The Homity Pie is a traditional British open vegetable pie particularly popular in the southwest of England.
The pastry base contains a potato filling and a mixture of leeks covered with cheese.
In the traditional recipe of Homity Pie, the cheese (usually grated cheddar) is generously spread over the surface of the pie, on top of the potato, onion, and leek filling.
This layer melts during cooking forming a golden and flavorful crust, which is one of the characteristics of this savory pie.
Sometimes it is called “Devon Pie,” stemming from the belief that it is an English countryside recipe originating from Devon.
It is also claimed that its origins date back to the Women’s Land Army of World War II and the restrictions imposed by wartime rationing to enhance simple and easily available ingredients.
The mainstream popularity of the dish derived from the Cranks Vegetarian Restaurant, a chain of vegetarian restaurants that opened in London in 1961, when vegetarianism gained support from the hippie subculture.
I enriched it with rosemary flowers for:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4People
- Cooking methods: Boiling, Oven
- Cuisine: English
- Seasonality: Spring, All seasons
Ingredients for 9-inch diameter:
- 1 roll puff pastry
- 1.65 lbs potatoes
- 2 leeks
- 2 cloves garlic
- 5.3 oz fresh cream
- 5.3 oz grated cheddar (aged)
- to taste salt and pepper
- to taste rosemary flowers
- to taste butter
Tools
- 1 Baking pan 9-inch
Steps
If you don’t buy it ready, you can prepare the puff pastry as follows:
In a large bowl, mix the flours (200 g all-purpose flour + 100 g whole wheat flour) with the salt.
Add 150 g cold cubed butter and work with your fingertips until a sandy mixture is obtained.
Add 1 egg and knead quickly to form a homogeneous dough.
Wrap in plastic wrap and let rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Prepare the filling:
Boil the potatoes in salted water until tender, then drain and mash them coarsely with a fork.
In a pan, melt a knob of butter and sauté the finely chopped leeks and garlic until soft and lightly golden.
In a bowl, mix the mashed potatoes, the cooked leeks and garlic, the cream, half of the grated cheese, a grating of nutmeg, salt and pepper.
Roll out the puff pastry on a floured surface and line a pie dish about 9 inches in diameter.
Pour the filling into the pastry base and level the surface.
Sprinkle with the remaining grated cheese.To achieve a golden and stringy topping on the Homity Pie, generously spread the cheese over the surface of the pie before baking it.
Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F for about 30-35 minutes, until the surface is well browned.
Garnish with rosemary flowers and serve either hot or cold.
Rosemary flowers:
Rosemary flowers are edible, and can be used to enrich dishes such as risottos or salads, adding a lovely and fragrant touch of color.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What are the lactose-free alternatives to Cheddar?
Lactose-free Cheddar: various brands offer versions of classic cheddar, but with lactose removed.
Vegan Cheddar-style Cheese: made from cashews, coconut oil, or potato starch, often flavored to resemble cheddar taste.
Aged lactose-free Provola: has good meltability and a strong flavor that pairs well with leeks and potatoes.
Aged Pecorino (naturally low in lactose): for a more rustic and flavorful touch, to be used in small amounts.
