If asked for an example of typical British food I imagine most people would answer “fish and chips”. A year ago I would likely have said the same (“chicken tikka masala” would also have crossed my mind). But it only took me a few weeks after arriving in the UK to realize that the correct answer is “pies”. By which I mean a flaky pastry encasing some sort of meat or fish. Sure, other countries do these as well: think empanadas and American pot pies. But the British seem singularly obsessed by them. Walk along any shopping street or supermarket aisle and you’ll be spoilt for choice by the sheer variety of pies on offer.
Why this obsession with pies? An article not long ago in the Financial Times gives a clue. It argues that back in Georgian and Victorian times most homes didn’t have a kitchen and ready made food, much of it designed to be portable and eaten standing up or on the go, was the norm. Hence the invention and popularity of pies, fish and chips, sausage rolls and the like. That seems plausible (and might also explain the wealth and general excellence of what the British call “ready meals” on sale here). Regardless, British pies with fillings such as leek and mushroom, fish and chicken (including the tikka masala kind!) are both delicious and hearty. And when the weather turns cold as it now has in these parts there’s nothing better than digging into a steaming hot pie.
For my first foray into making British pies I opted for what might be the most archetypal one: Steak and Guinness. There isn’t much to say about this incredibly easy recipe, which is based on elements from here and here, except to advise you to take your time with the braising. Doing it slowly in an oven at a temperature low enough that the stew is barely simmering will yield incredibly tender and flavorful meat.
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours