7 Pie Recipes to Try This Winter for Dinner and Dessert
Whether picked up from an unfamiliar regional bakery or hastily collected from a gas station, there’s no denying Australians’ love of pies. Meat pies, vegan pies; breakfast pies, dessert pies; The versatility of a shallow pastry bucket topped with even more pastry is almost limitless. And even if pastry isn’t your thing, you can still get an equally delicious slice with shepherd’s pie or another version topped with potatoes.
We’ve rounded up seven sweet and savory pie recipes to add to the weekly rotation, perfect for winter baking and lazy Sunday dinners.
Which pastry is best for pies?
Two varieties of pastry go hand in hand with the pies. Shortcrust pastry is buttery, crumbly and more biscuit-like, making it the preferred choice for quiches, tarts and as a base. Puff pastry, on the other hand, is flaky and light. Its airy texture makes it more susceptible to leaks, so it’s not an ideal base, but it makes a great lid! You can use a combination of both for a perfect pie.
7 Perfect Pie Recipes to Try
This family-sized spinach pie has been loved and passed down from generation to generation and inspires nostalgia in those who share its delights. Easy to make, this recipe uses frozen spinach and store-bought pastry.
Without fail, Maggie Vella would head to the kitchen every Sunday to make two things: a simple chicken-based soup (affectionately known as “Nanna soup”) and a traditional Maltese timpana pasta pie. “Nanna’s timpana is like lasagna, but much simpler,” says her granddaughter, Tamarah Pienaar. “I prepare it for family occasions like Christmas and for everyday meals, because my son loves it too.”
Maggie Beer’s Beef Pie
Cooking legend Maggie Beer’s recipe for Angus beef chuck meat pies features a wonderfully flaky and light sour cream pastry. This was a recipe tested with her husband Colin’s squash team, who always enjoy dinner together on competition nights. “The players were so enthusiastic that I think they each would have eaten a second one if I had won enough,” Maggie writes.
A die-hard pie fan, Steve Cumper keeps a bottle of tomato sauce in the glove box of his ute. Here, he combines two Australian classics: pies, and bacon and eggs. Perfect for on the go or as an easy option for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Buttery flaky pastry meets a creamy chicken and vegetable filling in this warm and hearty winter classic. Perfect for lunch or dinner, this is one you’ll want to add to your winter rotation.
Apple and blackcurrant tart
A twist on a country classic, this tart adds tangy blackcurrant to the sweet tartness of apples. We highly recommend serving it warm with a dollop of heavy cream or ice cream.
Jamie Oliver’s tarts
Sure, it’s a once-a-year deal, but Jamie Oliver’s recipe for classic festive tartlets can’t go undone at Christmas. “(They’re) just a little more interesting than usual, because the addition of delicious, sweet squash really lightens up the classic mix,” says Jamie.
