Shrimp and Mushroom Pasty

As an American kid, I had zero idea of a pasty was. Redwall and Harry Potter compelled me to look it up and I found that a pasty is basically a savory turnover. This shrimp and mushroom pasty from The Outcast of Redwall is my first real attempt at making them. I cheated and used pre-made biscuit dough (please don't judge; it's finals week...) but I think they would be even better with a basic puff pastry dough.

Shrimp and Mushroom Pasty

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Bake time: 10-15 minutes
Total time: 30-35 minutes

Yield: 8 pasties

Ingredients

• 1 small yellow or white onion
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
• 8 ounces shrimp, shells and tails removed
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste)
• 1 recipe puff pastry dough or pre-made biscuit dough.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Finely chop onion and pepper
3. Add oil, onion, and pepper to a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat until softened.
   
4. Add mushrooms to pan and sweat until softened
   
5. Add shrimp to pan. If you're using raw shrimp, stir them around until fully cooked. If you're using thawed, cooked shrimp (I used pre-cooked salad shrimp...it's finals week...) then just stir them around to be sure there's no remaining ice on them.
   
6. Add cayenne pepper and set the skillet aside to cool slightly.
7. Roll and cut your dough into 8 large circles (if you're using biscuit dough, separate the biscuits).
8. Cup one circle of dough in your palm to create a bowl (or pull the biscuit apart halfway).
   
9. Spoon some of the shrimp mixture into the dough, being very careful not to burn yourself.
   
10. Crimp the edges of the circle together to seal and lay it on your sheet.
    
11. Repeat for the other 7 circles.
    
12. Bake pasties for 10-15 minutes, or until dough is golden brown.