Pie

What is Pie?

A pie is a baked food made by enclosing a filling in a crust of pastry dough. The filling can be sweet, such as fruit, nuts, preserves, or custard, or savoury, like meat, eggs, cheese, or vegetables. Pies come in many forms: some have both a base and a top crust, others only one or the other. The pastry can be shortcrust, puff, or filo, but some pies use biscuit or crumb bases, or even mashed potato. Sizes range from small, hand-held pies to large ones for sharing. The taste and texture depend on the filling and the type of pastry used.

Where does Pie come from?

The word 'pie' first appears in English records from 1303, with possible links to the magpie bird, known for collecting various items, much like early pies held a mix of meats. Pies have ancient roots: Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all made versions with grains and fillings. Romans used pastry to keep meat moist during baking, though the crust was not always eaten. In medieval Europe, pies were often savoury and made with sturdy, sometimes inedible crusts to preserve the filling. Over time, pies spread across Europe and evolved into sweet and savoury forms.

How is Pie made?

To make a pie, a dough is prepared from flour, fat, and liquid, then rolled out to form a base in a dish. The filling—fruit, meat, vegetables, eggs, or dairy—is placed inside. Some pies have a top crust, while others are open. The crust can be made from different types of pastry, such as shortcrust for a crumbly texture or puff pastry for flakiness. Some recipes use alternatives like biscuit or crumb crusts, or mashed potato toppings. The pie is then baked until the crust is golden and the filling cooked through.

How and when is Pie eaten?

Pies are eaten at many meals, from lunch and dinner to snacks and tea. Sweet pies, like apple or custard, are often served as dessert, while savoury pies, such as steak or pot pie, can be a main dish. Pies can be eaten hot, warm, or cold, depending on the type and local custom. They are commonly shared at gatherings, holidays, and celebrations, but are also part of everyday meals. Some are eaten by hand, while others are served in slices from a larger pie.

Kinds of Pie

There are many types of pies, including fruit pies, meat pies, custard pies, cream pies, and no-bake pies. The crust can be double (top and bottom), single (just base or just top), or even made with alternative ingredients like biscuits or mashed potato. Regional versions use local ingredients, such as pumpkin in the United States or bacon and egg in Australia and New Zealand. Vegan and gluten-free pies are also made, using plant-based or alternative flours.

What Pie means

Pies have been part of celebrations, festivals, and everyday life for centuries. In England, mince pies are linked to festive periods, while pumpkin pie is a symbol of American Thanksgiving. Pies have appeared in literature and folklore, such as the nursery rhyme 'four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.' The dish has evolved from a practical way to preserve food to a symbol of comfort and tradition in many cultures.

Questions people ask about Pie

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
• American Pie : The Slice of HistoryLos Angeles Times, Article
• The strange and twisted history of mince piesBBC, Article
• BBC - Radio 4 Woman's Hour -Pigeon PieBBC, Recipe

• Pie on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data