Information on Cornish Pasties
Cornish pasties are a meat-and-pastry dish that originated centuries ago in Cornwall, a region in southwestern England. With the migration of Cornish miners to other parts of the world, the traditional pasty has achieved a global following. But some controversy has arisen over the correct ingredients and recipes to be used in a proper Cornish pasty. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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Cornish pasties were originally baked for tin miners in the region of Cornwall, England. They made for a handy, hearty, complete meal that was tough enough to be carried around a mineshaft. A baked pasty kept its flavor and temperature for a long time.
Types
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The classic Cornish pasty contains sliced or cubed beef, potatoes, turnips and onions, all baked inside a pastry shell made from flour and shortening. In modern times, pasties have been made with different vegetables, including carrots to leeks, and with ground beef or chicken. There are pasties with cheese, turkey, or ham, as well.
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Identification
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According to experts, there are two basic shapes of Cornish pasties, with different ways of folding and crimping the edges of the shell. There are pasties folded over to the side, shaped in a semicircle (Cornwall style), and those in which the sides are brought up and crimped along the top--the Devon style. One tradition that all pasty cooks know is the baking of small initials into the top side, to identify the person to whom the pasty belongs.
Geography
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English miners spread the taste for pasties all over the world, and to many areas of the United States. Pasty cooking is popular in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, in mining regions of Pennsylvania and Montana, and in a few regions of Australia and Mexico. There are Cornish pasty shops in many cities of the United States, which cater to lunch customers seeking a handy, hearty, portable meal.
The Official Pasty
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The Cornish Pasty Association formed in Cornwall to honor and protect the traditional pasty. This organization is applying to the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs for "protected geographical indication" status. If the pasty wins this protected status, only those made in Cornwall with a certain recipe and certain ingredients will be legally labeled in the United Kingdom as "Cornish pasties."
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References
- Photo Credit The Cornish Pasty Association
