Cross-Cultural Culinary Delights: The Savory Pie Edition!
Savory pies are a delicious and versatile dish that can be found in various cuisines around the world. Unlike their sweet counterparts, savory pies are filled with savory ingredients such as meat, vegetables, and cheese. They are often encased in a flaky pastry crust, making them a comforting and satisfying meal.
The history of savory pies can be traced back to ancient times. The Greeks and Romans were known to have made pies filled with meat and vegetables. In medieval Europe, pies were a common way to preserve food, as the pastry acted as a seal to keep the ingredients fresh. Over time, different cultures developed their own unique variations of savory pies, incorporating local ingredients and flavors.
British Classics: From Steak and Ale to Shepherd’s Pie
When it comes to savory pies, British cuisine is renowned for its classics. One such classic is the steak and ale pie. This hearty pie is filled with tender chunks of beef cooked in a rich gravy made with ale or beer. The filling is then encased in a buttery pastry crust and baked until golden and crispy.
To make a steak and ale pie, start by browning the beef in a hot pan with some oil. Once browned, remove the beef from the pan and set aside. In the same pan, sauté onions, carrots, and celery until softened. Return the beef to the pan and add in some flour to thicken the mixture. Pour in the ale or beer and beef stock, then simmer until the sauce has thickened. Transfer the filling into a pie dish lined with pastry crust, cover with another layer of pastry, and bake until golden brown.
Another British classic is shepherd’s pie. This comforting dish consists of a layer of minced lamb or beef cooked with onions, carrots, peas, and herbs, topped with a layer of creamy mashed potatoes. The pie is then baked until the potatoes are golden and the filling is bubbling.
To make shepherd’s pie, start by browning the minced lamb or beef in a hot pan with some oil. Once browned, remove the meat from the pan and set aside. In the same pan, sauté onions, carrots, and peas until softened. Return the meat to the pan and add in some tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and beef stock. Simmer until the sauce has thickened. Transfer the filling into a baking dish and top with a layer of creamy mashed potatoes. Bake until the potatoes are golden and the filling is bubbling.
French Flair: Quiches, Tourtières, and More
French cuisine is known for its elegance and sophistication, and savory pies are no exception. One popular French savory pie is quiche. Quiche is a savory tart made with a pastry crust filled with a mixture of eggs, cream, cheese, and various fillings such as bacon, vegetables, or seafood.
To make quiche Lorraine, start by blind baking a pastry crust until golden brown. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs and cream until well combined. Stir in cooked bacon and grated Gruyere cheese. Pour the mixture into the baked pastry crust and bake until set and golden.
Another French savory pie is tourtière. Tourtière is a traditional meat pie from Quebec, Canada. It is typically made with ground pork or beef mixed with onions, garlic, herbs, and spices, encased in a flaky pastry crust.
To make tourtière, start by browning ground pork or beef in a hot pan with some oil. Once browned, remove the meat from the pan and set aside. In the same pan, sauté onions and garlic until softened. Return the meat to the pan and add in herbs such as thyme and sage, as well as spices like cinnamon and cloves. Cook until the flavors are well combined. Transfer the filling into a pie dish lined with pastry crust, cover with another layer of pastry, and bake until golden brown.
Italian Inspirations: From Pizza Rustica to Calzone
Italian cuisine is beloved around the world for its delicious flavors and comforting dishes. When it comes to savory pies, Italy has its own unique creations. One such creation is pizza rustica. Pizza rustica is a savory pie made with a rich pastry crust filled with a mixture of cured meats, cheeses, and eggs.
To make pizza rustica, start by making the pastry crust by combining flour, butter, salt, and water in a food processor. Once the dough comes together, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. In the meantime, prepare the filling by combining cured meats such as salami and prosciutto, along with cheeses such as mozzarella and Parmesan, and beaten eggs. Roll out the pastry dough and line a pie dish with it. Pour in the filling and cover with another layer of pastry. Bake until golden brown.
Another Italian savory pie is calzone. Calzone is essentially a folded pizza filled with various ingredients such as cheese, vegetables, and meats.
To make calzone, start by making the pizza dough by combining flour, yeast, salt, sugar, and water in a bowl. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, then let it rise until doubled in size. In the meantime, prepare the filling by sautéing vegetables such as onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms in a hot pan with some oil. Once the vegetables are softened, remove them from the pan and set aside. Roll out the pizza dough into circles or rectangles and place a portion of the filling on one half of each piece of dough. Fold over the other half to enclose the filling and seal the edges. Bake until golden brown.
Eastern European Delights: Pierogies, Pirozhki, and More
Eastern European cuisine is known for its hearty and comforting dishes, and savory pies are no exception. One popular Eastern European savory pie is pierogi. Pierogi are dumplings made with a dough filled with various ingredients such as potatoes, cheese, meat, or sauerkraut.
To make pierogi dough, combine flour, eggs, water, and salt in a bowl. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, then let it rest for about 30 minutes. In the meantime, prepare the filling by boiling potatoes until tender, then mashing them with butter and cheese. Roll out the dough and cut out circles. Place a spoonful of filling in the center of each circle and fold over to form a half-moon shape. Pinch the edges to seal. Boil the pierogi until they float to the surface, then sauté them in butter until golden brown.
Another Eastern European savory pie is pirozhki. Pirozhki are small pastries filled with various ingredients such as meat, vegetables, or cheese.
To make pirozhki dough, combine flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and warm milk in a bowl. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, then let it rise until doubled in size. In the meantime, prepare the filling by sautéing onions and ground meat in a hot pan with some oil. Once cooked through, remove from heat and let cool. Roll out the dough into circles or rectangles and place a spoonful of filling on one half of each piece of dough. Fold over the other half to enclose the filling and seal the edges. Brush with beaten egg and bake until golden brown.
