Support Us Login
  • Home
  • Going Out
    • Things to do
    • Food & Drink
    • Theatre
    • Visual Arts
    • Cinema
    • Kids
    • Festival
    • Gigs
    • Dance
    • Classical Music
    • Opera
    • Immersive
    • Talks
  • Staying In
    • TV
    • Books
    • Cook
    • Podcast
    • Design
    • Netflix
  • Life & Style
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Gifting
    • Wellbeing
    • Lifestyle
    • Shopping
    • Jewellery
  • Explore
  • Shopping
  • CW SHOPS
  • Support Us
  • Get Started
  • Tickets
  • CW SHOPS
Get the Best of London Life, Culture and Style
By entering my email I agree to the CultureWhisper Privacy Policy (we won`t share data & you can unsubscribe anytime).
Cook

Stephanie Achar Recipe: Healthy Mince Pies

By Stéphanie Achar on 16/12/2022

Mince pies are a must at Christmas, but they don't have to be stodgy and sugary. Here's a lighter version of the traditional recipe from Culture Whisper's healthy food guru

Christmas recipe: healthy mince pies
Christmas recipe: healthy mince pies
Mince pies are a must at Christmas, but they don't have to be stodgy and packed with sugar. Here's a lighter vegetarian version of the traditional recipe from Culture Whisper's healthy food guru, Stephanie Achar.

HEALTHY MINCE PIES


I grew up eating Christmas “bûches”, marrons glacés and chocolate truffles so it took me ages to appreciate mince pies. I thought of them only as packaged supermarket food but rediscovered them thanks to Renee Elliott, the founder of Planet Organic. She taught me how to make a healthy, wholegrain version of this shop bought English Christmas delicacy.


The 'mince' comprises a burst of spiced oranges, cranberries, apricots and sultanas inside a wholegrain pastry. They are packed with nutrients and delicately sweetened by the dried fruits.


I also make a gluten free version using teff flour instead of a mixture of spelt and kamut flour. Although this gives the pastry a crumblier texture, I personally prefer the deeper flavour which perfectly balances the sweetness of the mince.



INGREDIENTS


(Makes 12 mince pies)


For the crust


120g wholegrain spelt flour


155g wholegrain kamut flour


1/4 tsp fine sea salt


100g cold butter, cubed


2 tbsp plain yoghurt


8-9 tablespoons of water



For the mince


70g apricots


70g sultanas


70g dried cranberries


1 apple, chopped into small pieces


25g flaked almonds


The juice and zest of 1 orange


1 teaspoon of cinnamon


1/2 teaspoon of ground all spice



METHOD


To make the pastry: place the flours, salt, cold butter, yoghurt and water in a food processor and mix.


Remove the dough. It should form a ball andy hold together easily. If too crumbly add a little more water. Rest pastry for an hour or overnight.


Preheat your oven to 180C


Soak the mixture of sultanas, dried apricots and dried cranberries in 4 ounces of water


Add the apple, almonds, cinnamon, all spice, orange zest and juice to the dried fruits.


Sprinkle flour over a surface and roll the dough out.


Use a 8-10cm pastry cutter and cut 12 circles rounds.


Use a knife to cut 12 smaller star shapes.


Fit the rounds of pastry in a muffin tin, fill them with the mince mixture and then place the pastry star on top.


Bake in the oven for 18 - 20 minutes. Enjoy!



Vegetarian, free from refined sugar
Stéphanie Achar: Simple and Healthy


Stéphanie Achar is a qualified nutritional therapist and health coach based in South West London. She is collaborating with Culture Whisper to create a series of seasonal, wholesome and nutritionally balanced recipes.


Find more recipes or book a free nutrition consultation with Stéphanie on her website, www.simpleandhealthy.com

Share:

Recipe

Healthy

Gluten Free

Sugar Free

Stephanie Achar recipes

Christmas



You may also like:
  • Recipe: Ratatouille

    Stephanie Achar recipe: Ratatouille

  • Healthy Christmas recipe: cranberry tart

    Stephanie Achar Recipe: Cranberry Tart

  • Detox Juice - Stephanie Achar. Photo © S. Achar

    Recover from Christmas: Detox Juice

  • Recipe: overnight oats in a jar

    Stephanie Achar recipe: Overnight Oats

  • Stephanie Achar recipe: avocado on buckwheat bread

    Stephanie Achar Recipe: Avocado on Buckwheat Bread

  • Healthy vegetarian Christmas recipe

    Stephanie Achar Recipe: Christmas Kale Salad



  • The Culture Whisper team
  • Support Us
  • Tickets
  • Contact us
  • Press
  • FAQ
  • Privacy
  • Terms and conditions
  • Cookies
  • Discover
  • Venues
  • Restaurants
  • Stations
  • Boroughs
✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

You have reached the limit of free articles.


To enjoy unlimited access to Culture Whisper sign up for FREE.
Find out more about Culture Whisper

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy

Each week, we send newsletters and communication featuring articles, our latest tickets invitations, and exclusive offers.

Occasional information about discounts, special offers and promotions.


OR
LOG IN

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

Thanks for signing up to Culture Whisper.
Please check your inbox for a confirmation email and click the link to verify your account.



EXPLORE CULTURE WHISPER
✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy
Forgot your username or password?
Don't have an account? Sign Up

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

If you click «Log in with Facebook» and are not a Culture Whisper user, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and to our Privacy Policy, which includes our Cookie Use

Sign up to CW’s newsletter
By entering my email I agree to the CultureWhisper Privacy Policy (we won`t share data & you can unsubscribe anytime).
×