[Christmas] What is a mince pie, a traditional British pastry? We'll introduce its characteristics and how to make it

[Christmas] What is a mince pie, a traditional British pastry? We'll introduce its characteristics and how to make it.

Mince pies, a traditional British pastry.

Why is the filling called mincemeat?

What is the history of mince pies?

Tips for making delicious mince pies

Superstitions surrounding mince pies

British Christmas customs

Here are some recommended mince pie recipes.

Let's try making mince pies, a traditional British pastry!

Mince pies, a traditional British pastry.

Mince pies are a traditional British pastry eaten to celebrate Christmas. They are small, bite-sized pies filled with a filling called "mincemeat," which is made from dried fruit, nuts, spices, and brandy.

The sweet and juicy filling pairs perfectly with the crispy pastry, and it's said to be Santa Claus's favorite treat. Another distinctive feature is the star-shaped pastry crust on top, giving it a festive Christmas look.

Why is the filling called mincemeat?

Now, as mentioned in the explanation of mince pies, the filling of a mince pie is called "mincemeat." Mincemeat means "chopped meat," but why is it called "meat" when it doesn't contain any meat?

Ground meat was also used in the past.

Apparently, mince pies were originally made with minced meat in addition to dried fruit, sugar, and spices, which is the origin of their name.

However, as time went on, minced meat was no longer used in mincemeat, and nowadays it is often made with apples, dried fruit, nuts, spices, brandy, and suet.

What is a sweatshirt?

This suet is the fat found around the kidneys of cows, also known as "suet fat." It's not a very common name in Japan, but it might be easier to understand if you think of it as a type of beef tallow.

Suet has long been used in various dishes in the UK, such as pie crusts and puddings, but nowadays, butter is often used as a substitute for suet in both homes and restaurants, and it seems that mincemeat is also mostly substituted with butter.

Sutte is an essential ingredient in traditional mincemeat.

However, suet is apparently an essential ingredient in traditional mincemeat making.

It's said that because it doesn't have as strong a flavor as butter, it allows the flavors of dried fruits and spices to stand out. Doesn't that make you want to try it?

What is the history of mince pies?

Next, let's look at the history of mince pies. The origin of mince pies is not entirely clear, but one theory is that it began when the Crusaders, who had been on an expedition to the Middle East, brought the recipe back to England in the 13th century.

It's also called "mutton pie" or "Christmas pie," because, as mentioned earlier, it used meat in addition to dried fruit and spices. It's said that mince pies became established as a special dish eaten at Christmas because they used ingredients that were precious at the time.

Mince pies were something you should avoid eating for a while.

However, due to the influence of the English Civil War in 1642, the Christmas ban was passed in 1647, and celebrating Christmas in England was prohibited until 1659. At that time, mince pies were also banned from sale and could no longer be eaten.

During the Victorian era, mince pies made a comeback and became a beloved symbol of Christmas. Around this time, mincemeat was no longer used, and the shape also changed to the small, round shape we see today.

Tips for making delicious mince pies

Next, I'll share two tips for making delicious mince pies. There are tricks to both the filling and the dough, so please give them a try!

Mincemeat uses 13 different ingredients.

Traditional mince pies are said to be made using 13 different ingredients. They are made by soaking dried fruits and spices in alcohol. Traditional meat pies, on the other hand, are made with meat such as lamb, as well as fats such as suet and butter.

It's best to let it marinate for several hours to a day to allow the flavors to meld. Incidentally, the 13 ingredients are said to represent Jesus Christ and his 12 disciples.

The dough is made with cold hands.

Mince pie dough (pastry) uses a lot of butter. Therefore, although it can be a bit difficult in cold weather, it's recommended to work with cold hands.

If the butter melts from the heat of your hands, it will mix with the flour, preventing layers from forming and potentially resulting in a less crisp texture. To prevent this, make sure all ingredients for the dough are chilled before use, and refrigerate the dough once it starts to soften.

Superstitions surrounding mince pies

Mince pies, an essential part of Christmas in the UK, are associated with several superstitions and traditions. Here are three of them to check out.

Eat one each day for 12 days starting from Christmas.

There's a superstition that if you eat one mince pie every day for 12 days, from Christmas to January 6th, you'll have a year of good fortune.

Furthermore, it is said that if you eat the first mince pie you eat on Christmas Day without speaking, while making a wish, your wish will come true. It's kind of interesting how it's similar to the tradition of eating Ehomaki (lucky direction sushi roll) on Setsubun in Japan.

Mince pies are Santa's favorite.

As I mentioned briefly earlier, mince pies are said to be Santa's favorite treat! That's why in British households, on Christmas Eve, many children prepare mince pies and brandy by the fireplace or on the table before going to sleep.

The next morning, if a mince pie has been taken a bite out, it's a sign that Santa has brought the present. After seeing this, the children check the present from Santa under the Christmas tree and are overjoyed—that's the typical Christmas morning scene.

Knead the pie dough in a clockwise direction.

This is a saying about making mince pies: When making pie dough, knead it in a clockwise direction.

This is because kneading in the opposite direction is said to attract bad luck.

British Christmas customs

In addition to eating mince pies, there are several other Christmas traditions in the UK.

These are some examples. In Japan, we have a custom of eating chicken and cake, but it's interesting how people celebrate in different countries.

Here are some recommended mince pie recipes.

Finally, here's a recommended recipe for mince pies you can make at home. It's an easy recipe using frozen pie crust, so be sure to check it out!

Easy Mince Pie

Here's an easy recipe for mince pies. I used store-bought mincemeat as well as the pastry crust. The sweetness of the dried fruit, the nuttiness of the nuts, and the aroma of the spices are a perfect match! They're easy to eat by hand, making them a great addition to any party menu. Please give them a try!

This time, we introduced the characteristics, history, and recipe of mince pies. Mince pies are not only delicious, but they also look cute, so why not include them in your Christmas menu this year? Please try making them at home using the recipe we introduced.