Middle Eastern Marvels: Börek, Fatayer, and Sambusak
Middle Eastern cuisine is known for its bold flavors and aromatic spices, and savory pies are a staple in this region. One popular Middle Eastern savory pie is börek. Börek is a flaky pastry filled with various ingredients such as cheese, spinach, or meat.
To make börek, start by making the pastry dough by combining flour, salt, water, and oil in a bowl. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, then let it rest for about 30 minutes. In the meantime, prepare the filling by combining feta cheese, parsley, and eggs. Roll out the dough into thin sheets and brush each sheet with melted butter. Place a spoonful of filling on one end of each sheet and roll up tightly. Brush the rolls with beaten egg and bake until golden brown.
Another Middle Eastern savory pie is fatayer. Fatayer are small pastries filled with various ingredients such as spinach, cheese, or meat.
To make fatayer dough, combine flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and warm water in a bowl. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, then let it rise until doubled in size. In the meantime, prepare the filling by sautéing onions and spinach in a hot pan with some oil. Once cooked through, remove from heat and let cool. Roll out the dough into circles and place a spoonful of filling in the center of each circle. Fold over to form a triangle shape and pinch the edges to seal. Brush with beaten egg and bake until golden brown.
African Adventures: Bobotie, Meat Pies, and More
African cuisine is diverse and flavorful, and savory pies play a significant role in many African cultures. One popular African savory pie is bobotie. Bobotie is a South African dish made with spiced minced meat topped with an egg-based custard.
To make bobotie, start by browning minced meat in a hot pan with some oil. Once browned, remove the meat from the pan and set aside. In the same pan, sauté onions, garlic, and spices such as curry powder and turmeric until fragrant. Return the meat to the pan and add in chutney, vinegar, and raisins. Cook until the flavors are well combined. Transfer the filling into a baking dish and top with an egg-based custard made with beaten eggs, milk, and bay leaves. Bake until the custard is set and golden.
Another African savory pie is meat pies. Meat pies are a popular street food in many African countries, often filled with spiced minced meat and vegetables.
To make meat pies, start by browning minced meat in a hot pan with some oil. Once browned, remove the meat from the pan and set aside. In the same pan, sauté onions, garlic, and vegetables such as carrots and peas until softened. Return the meat to the pan and add in spices such as cumin and paprika. Cook until the flavors are well combined. Roll out pastry dough into circles or rectangles and place a spoonful of filling on one half of each piece of dough. Fold over the other half to enclose the filling and seal the edges. Brush with beaten egg and bake until golden brown.
Asian Fusion: From Dumplings to Curry Puffs
Asian cuisine is known for its bold flavors and diverse range of dishes, including savory pies. One popular Asian savory pie is dumplings. Dumplings are small parcels of dough filled with various ingredients such as meat, vegetables, or seafood.
To make dumplings, start by making the dough by combining flour and water in a bowl. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, then let it rest for about 30 minutes. In the meantime, prepare the filling by combining minced meat, vegetables, and seasonings such as soy sauce and ginger. Roll out the dough into circles and place a spoonful of filling in the center of each circle. Fold over to form a half-moon shape and pinch the edges to seal. Steam or pan-fry the dumplings until cooked through.
Another Asian savory pie is curry puffs. Curry puffs are a popular snack in many Southeast Asian countries, consisting of a flaky pastry filled with a spicy curry filling.
To make curry puffs, start by making the pastry dough by combining flour, salt, and water in a bowl. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, then let it rest for about 30 minutes. In the meantime, prepare the filling by sautéing onions, garlic, and curry paste in a hot pan with some oil. Once fragrant, add in minced meat or vegetables such as potatoes and carrots. Cook until the filling is cooked through and well coated in the curry paste. Roll out the dough into circles and place a spoonful of filling on one half of each piece of dough. Fold over the other half to enclose the filling and seal the edges. Brush with beaten egg and bake until golden brown.
Latin American Tastes: Empanadas, Pastelitos, and More
Latin American cuisine is known for its vibrant flavors and diverse range of dishes, including savory pies. One popular Latin American savory pie is empanadas. Empanadas are small pastries filled with various ingredients such as meat, cheese, or vegetables.
To make empanada dough, combine flour, salt, and butter in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add in beaten egg and water, then pulse until the dough comes together. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. In the meantime, prepare the filling by sautéing onions, garlic, and minced meat in a hot pan with some oil. Once cooked through, remove from heat and let cool. Roll out the dough into circles and place a spoonful of filling in the center of each circle. Fold over to form a half-moon shape and pinch the edges to seal. Brush with beaten egg and bake until golden brown.
Another Latin American savory pie is pastelitos. Pastelitos are a popular snack in many Latin American countries, consisting of a flaky pastry filled with various ingredients such as cheese, ham, or guava paste.
To make pastelito dough, combine flour, salt, and butter in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add in beaten egg and water, then pulse until the dough comes together. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. In the meantime, prepare the filling by placing a slice of cheese or ham on each piece of dough. Fold over to enclose the filling and seal the edges. Brush with beaten egg and bake until golden brown.
Embracing the Diversity of Savory Pies
Savory pies are a delicious and versatile dish that can be found in various cuisines around the world. From British classics like steak and ale pie to Middle Eastern marvels like börek, there is a savory pie for every palate. By exploring the different types of savory pies from various cultures, we can embrace the diversity of food and expand our taste.