The Finest (Veggie & Vegan) Pies Money Can Buy
As a vegetarian or vegan, do you feel you’re missing out on pies and pasties? In honour of British Pie Week (March 2nd – 8th), here are some of our favourite meat-free pies.
What’s more British than a good old pie? They’re one of our favourite foods – suitable for Lunch or Dinner, sweet or savoury. Yet, for vegetarians and vegans, getting a proper pie that fits their diet can prove a difficulty. But worry not – we’re here to help all vegans and vegetarians find the perfect pie for them, without compromising their principles.
What Might be an Issue in Pies for a Vegetarian or Vegan?
It isn’t just the obvious issues that make many pies unsuitable for vegetarians and vegans. Of course many traditional fillings are unsuitable for meat-free diets. However, the pie crust itself can often represent an impediment. Many traditional forms of British pie crust contain lard or suet – both unsuitable for vegan and vegetarian diets. Even more modern recipes that don’t contain animal fats like these might include butter, eggs or milk – all unsuitable for vegans.
There is a huge variety of delicious vegetarian and vegan pies, with meat-free fillings such as soya, tofu, tempeh, seitan, or jackfruit or other vegetables – and of course, cheese! Their pastry is usually made with plant-based fats, sometimes including coconut or vegetable oils.
Pukka
Plant Based Minced No Steak & Onion Pie
Pukka Pies aren’t just for meat eaters. These favourites are also suitable for vegetarians and vegans. This meat-free take on the classic combines tender minced soya with onions and rich onion gravy, in a light puff pastry case.
Hollands
Mature Cheddar Cheese & Onion Family pie
A veggie pie, suitable for all the family! This family sized pie contains rich & creamy mature cheddar & red Leicester cheeses blended with onions, baked in crumbly shortcrust pastry.
Linda McCartney
Vegan Country Pies
Showcasing the range of pastries that are now possible in vegan cuisine, this vegan pie is made from a shortcrust pastry base, filled with rehydrated textured soya protein in a rich onion and beef-style gravy; topped with a puff pastry lid.
Quorn
A meat-free version of the classic pie, Quorn’s Vegetarian Chicken and Leek Family Pie has four generous servings and boasts a crisp puff pastry lid topping with a deliciously creamy vegetaruab chicken and leek filling.
Higgidy
Higgidy have become a pie brand to be reckoned with. They pride themselves on their top notch ingredients and craft flavour combinations and offer a range of vegan and veggie pies including the Spinach Greek Feta and Pine Nut Pie, made with seeded spelt shortcrust pastry.
Chunk of DEvon
Chunk of Devon offer handmade pies and pasties by post” The vegetarian Homity Pie is an open-topped pie with potato, cheddar cheese, onion and a little garlic and a few herbs. For the cherry on top of this round-up of pie perfection, we must give a mention to their sweet cherry pie!
British Pie Week
These are just a selection of the wonderful range of pies available to vegetarians and vegans these days. We are one of the judges of this year’s British Pie Awards – where each year the industry decides the best pies of the year in a range of categories. The Pie Awards are the 4th of March, with full details to follow. Let us know what your favourite pie is – or check out which pies win after the 4th of March.
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