Pasty

A pasty is a kind of pastry filled with meat or vegetables and baked, a bit like a pie. They are linked to Cornwall and Devon in England, where they were first made.

Description

Pastry dough is rolled out and cut in a circle. The raw filling is placed on half the circle, then the pastry is folded in half over the filling to cover it. The edges are then sealed by crimping (firmly pressed together), and baked. The baking time for the filling and the pastry is the same.

A pasty is made as a single-serving portion, for one person's meal. It is made to be held in the hand and does not need any cutlery. It may be eaten hot, warm, or at room temperature.

Uses

A pasty is portable and convenient to eat. It can be easily be taken to the workplace and kept until a mealtime break. No refrigeration is required if eaten the same day. The sealed, baked dough keeps the filling warm for hours after baking. A pasty could also be reheated by placing on or near a heat source - even by holding over a candle where no oven is available.

Pasty Media

Cornish pasties at Cornish bakehouse in Bath
A traditional Cornish pasty filled with steak and vegetables
A "Cousin Jack's" pasty shop in Grass Valley, California
A Mexican "paste"
An uncooked pasty prior to crimping
The pasty is filled with the two fillings: skirt beef, potato, yellow turnip (i.e. swede), onion, butter and seasoning on the left, with a thick slice of apple, brown sugar, cinnamon and chopped, dried apricots on the right. The flap of extra pastry is wetted for sealing.
Cornish pasties in the oven
Cornish Pirates players display a giant pasty
Pasty varieties (Penzance)