A PERFECT ON-THE-GO LUNCH
Savoury pies are versatile, packable
You sit down to lunch and unfold the top of the brown paper lunch bag. Peering down into the papery depths, you spot ... a piece of pie?
Believe it our not, the flaky, pastry-packed dishes can be the perfect, packable option for backto-school menu planning.
“They make very easy meals,” Jenell Parsons, owner of The Pie Hole in Vancouver, says. “You can bake them from frozen — and not only will your house smell amazing with fresh-baked pies, they are filled with locally sourced organic meat, fresh veggies and everything made in-house from scratch.”
While many of us think of sweet pie fillings such as fruit or candied nuts, Parsons says there are a plethora of filling options that are more suitable for a main dish rather than dessert.
“I think people forget that savoury pies make a perfect meal for the family,” she says.
“And adding a salad is optional.” She says the freezable, one-dish meals offer a great way to timesave in the kitchen for busy families. And more and more people are catching on to the variety of flavours available.
“Our sales are very even between sweet and savoury pies,” she says. “Especially in the fall as the weather gets cooler and pies are the perfect cosy comfort food.”
Thankfully, the simplest savoury pies are also a common hit with most taste buds.
“You can never go wrong with a classic Chicken Pot Pie,” she recommends. “And, in our shop, a staff and customer favourite is the Bacon Cheeseburger Pie.”
The baked beef dish features ground meat, cheddar béchamel, diced pickles, cheddar cheese and bacon, all encased in The Pie Hole’s signature Double Butter Pie Crust.
The entire pie is then topped with sesame seeds for an added crunch.
For Parsons, who has admittedly tried her fair share of pies, her go-to savoury creation is a little more saucy.
“One of my favourite is our Chicken Carbonara,” she explains. “We make our own Alfredo sauce, which is so creamy and rich, and then combine slow-roasted chicken, bacon, peas and lots of cheese.
“You really cannot go wrong with this combination and a buttery flaky crust.”
Pies are “incredibly versatile,” Parsons says.
“I always say almost anything can go into a pie — it is a fantastic way to use up leftovers.”
To save time during pie prep, for those who aren’t buying pre-made options from a store or bake shop, of course, Parsons says there’s one sure step to ensure time-saving.
“You can make your pie crust ahead of time and keep it frozen until you’re ready to use it,” she says.
As for addressing the common question of how long pies keep for, homemade or otherwise, Parsons says it’s good to stick to a rule of three.
“Fresh baked pies are good for about three days,” she says.
“But they can stay in the freezer for a few months and baked when ready to be enjoyed.”
To help preserve your pie the full three days so the savoury ingredients can last longer, it’s important to keep the pie cool.
“Pies should definitely be kept refrigerated,” she says.
And, while a microwave will suffice at school or work, an oven, admittedly, is always ideal.
“The best way is to heat up in the oven,” Parsons says. “Texture is everything, and this method keeps the crust nice and crisp and flaky. The microwave is an option, as well, but you run the risk of the crust softening.”
For side dishes to pack with a pie slice or hand-held option, Parsons recommends keeping it light.
“Pies are very filling, so I would pack something light and palette cleansing like a nice fruit salad or veggie sticks,” she recommends.
Parsons admits she herself never received a slice of pie for her own school time lunches, but she’s happy to say she’ll likely dish out a baked delight for her own family in the future.
“I would have been so delighted to find pie in my lunch box,” she says. “And I have a feeling my daughter will when she starts going to school.”
And, until then, she’ll just keep serving them to hungry customers at her store.
I would have been so delighted to find pie in my lunch box. And I have a feeling my daughter will when she starts going to school.