Homity pie bites
Have you ever read the Cranks Bible? Don’t worry, I’m not getting all religious on you – it’s a vegetarian cookbook full of really interesting and original recipes. The kind of cookbook that you’ll ‘ooh!’ your way through as you turn down the corner of every single page. This autumn, Cranks are bringing out a brand new edition, with all new recipes, including a few by Michelin-starred chef Richard Corrigan (remember him from the Great British Menu?).
One of the most popular recipes from the original Cranks Bible is their homity pie, and Cranks challenged me to put my own spin on the recipe – hence, homity pie bites! I was so chuffed with last month’s little apple pie bites that I decided to shrink the homity pie down too. These pie bites are not quite bitesize – more like two or three bites, depending on the size of your mouth and whether or not you’re in polite company – but they’re super cute, and great for an occasion where a normal pie is just not quite posh enough.
If you don’t know, homity pie is basically a cheesy leek and potato pie. It’s a traditional British recipe – we sure did know how to make the most of things during the war. Since the filling of these little pie bites is on the stodgy side (which isn’t a bad thing – I love me a bit of stodge), I went light on the pastry, and just used a couple of sheets of filo. It’s much thinner and lighter than, say, shortcrust or puff pastry, and much lower in fat too.
So eat away! And don’t forget to submit your recipe for a chance to appear in the new Cranks cookbook!
Homity pie bites
Ingredients
- 750 g potatoes ~5 medium potatoes
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 medium leek quartered lengthwise then sliced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 tbsp butter
- 80 g cheddar cheese ~1 cup grated, grated
- Small bunch fresh parsley chopped
- Salt
- Black pepper
- ~4 large sheets filo pastry
- Butter or spray oil for greasing
Instructions
- Cut the potatoes into chunks - the exact size doesn’t matter, but try to cut them evenly. I left mine unpeeled. Once chopped, add them to a pan of water, and boil for around 15 minutes, or until completely soft.
- Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying pan, and add the chopped leek and minced garlic. Cook over a medium heat for around 5 minutes, until soft and fragrant.
- When the potatoes are cooked, mash them thoroughly, and add the butter, grated cheese, parsley, and cooked leeks. Mix thoroughly until the cheese and butter have melted through the hot potatoes. Season generously.
- Heat the oven to 190°C (Gas Mark 5 / 375°F).
- Cut the filo pastry into squares that measure approximately 3 inches (I was able to get 12 squares out of each sheet of pastry, so cut 48 squares altogether, which was enough for 24 homity pie bites).
- Grease two cupcake trays with butter or oil, and press one square of filo into one of the cups. Spray the pastry lightly with oil, then place a second piece of pastry on top, at a different angle to the first. Gently press the pastry into the cup. Repeat with the other cups until all the pastry squares have been used up.
- Divide the potato mixture between the pastry cups. Lift the corners of the pastry, and gently press them together on top of the filling to create a pocket. Spray once more with oil, then place in the oven and bake for around 25 minutes, until golden brown and crispy (check that they’re crispy underneath too!).
These look lovely. I’d like to make them, but am wondering about freezing instructions. I’ve not tried freezing filo that’s been already thawed. Do you think it might be best to freeze them baked or unbaked? Many thanks.
I’ve not tried freezing these, but I’d probably say freeze them before baking, and then bake them once they’ve thawed so they crisp up. Let me know how you get on! :)
We made these over the weekend (myself and my 6yo daughter that is), and they were certainly simple and fun, but even though we used what felt like enough seasoning they ended up being surprisingly bland. I’d suggest making sure that the potatoes taste a bit *too* salty before wrapping. Even with that they were a big hit.
Yes potatoes do need a lot of salt – and loooads of black pepper :) thanks for your comment!
These look delicious Becca. I adore a filo pie. With cheese? Even bloomin’ better.
Such a delicacy! I love them, thanks for showing them to us, Becca! :D
Am sure these delicious mini-pies would be a hit at any party! Gorgeous photography, too.
Thanks Abigail :)
Wow – these look delicious, and quite easy to make as well. Also love the photography – it’s brilliant!
Aw thanks so much Craig, appreciated! :)
These look wonderful – I honestly don’t think you can beat a homemade pie!
I agree! Homemade pastry is even better, but I wasn’t about to roll my own filo ;)
These look fab! I have heard of Homity pie but had no idea what it actually was an have certainly never made one. Even as a non Veggie I love my original Cranks cookbooks.
You should definitely give it a go, it’s so hearty and comforting!
wow the Homity pie’s look lovely, I’ve never tried them but they seem easy enough to make, so i might have to have a go.
great post!
Really easy! It’s basically just cheesy mash! ;)
These sound so tasty and don’t look all that complicated! On my meal plan for next week :)
Not complicated at all, I think they look fancier than they are! :)
I would so love some of these right now especially with the fab herby flavour.
You should make some Bintu, they don’t take long! :)
Oh these sound delicious, I’ll have to keep an eye out for the new book in the autumn
Yum! A filling which is lovely anyway, and then you go and make it mini so as well as being really cute, you get to eat more of them :)
Haha I’ll admit that was a major selling point ;) just one more? Ohhh, go on then ;)
Oh heavens this sounds like the ultimate in comfort food! YUM!!!
It’s love. I’m sorry there it is. I ADORE Homity Pie. My Cranks cookbook still has pride of place on our bookshelf and these bite-sized versions look divine, so I am off in search of filo pastry first thing !
Haha I appreciate your passion for cheesy potato pie ;) I’m right there with you!
Ah I remember the homily pie- these little bite sized versions are great. Lovely as appetisers.
The homity pie bites look delicious and very easy to make. I will be trying them soon! :) x
These look adorable! I love the Cranks Bible – it’s a book I use again and again for reliable, delicious recipes.
Mmm those little pies look so delicious!! Love crispy pastry!
I am banned from new cookery books but when the occasional new one slips through I can’t help but squeal a little!
Haha I love that you’re banned from getting more cookbooks! They’re so addictive aren’t they ;)
Amazing idea, I am going to try it. Lovely photographs.. !!
Thanks Krati :)
These look amazing! Makes me wanna eat them just by looking at them, right up my street and very homely! :) xx
Mmmm…. Homity pie! I haven’t made one for about two years! I’ll have to make these soon.
when i lived in london I used to eat at Cranks….and have their original cookbook. I rarely use it due to the measurements being in grams (I’m in the USA) but you’ve made me think about going and pulling out the old dog-eared cookbook and revisiting everything. It’s where I learned about adzuki beans and so much more!!
Oh the memories! I used to go to the Cranks restaurant in London and always chose the homity pie! Gorgeous food :) I love your bites x
I never went but would have loved to! The cookbooks will have to do for now :)
These sound really delicious. Good tasty food made to look so pretty – how could we go wrong! :)