Butter pie is a dish from Lancashire, in the northwest of England. This dish is said to have been created by Catholics living in the area as a meal to eat on Fridays, when meat was traditionally forbidden. Because of this, this type of pie is sometimes referred to as a Friday pie or a Catholic pie. Butter, potatoes, and onions are layered and baked in a pie crust to make a butter pie.
To make a butter pie, parboil potatoes and onions until soft but not crumbly before slicing them. They’re layered in a pie shell with butter and spices strewn about. The pie is then baked with a second pastry crust on top of the filling. The pie crust can be made from scratch with flour, butter, and water, or a store-bought crust can be used.
Mashed potatoes and onions that have been sauteed until golden and translucent are used in some butter pie recipes. The filling then resembles that of a potato knish, which is a traditional Eastern European dish. A Cornish pasty, another savory pie with meat, potatoes, and turnips, has been compared to the dish. Fish and chip shops, as well as grocery stores and sandwich shops, sell butter pies.
After ex-Beatle Paul McCartney mentioned it in one of his songs, it gained international attention, and it is now a popular concession at sporting events. It’s often accompanied by pickled cabbage or beets. On their butter pie, many people like to use ketchup, tomato sauce, or Worcestershire sauce.
Because they are meatless savory pies, these pies are very popular among vegetarians. Other vegetables, such as zucchini, summer squash, and spinach, can be added to make them more flavorful. Peppers and curry seasonings can be used to add new flavors to the dish. With the addition of cinnamon, nutmeg, and raisins, this recipe can be transformed into a dessert pie by substituting sweet potatoes or yams and adding fruits.
Butter, water, sugar, and flour are used to make a butter pie from the American Midwest. The mixture is then baked in a pie shell. Apples, peaches, rhubarb, and raisins are all possible additions that add a variety of flavors. A sweet cheese, such as farmer, ricotta, or mascarpone, can also be added to round out the flavor and add richness.