened enough by then to unroll easily. Mix all ingredients ( except the pie crusts) well in a large mixing bowl. It works best to use your hands to mix. Add salt & pepper (to taste) ,a little at a time , as you mix. That allows the salt & pepper to get mixed in better. Place a single crust into each of two deep dish pie plates, press in. Divide meat mixture between the two crusts and pat it down some to hold it together well, it should be well above the depth of the pie plate,be sure to keep it pretty even across so it will cook evenly. Use the other two crusts as tops. Pinch edges together all the way around and cut off excess crust. Cut a few 1 inch slits in top of each pie. Brush edges of crust with a little milk to keep them softer. Bake about 1 hour and 20 minutes at 350* uncovered. If using foil pie plates bake them on a baking sheet. Let the pies set for about 10 minutes before cutting.
  • 2. note* If you're unsure if the middle is done you can use a meat thermometer or simply poke the potatoes with a fork to test for doneness.
  • 3. THIS RECIPE CAN BE CUT IN HALF VERY EASILY TO JUST MAKE ONE PIE. I LIKE MAKING TWO , BAKING THEM BOTH AND THEN FREEZING ONE FOR ANOTHER DAY. ONE PIE WILL SERVE 4 TO 6 PEOPLE EASILY
  • 4. Traditionally in this neck of the woods people eat pastys with either ketchup or beef gravy, but they are also very very tasty on their own.

UPPER PENINSULA PASTIES



Upper Peninsula Pasties image

I grew up in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where many people are of English ancestry. Pasties-traditional meat pies often eaten by hand-are popular there. -Carole Lynn Derifield, Valdez, Alaska

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h35m

Yield 12 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 cups shortening
2 cups boiling water
5-1/2 to 6 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
FILLING:
6 medium red potatoes (about 3 pounds), peeled
2 small rutabagas (about 1-1/2 pounds), peeled
1 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
2 medium onions, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
3 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pepper
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/4 cup butter
Half-and-half cream or a lightly beaten large egg, optional

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, stir shortening and water until shortening is melted. Gradually stir in flour and salt until a very soft dough is formed; cover and refrigerate for 1-1/2 hours. , Cut potatoes and rutabagas into 1/8- or 1/4-inch cubes; do not make cubes too large or they will not cook properly. Gently combine ground beef and pork; break into small crumbles. In a large bowl, combine potatoes, rutabagas, onions, meat mixture and seasonings. , Divide dough into 12 equal portions. On a floured surface, roll out 1 portion at a time into a 8-in. circle. Mound 1-1/2 to 2 cups filling on half of each circle; dot with 1 teaspoon butter. Moisten edges with water; carefully fold dough over filling and press edges with a fork to seal. , Place on ungreased baking sheets. Cut several slits in top of pasties. If desired, brush with cream or beaten egg. Bake at 350° until golden brown, about 1 hour. Cool on wire racks. Serve hot or cold. Store in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 757 calories, Fat 44g fat (13g saturated fat), Cholesterol 46mg cholesterol, Sodium 1060mg sodium, Carbohydrate 69g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 19g protein.

DA YOOPER PASTIES



Da Yooper Pasties image

We love a good pasty and this is a recipe I've developed to highlight the best of the flavors. We love butter pastry over lard or shortening, so this recipe uses a butter pastry crust recipe originally from Gourmet magazine. Prep time does not include one hour to chill pastry dough. There will be filling left over that I like to bake in a separate dish (covered!) for the little one. Enjoy!

Provided by lolablitz

Categories     Savory Pies

Time 2h

Yield 4 pasties, 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
6 -7 tablespoons ice water
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
2 cups potatoes, diced
1 cup rutabaga, small dice
3/4-1 cup sweet onion, small dice
3 carrots, cut into coins
1 tablespoon seasoning salt
1 tablespoon dried parsley

Steps:

  • Make dough:.
  • Mix flour and salt in a large bowl and cut in butter.
  • Add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork until incorporated.
  • Knead until well blended.
  • Form into four balls and chill for 1 hour or more covered in plastic wrap.
  • Remove pastry from fridge 30 minutes prior to rolling it out.
  • Make Filling:.
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Mix all ingredients together in large bowl.
  • Let flavors marry while rolling out dough.
  • Dust flat surface with flour and roll out dough into circles 1/8" thick.
  • Place large cupful of filling onto center of each dough circle.
  • Pull top over and, using fingertips, dot edges with water.
  • Seal edges together and then fold over on itself to form a double seal.
  • Cook in preheated oven for 50-60 minutes.

UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN ORIGINAL PASTIES



Upper Peninsula of Michigan Original Pasties image

These were brought to the UP by Cornish Miners. It is still a very popular dish in the mining communities of the U.P. of Michigan.

Provided by larryvitse

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 1h30m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

8 large potatoes, cube
1 1/2 lbs flank steaks, cut in small pieces
1 lb pork steak, cut in small pieces
1 large onion, diced
3 1/2 teaspoons salt
black pepper, to teaste
2 tablespoons parsley
1/2 cup rutabagas (optional) or 1/2 cup carrot, diced (optional)
4 -5 cups flour
2 cups lard or 2 cups Crisco
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4-1 cup water

Steps:

  • Cube all of the above ingredients. The filling including the meat is not cooked. Those of us who are Yoopers (originally from the Upper Penninsula know that the meat is never cooked before baking a Pastie!
  • Mix dough like pie crust.
  • Divide into 8 balls.
  • Roll out like a pie crust.
  • Put filling on half of circle. About 1 cup.
  • Crimp like pie crust. Will look like a half circle.
  • Put on ungreased cookie sheets.
  • Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes and 375 for 40 minutes.
  • Put slits in top of crust before baking.
  • Let sit about 1/2 hour after baking.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1297.1, Fat 70.3, SaturatedFat 27.2, Cholesterol 146.9, Sodium 1497.6, Carbohydrate 114.6, Fiber 10.1, Sugar 4.4, Protein 49.2

PASTIES II



Pasties II image

A traditional Upper Peninsula of Michigan treat! Complete with rutabaga! I am from the UP and this is the real deal! Rub pasties with a little milk for a golden color.

Provided by RaiderMom

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Savory Pie Recipes     Pasty Recipes

Time 2h

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 11

3 ½ cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 cup shortening
1 cup cold water
1 pound boneless round or chuck steak, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 onion, chopped
¼ rutabaga, cubed
1 carrots, diced
salt and pepper to taste
6 tablespoons margarine

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water until mixture forms a ball. Shape into a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, combine meat, potatoes, onion, rutabaga and chopped carrots. Season with salt and pepper. Divide dough into six pieces, and shape into balls. On a lightly floured surface, roll each ball into a 6 inch round. Place approximately 1 cup filling on one half of each. Dot each with 1 tablespoon margarine. Draw the other half of the pastry over the filling. Crimp edges to seal in filling. Prick with a fork and place on prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 887.1 calories, Carbohydrate 72 g, Cholesterol 47.6 mg, Fat 55.3 g, Fiber 4.5 g, Protein 25 g, SaturatedFat 14.3 g, Sodium 762 mg, Sugar 3.4 g

Tips:

  • Use a sharp knife to cut the vegetables. This will help you get clean, even cuts that will cook evenly.
  • Don't overfill the pasties. If you do, they will be difficult to seal and may burst open during baking.
  • Crimp the edges of the pasties well. This will help to keep the filling inside and prevent the pasties from coming apart.
  • Bake the pasties until the crust is golden brown. This will ensure that the pasties are cooked through and the filling is hot and bubbly.
  • Let the pasties cool for a few minutes before serving. This will help to prevent the filling from spilling out when you bite into them.

Conclusion:

Yooper pasties are a delicious and hearty meal that is perfect for a cold winter day. They are easy to make and can be filled with a variety of ingredients, making them a versatile dish that can be enjoyed by everyone. Whether you are a Yooper or just looking for a new and exciting meal, Yooper pasties are sure to please.

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