Explore mouth watering and decadent savoury pies of the world.
Pies are not always sweet. There are a variety of savoury pies that are made in different parts of the world. Savoury pies are best for cold winter nights as they warm you up as well as keep your tummy satisfied with the delicious smelling fillings of these pies. Know more about these, as I take you on a journey of the savoury pies of the world.
- Tourtière
Quebec
The mighty tourtière originating in the province of Quebec in Canada, is a double crusted meat pie, usually filled with succulent minced pork and sometimes beef for a different texture and flavor. It is served as part of a traditional feast among Catholics after the midnight mass on Christmas Eve.
- Piroshki
Russia
These are individual sized puff pastries which can have a variety of fillings like a vegetable filling or a minced meat one. They are fried and sometimes even baked. The filling of piroshkis can also be sweet-based. These pies are sometimes even accompanied with a soup.
- Australian Meat Pie
Australia
The great Australian meat pie is the most loved by the Aussies. This pie is a hand-sized pastry with a golden crust filled with minced meat like chicken or even seafood and is also filled with a generous amount of gravy. The pie is typically smothered with tomato ketchup. While the Americans eat hot dogs at their football games, the Aussies prefer to eat their scrumptious meat pies.
- Jamaican Beef Patty
Jamaica
The Jamaican Beef Patty is a traditional Jamaican favorite. The traditional Jamaican beef patty is a flaky pastry filled with ground beef seasoned with spices and has a golden yellow tinted crust. The fillings can even include chicken, pork, vegetables, lamb and shrimp. The patty can be eaten as a full meal or even a snack.
- Xian Bing
China
Xian Bing or Chinese meat pie originates from Northern China. It is a hand sized pastry with a very crispy double crust and a juicy savoury filling which is pan fried. The filling can be of ground beef, pork or chicken mixed with onions, chives, scallions, garlic etc. These pies are often accompanied by chive oil, soy sauce or vinegar.
- Spanakopita
Greece
Spanakopita is a traditional Greek savoury pastry. These are layers of crispy pastry filled with earthy leaves and salty cheese. The filling consists of chopped spinach, feta cheese, onions or scallions, egg, and seasoning. The filling is layered in filo pastry with butter or olive oil. These can be eaten cold or hot and is an all time favorite among the vegetarians. It is generally eaten as a light lunch or dinner with a tomato salad as a side. In some areas in Greece, the chopped spinach is even mixed with other vegetables like leek, chard or sorrel.
- Saltenas
Bolivia
A savoury pastry from Bolivia, saltenas can also be referred to as baked empanadas. These pies are filled with tender and succulent beef, pork or chicken which is mixed with a sweet and spicy sauce containing olives, raisins, peas, potatoes and other ingredients. These are generally eaten as a mid-morning snack and you will find vendors selling these Saltenas are very juicy and once you bite into them, it’s like eating stew in a pastry.
- Shepherd’s Pie
Ireland
Also known as cottage pie, shepherd’s pie is a traditional Irish dish. It is a meat pie made with ground lamb or beef with a mashed potato crust. The pie is a perfect combo of ground meat cooked in a gravy or sauce with onions, celery, carrots, peas and corn. If you are an avid cheese lover, you can even top the pie with cheese that will create a layer of melted cheese on top of the pie.
- Quiche
France
Quiche originates from France and is an open pie consisting of a pastry crust that is filled with eggs, cream, milk and smoked bacon or any other meat, seafood or vegetables. It can be served cold or hot and in France, quiche is usually served as a party food. In some other varieties of quiche, the fillings can even include mushrooms, spinach or even cheese.
- Gozleme
Turkey
Gozleme is a folded and filled turkish flatbread and pie dish. The traditional gozleme is made with unleavened dough which is rolled thin and then filled with minced meat, vegetables, mushrooms, cheese or even eggs. The crust of this flatbread is quite crispy because of the butter that is slathered before cooking it in a griddle. Gozlemes were usually eaten at breakfast but lately people have been eating gozlemes as a light homemade snack.
- The Moroccan Pastilla
Morocco
The pastilla is a mouth-watering moroccan delicacy which has combinations of both savoury and sweet taste. It is a pie which has layers of crispy filo pastry which is filled with tender shredded chicken, aromatic spices, onions and parsley. The crunchy layer of the pie is even topped with almonds, cinnamon and sugar.
- The Cornish Pasty
Cornwall
The Cornish pasty comes from the wonderful country of Cornwall in the United Kingdom. The pastry can be a shortcrust or even a puff pastry which is glazed with egg wash and butter to give a beautiful golden layer. The filling of the cornish pasty consists of moist and tender minced beef, sliced potato, turnip, onion and seasoning. The pasties are sealed by crimping the edges to one side.