If you are looking for something festive for your vegetarian main course, why not try this delicious Christmassy pie from the Vegetarian Society.

For the pastry:

• 350g flour
• 1 ½tsp salt
• 180g cold butter
• 1 free-range egg yolk, lightly beaten

For the filling:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 350g onion, chopped
• 450g eating apples (Cox’s if possible), peeled and cored
• 285-325g cooked, peeled chestnuts
• 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme or ½tsp dried
• 1 tsp chopped fresh sage or ½tsp dried
• 3 free-range eggs
• salt & freshly ground pepper
• milk for glazing

1. Put the flour and salt in a mixing bowl and run in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
2. Mix in the egg yolk and 5-6 tablespoons of cold water. Working quickly, bring the mixture together until it forms a smooth dough.
3. Wrap in plastic film and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before use.
4. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6. Heat the oil in a saute pan over a moderate heat and, cook the onion until golden brown. Meanwhile chop the apples into small pieces (about 6mm / ¼in). Don’t use the food processor, or you might end up With a mush. Tip these into a large bowl and add the onions.
5. Cut the prepared chestnuts into quarters and add them to the bowl together with the herbs. Season well and mix thoroughly.
6. Beat two of the eggs, add these to the bowl and mix in well.
7. Roll out two-thirds of the pastry and use it to line the bottom of a non-stick, loose-bottomed, fluted 24cm / 9in flan tin. Fill with the chestnut mixture, carefully smoothing it into a nice mound shape.
8. Roll out the rest of the pastry to make a lid. Place on top of the pie, sealing the edges with a little water. Decorate the top of the pie with pastry trimmings.
9. Beat the remaining egg with a little milk and use some of this to glaze the top of the pie.
10. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until golden brown. If you like, 10 minutes before the pie is cooked, carefully remove the sides of the tin, brush the sides of the pie with the remaining egg glaze and return to the oven to brown the sides.