Email Roberta for a print-friendly version
Top 5 Best Pie Recipes
Nothing says homemade comfort food quite like a pie. Whether sweet or savoury, individual or a big family-style one to share, they smack of honest home cooking and warmth. And there’s a reason we say “easy as pie”, they really are simple to make, especially if you keep a stock of good quality pastry in the freezer. I love Carême butter puff and sour cream shortcrust pastries and Antoniou fillo and kataifi. Here are five of the best pie recipes I know.
Chicken Vegetable Pot Pie
/chicken-vegetable-pie/
Pot pies are super easy as there’s no pastry base to fiddle about blind-baking, just pour the filling into a dish of any size and top with pastry. I’ve been making this pie for over 30 years and it’s worth starting from scratch with a whole free-range chicken if time permits.
Egg & Bacon Pie
www.food-wine-travel.com/bacon-and-egg-pie
I love the versatility of this pie, it’s great for breakfast, lunch, dinner or as a picnic snack; and it looks so attractive when it’s cut open. Baking it in a springform cake tin makes removing it a breeze and gives a great shape. Best of all it’s as tasty at room temperature as it is hot from the oven.
Spanakopita
www.food-wine-travel.com/spanakopita
Good fillo pastry is so easy to work with – I love its durability and its crunch. The secret to this delicious Greek spinach and cheese pie is the dill, an addition suggested to me by a Greek friend. For something different, I make Greek leek and cheese pie (prasopita) with crunchy kataifi pastry.
Pecan Pie
www.food-wine-travel.com/pecan-pie
This American classic is a real crowd pleaser and so easy. It rivals the better-known pumpkin pie on many Thanksgiving and Christmas tables, especially in the southern states. I add a maple syrup-flavoured crème fraiche to keep the North American theme going. Any leftover pie is great at room temperature.
Plaited Apple & Almond Pies
www.food-wine-travel.com/apple-almond-pies
This simple plaiting trick takes apple pie to a whole new level, while marzipan is an easy way to add an intriguing almond flavour. Best of all, the filling doesn’t need cooking before you assemble the pies, which can be done a day ahead, then just bake at the last minute.
