Its British Pie Week this March and we are celebrating this classic dish by sharing some of your prized pie recipes and favourite fillings. Whether topped with potato or wrapped in pastry, filled with sticky sweet indulgence or bursting with hearty, savoury flavour, there is nothing better than the Don of Comforting Cuisine to satisfy a hungry crowd of diners.
OLIVER MARLOWE – Owner Chef Director, Lunar Pub Co
When making a pie, it’s really important not to overwork the dough, and also make sure you have cold hands and a cold surface to work on or you’ll melt the butter in the dough and lose some of your structure. One of my favourite fillings is a classic chicken and leek. I like to do a chicken roast on a Sunday and whatever meat and veg is left I’ll pile into a pie. It’s a great way to make your ingredients work harder for you, which is something we all need at the moment with the cost of food going up so much.
HYLTON EPSEY – Chef-Owner, Culture Restaurant
Steak and Guinness pie is my favourite, it’s just so moreish and traditional. Just don’t forget to have a few extra pints of Guinness to enjoy on the side.
HARLEY GUNN – Chef Manager, Bupa Care Home
My ultimate savoury pie has to be chicken, bacon and leek pie in a creamy chicken sauce, topped with shortcrust pastry. Our care home residents love this dish served with creamy mashed potatoes and fresh green beans. The saltiness of the bacon, the creaminess of the sauce, and the crunch of the shortcrust pastry make the perfect
combination. For dessert, I love a good old fashioned warm apple and cinnamon pie with custard. The best way to finish off any meal, in my opinion!
PAUL & FLEUR – Owners, The Retreat
Our homemade individual apple and custard pies go down a storm with our customers. Served hot or cold, they are perfect for those who want a sweet treat with their coffee or lunch, but because the filling is fully encased in rich, buttery shortcrust pastry, they can be eaten on the go too.
MARYANNE HALL – Chef, Viva! Vegan Recipe Club
Pies, pies, pies! Nothing says comfort food better! Our top two have to be our chestnut, mushroom and red wine
pithivier and our vegan chicken and leek mini pies. The pithivier, with its sunbeam pastry, is beautiful to look at, rich, tasty, easy to create and makes for the perfect centrepiece or if you’re feeling fancy on a Sunday. Our vegan chicken and leek pies are essential for any picnic or indulgent main, as the combination of butternut squash, white wine,
vegan crème fraiche and spicy peppery paprika, all wrapped up in fluffy golden pastry, is just heavenly.