Is it a crunchy pastry? Golden top? Or how about a flavoursome filling?

<p>The ultimate comfort food; <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/shelf/pies-quiche-pasties/pies/_/112000" target="_blank">pies</a> are one of those delicious, wholesome meals that can turn a bad day into a good day with every bite.</p><p>When we think about pie, we imagine tucking into a <a href="https://www.asda.com/good-living/recipe/chicken-pie">creamy chicken pie</a> with bacon and leeks, or polishing off a hearty <a href="https://www.asda.com/good-living/recipe/steak-ale-pie" target="_blank">steak and ale pie</a> with lots of rich and meaty gravy. Mmmm.</p><p>To help celebrate British Pie Week 2018, we spoke to head of bakery at <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/search/Pukka%20Pies" target="_blank">Pukka Pies</a>, Phil Smith who told us a thing or two about what makes the perfect pie...</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="squab-pie__square" class="ci-image ci-square" src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/squab-pie__square_GL?scl=1"></p><h2>What makes the perfect pie?</h2><p>According to Phil, the perfect pie will have a golden pastry, be bursting with flavour and use good quality meat.</p><p>“This really is something everyone will have a different opinion on. What&rsquo;s so great about a pie is how versatile you can be with the flavours so there is something for everyone. For us at Pukka Pies, quality makes all the difference &ndash; good quality chunky meat, flavoursome, rich gravies and light flaky pastry…it&rsquo;s the perfect combination. If you get the basic ingredients right, with a bit of love you can&rsquo;t go wrong."</p><h2>Should the filling be spilling over the edges?</h2><p>"A good pie should have strong pastry keeping everything tightly packed in so there&rsquo;s no need for the filling to spill over the edge. There&rsquo;s nothing quite like the moment you cut into a pie and the filling oozes out on to your plate."</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="salmon-asparagus-mini-pies__square" class="ci-image ci-square" src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/salmon-asparagus-mini-pies__square_GL?scl=1"></p><h2>What ratios work best in pies? </h2><p>"Different fillings work in different ratios &ndash; dependent on whether you have a sauce or a gravy or vegetables…the important thing is that the pie is packed full and packed with flavour."</p><h2>What pastry is best to use in a meat or vegetable pie?</h2><p>"Puff pastry works well for both. At the Pukka bakery, we find the key thing is to make sure it&rsquo;s really light so we make ours with over 100 layers of pastry, so it has a lovely rise on top and is extra crispy."</p><h2>What common pairings work well for pies? </h2><p>"Our first ever Pukka Pie, sold way back in 1963, was <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/pies/pukka-pies-steak-kidney-pie/30359184" target="_blank">Steak and Kidney</a> which is of course a classic pairing.</p><p>"<a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/pies/pukka-pies-steak-ale-pie/910000470741?cmpid=otc-good-_-ghs-_-3945-_-article-preview-_-section" target="_blank">Steak and Ale</a>, and <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/pies/pukka-pies-minced-steak-onion-pie/30359186" target="_blank">Steak and Onion</a> are also both great combinations. Our <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/pies/pukka-pies-chicken-mushroom-pie/30359185" target="_blank">Chicken and Mushroom</a> is incredibly popular but we know some people just aren&rsquo;t a big fan of mushrooms so we released a <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/pies/pukka-pies-chicken-gravy-pie/910001186341" target="_blank">Chicken and Gravy</a> which works brilliantly as well."</p><h2>Are there any more slightly unusual pairings?</h2><p>"That&rsquo;s the beauty of a pie &ndash; you can really experiment with flavours. One of our best-selling Pukka Pies in football stadiums is the Chicken Balti. It sounds so unexpected but once you try it you fall in love with it!"</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="warm-mini-pork-pies__square" class="ci-image ci-square" src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/warm-mini-pork-pies_GL?scl=1"></p><h2>When is a pie not a pie? </h2><p>"I&rsquo;m a traditionalist, so if it doesn&rsquo;t have a pastry case I&rsquo;d say that it's not a pie, but there are plenty of people that would disagree with me!"</p><p><em>Love pies? Make sure you stock up on our range of <a href="http://groceries.asda.com/search/Extra%20special%20pie" target="_blank">Extra Special pies</a>, or check out all our <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/search/Pukka%20Pies?cmpid=otc-good-_-ghs-_-3945-_-article-preview-_-section" target="_blank">Pukka pies</a> by popping </em><em>into <a href="http://storelocator.asda.com/#!/" target="_blank">your local Asda store</a>.</em></p>

What makes the perfect pie?

By ASDA Admin,5th March 2018

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