The Italian meat pie is one of the classic items from its cuisine. Find out the history behind the pie and a simple way of making a delicious Italian meat pie for your self.
For those of you who do not know what a meat pie is all about then be informed that it is a pastry shell that is composed with meat in a savory sauce. This is what forms the basis of a meat pie. You can add cheese and a whole lot of other ingredients to a meat pie. A pastry crust is almost always used to cover the meat pie. The pie maybe composed in a metal pan and has an appearance like an apple pie or it can also be a turnover version and even a crock. When it comes to the Italian meat pie we find that it has a long history and tradition behind it. Not only does the Italian meat pie occupy a special place within the Italian lifestyle but they also have a million and one versions of this meat filled pie.
The inceptions of the meat pie
The origins of the meat pie have to do with the religion of Christianity. Although today the meat pie is a universally accepted dish that people of all faiths may prepare, in the good old days it was regarded as the Christian celebration treat. Easter Sunday was the particular occasion for which the meat pie was prepared. Basically the period before Easter Sunday is spent in fasting by the Christians and Friday is even a meatless day. Hence Easter Sunday was taken as a day to celebrate the end of the period of fasting with a delicious Italian meat pie.
The Italian meat pie was the thing to look forward to in Easter. You would find almost every family making its meat pie preparations well in advance. Given the fact that there are so many different regions with their own styles of cooking in Italy one is bound to find a great variance in the kind of meat pies prepared in the country. The only thing that remains a constant is that it has to be meaty and most of the times even cheesy. The kinds of meat used in the different areas varies to a great extent as there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to choosing the kind of meat you would like to have in your Italian meat pie.
Making a simple Italian meat pie
Making a simple Italian meat pie is not that difficult but it is quite delicious. You will start off by preheating your oven to 350 degrees after which you will prepare the beef by browning it in a skillet. After draining it you will add the green pepper and cook for 2 minutes. Next you will dissolve cornstarch in water and add it to the beef with all the seasoning. After simmering it for ten minutes add some parmesan cheese and Cover it with half of the meat mixture and mozzarella. Bake for 15 minutes, sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and bake till it melts. And there you have it your very own Italian meat pie ready in a little while with minimal fuss.
