Pie Near Me! The Best The World Has To Offer

Image: congerdesign from Pixabay

Yesterday was National Pie Day and we’re nothing if not passionate about food (as you probably know by now!). It’s never not a good time for pie, let’s be honest, but with winter currently in its throes, get inspired by these bone-warming recipe ideas from around the world!

United States

Americans sure know how to make a good pie, hey? File these faves under desserts:

Pumpkin Pie. A big-ticket item thanks to its well-deserved association with Thanksgiving, it retains its uniqueness here due to its status as a sweet pie. Non-Americans may not fully get it, but - made with evaporated milk, cloves and cinnamon and topped with whipped cream - it’s a chart-topping dessert in the States.
Apple Pie. Probably the most famous pie in the States - no mean feat considering it was actually first made in England and had its inaugural mention in the works of Chaucer! An unbeatable comfort food, it comes out in full force over Independence Day but is also a year-round staple in most American households. (There’s even a national Apple Pie Day here on May 13th!) Eat with a generous helping of vanilla ice cream and/or whipped cream on top. Dee-lish!
Key Lime Pie. Head over to Florida for this one - a local specialty that uses limes from the Florida Keys for an explosively tart taste. Book a Key West Food Walking Tour for this - and lots more delicious bites!
Pecan Pie. Another feature at any celebratory event - sweetening up the dessert spread thanks to the thick, golden goo, filled with nuts indigenous to the Native Americans.

2. Spain

Empanadas - a Spanish favorite - can be filled with just about anything, but tuna is a particular winner.

3. Australia

All hail the meat pie - served year-round here as a savory staple. According to Food Standards Australia, 270 MILLION of them are eaten each year! As you might have worked out by now, they’re a huge part of Australian culture - hailing back to the late 18th century - and, as such, are readily available almost everywhere. A juicy, flavorsome filling of minced beef, onions and gravy - enveloped in shortcrust pastry and topped with puff pastry - it’s the stuff of dreams.

4. Italy

There are three pies you must know about here:

Torta Pasqualina. A cold savory pie typically served at Easter, the crust was initially made with 33 thin layers - one for each year of Jesus’ life - and filled with egg, ricotta and spinach.
Mpanate. Another Easter delicacy, this Sicilian specialty comprises a focaccia-like dough filled with lamb mince, greens and olives.
Pizza. Well, obviously! From the thin crispy crusts of Rome to the classic Neapolitan topped wonder of Naples - and beyond - you already know what makes this such a global winner, don’t you! Read more: Where’s The Best Pizza In The World?

5. Lebanon

What do you get if you mix a pizza with a meat pie? Sfiha - a delicious meat-topped dough. Cheap and easy to make, you’ll find this Lebanese street food throughout the Middle East.

6. Canada

Native to North America and Canada, Saskatoon berries - unlike many of the other ingredients on this list - are not readily available year-round. That’s because the season for the berries - similar to blueberries but plumper - is incredibly short. Packed with health benefits, you don’t even have to feel that guilty about devouring this sweet pie, enjoyed with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. We don’t know about you, but we’d call that a win-win!

7. Switzerland

Caramelized walnuts + milk + honey + shortcuts pastry = Bündner Nusstorte. A truly decadent dessert.

8. Brazil

A meat pie like no other, Pastel de Carne - a South American delicacy - includes hard-boiled eggs, mashed potatoes and cheese.

9. United Kingdom

The first pie on the list to not include pastry - but boy, does it hold its own anyway! Ground lamb (or beef), mixed with peas, carrots and gravy and topped with a creamy, oven-baked, generous layer of mashed potato, it’s hard to believe that Shepherd’s Pie (which, as you’ll soon see, has also inspired countless other versions all over the world!) started life as a way for people to use up their leftovers. Needless to say, this deliciously filling comfort food is welcome at our table any day of the week!

10. The Philippines

Picture a coconut version of apple pie and you’re probably not all that far off from Buko Pie - a creamy coconut filling encased in a flaky pastry crust. This one may not have the longevity as some of the other pies on the list, coming to life some 70 years ago when a Filipino woman thought to replace hard-to-come-by apples with coconut, but it definitely has staying power. The key to this one is fresh, young coconut.

11. Greece

Spanakopita - a crispy, triangular-shaped, filo-pastry, spinach and cheese-filled pie - is the most famous in Greece. Usually served with tzatziki sauce, it can be found in delis, bakeries and restaurants and can be enjoyed as a starter, side dish or on-the-go refueling snack. Enjoy this - and lots more - as part of an Athens Food Tour.

12. France

Quiche Lorraine. This cream, egg and bacon-filled pie actually originated in Germany but has since evolved to include other ingredients, such as beef, salmon, vegetables or cheese and is usually topped with a puff pastry crust.
Hachis Parmentier. The French version of Shepherd’s Pie is loaded with Emmental cheese.

13. Chile

Pastel de Choclo marries up a host of different cultures in its layered casserole dish - a nod to the many immigrants from England, Spain and Germany that have made Chile their home over the years. Yet another spin on the classic Shepherd’s Pie, this one’s made up of sweet corn polenta, ground beef, chicken, onions, olives, raisins and hard-boiled eggs.

14. Belgium

One for the sweet-toothed among you, Suikertaart is a creamy custard, sugar-filled pie.

15. Germany

Zwetschgenkuchen - a plum pie - is probably the most popular cake in Germany. Sweet plums, a shortcrust base and topped with streusel, you’re in for a treat!

16. Morocco

A sweet chicken pie may sound a little strange, but in a Chicken Pastilla, it just works! A thin, crisp, filo pastry shell filled with chicken, sugar, cinnamon and almonds and topped with powdered sugar, it’s an incredibly popular dish in the country and a staple at special holidays and celebrations. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!

17. South Africa

Our last spin on the good ‘ol Shepherd's Pie, Bobotie Pie replaces the standard pot topping for a custardy, egg topping instead and is sometimes eaten with mango or fruity jam!

So, what’s for dinner tonight at your house?

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