One thing is for sure – as a nation, we absolutely adore pies, and rightly so! What’s better than a freshly warmed pie with a side of buttery mashed potatoes? Whether enjoyed in the briskness of winter, or on a bright sunny day, we can always count on pies to offer a comforting, homely delight all year round. But do you know which traditional pie ingredients are responsible for making this dish such a classic? In this blog, our pie-oneers will let you into the secret.. and we’ll even tell you what makes our pies at Mud Foods so special.

Traditional Pie Ingredients

Firstly, some of you may be asking what exactly is a pie? (If this is the case, you have a serious treat ahead of you!). Our dear friends at Wikipedia give us this definition: “a pie is a baked dish which is usually made of a pastry dough casing that contains a filling of various sweet or savoury ingredients”. Whilst there are many forms of pastry that can be used as the encasing, the most common, and the most traditional, is shortcrust pastry. The absolutely crucial pie ingredients for this staple dish are flour and butter, with a little help from some milk, eggs and shortening. The shortening is what gives the pie it’s delightfully crisp and crumbly texture.. Getting hungry yet? (We are!) You can then of course choose your filling. When it comes to this, your world is pretty much your oyster! (Mmm steak and oyster pie.. A Victorian English classic.)

Popular Pie Fillings

The beauty of the pie is that you could never get bored with the endless possibilities of fillings. Some of the most popular pie fillings include steak and ale, steak and kidney, and chicken ham and leek. Pie fillings certainly don’t have to be meaty; in the world of pies there’s something for everyone - vegetarians and vegans alike. A meat-free favourite is the cheese and onion pie.

What Makes Our Pies So Special

Here at Mud Foods, we are one of Britain’s most highly award-winning pie makers and sellers. But what exactly is it that makes our pies so special? Firstly, something we are extremely passionate about, and proud of, is the fact that our pie ingredients are all natural and locally sourced. We strive to source the finest ingredients in the heart of the South Downs, to create delicious down to earth good food. Our pies are carefully handcrafted to pie-fection. We ensure an impeccably-balanced pastry to filling ratio. When it comes to our legendary butter rich shortcrust pastry, one thing’s for sure - no margarine is used, only real butter. The rest of our shortcrust pastry recipe is a secret, known only to our Chief Pie Maker, Christian. However, what isn’t a secret is the fact that the buttery pastry is what makes our pies incomparable! Each pie is finished with a pastry motif, completing the pièce de résistance!

Discover The Glorious Taste Of Mud

When it comes to great taste, we dig deeper - proven by the 71 national and regional awards we’ve proudly won in the last 6 years. Order our sumptuous pies today! Browse and shop our pie collection online here. There’s something for everyone - meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans alike. Be sure to let us know what you think! We also sell the perfect side dishes to pair with your pies, from buttery mashed potatoes, to beer battered chips. Handcrafted, hearty deliciousness delivered to your door. What more could you possibly want?

Keen to delve deeper into the world of pies? Read about the history of pies here.