Pie types from around the world
Alimentos SAS • Jul 14, 2021
Pies are a well-known traditional treat. There are many different pie types, sweet and savory. These days sweet pies are eaten as a dessert in many countries around the world. Pie types differ from place to place in form and flavor. Fruit purees have become one of the key ingredients in sweet fruit pies. In this article, we are going to look at how they are used in the different sweet pie types.
The history of different pie types
The first pies were made by early Romans. These pies were sometimes made in reeds. The reeds were only for holding the pie filling.
Pyes (pies) originally appeared in England in the twelfth century. The first fruit pies or tarts (pasties) were probably made in the 1500s.
As American as apple pie
The first English settlers brought the pie to America. In England, the crust of the pie used to be called a coffyn. The first American pie crusts were also referred to as “coffins”, but as in the early Roman times, they were intended to hold the pie and not to be eaten. It was only in the American Revolution that the term crust was used instead of coffyn.
Today pie is known as the most traditional American dessert. American blueberry pie is the official state dessert of Maine, but probably originally dates to the early American pioneers. The two layers of flaky golden pastry are filled with a thick and juicy blueberry filling. The pie is usually served with ice cream or cream.
Some unique pie types outside of the USA
There are many different pie types from around the world, from America to Samoa, and everywhere in between. Some popular sweet pies include:
- Limonnik: a refreshing and slightly sour Russian pie enjoyed in the summer heat.
- Canadian Saskatoon berry pie: Made with Saskatoon berries, native to Western Canada. The city of Saskatoon in Canada is named after the berries. The berries are harder than blueberries and have an earthier flavor.
- Appeltaart: a traditional Dutch apple pie that differs from the classic American pie. It is deeper, drier on the interior, and full of currents, raisins, and big chunks of apple spiced with cinnamon and other warm spices.
Different sweet pie types and how fruit puree can be incorporated
Double-crust fruit pie
This pie has a buttery, flaky top and bottom crust that holds juicy stewed fruit. It’s your typical American pie. The fruit usually requires a thickening agent. You could use one of many fruit purees, or a combination, for the fruit filling.
The Galette
The traditional Galette is made with flaky dough which is folded over the filling. You can use any fruit puree and fresh fruit for the filling. The fruit filling cooks during baking.
Ice-cream pie
Ice-cream, sorbet, or gelato is softened and spread into a pre-baked cookie crust.
Meringue pie
A meringue pie is usually filled with custard but can be filled with fruit too. More tangy pureed tropical fruits, like granadilla, used in the filling, complement the sweetness of the meringue beautifully.
Tart
This fancy subcategory of pie types has pastry more like shortbread. Different berry purees make the perfect ingredient for tart fillings, like with a raspberry tart.
Puree can be used as a sweetener in different pie types as with most desserts. This is great news considering the bad rap sugar has had over the last years and understandably so. Due to a recent release of dietary guidelines for Americans, consumers have become more aware of the health concerns of eating too much sugar. The increase the in diagnosis of type two diabetes is another reason for this move away from liquid or granulated refined sugar in the form of sucrose.
Fruit purees as a great alternative to sugar
Because consumers are looking for alternatives to refined sugar, bakeries are also needing to find alternatives. Some bakeries are substituting sugar with fruit purees: apple, date, banana, pear, pineapple, fig, mango, papaya, and pumpkin.
Apple puree is a popular substitute for refined sugar, eggs, and fat. One cup of apple puree contains 102 calories, whereas one cup of sugar contains 774 calories. It is also popular because it is a good source of fiber, vitamins, and other nutrients. Its mild taste and light color also make it more versatile than date puree, for example. Date puree, however, is also a popular substitute and full of nutrients
Some bakeries use a mix of fruit purees to avoid one flavor becoming overpowering. There is a disadvantage to substituting sugar with fruit puree, and that is that it shortens the shelf life of baked goods. For this reason, some bakeries cut down on the amount of sugar rather than eliminating it completely. They then make up the difference with puree.
Hopefully, you are now a little better informed about the origins of the humble pie. The pie continues to grow in popularity and fruit pies make scrumptious desserts and tea-time treats. Fruit puree is an easy-to-use ingredient for the filling of various
pie types. It is also a substitute for sugar and even eggs and fat. This is one of the ingredients that are essential for the baking industry as we move towards a future with less sugar.
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