Meat pie (Australia and New Zealand)

Meat Pies are in the Australian and New Zealand cuisine is a popular fast food court and are offered there at food stalls in bus and train stations as well as in bakery shops, but also prepared at home (or reheated ). Meat pies are also sold frozen. They have a status similar to hamburgers or pizza in the European countries. In Australia, they are almost regarded as a national symbol. The Premier of New South Wales described it in 2003 as Australia's " national dish ".

From the well-known brand Four'N'Twenty 50,000 units are produced per hour, every Australian eats an average of 12 meat pies each year. Meat Pies are closely associated with sports such as Rugby, Aussie Rules Football, cricket and other sports, as they like during the game (or a can of beer in front of the TV) are consumed.

Recipe

The classic basic recipe consists of a pastry case with a filling of beef and gravy, a sauce made ​​from meat juices English as taste -determining component. Some of the beef is replaced by a mass of meat or chicken. Meat Pies must contain at least 25 % muscle meat since March 21, 2007 according to the regulations of the "Food Standards Australia New Zealand". Meatless Pies are hardly common in Australia and New Zealand. In contrast, other ingredients, such as cheese or potatoes, some vegetables also added.

Nutritional value

The Premier of New South Wales, Bob Carr organized in 2002 a summit on " overweight children ", in which he stated that the diet of children only come through with Meat Pies, Sausage rolls and Chiko rolls of child abuse close.

In April 2002, the ACA (Australian Consumers Association ) conducted a study of 22 frozen pies by from supermarkets. Three brands were not the by the "Food Standards Australia New Zealand" ( FSANZ ) prescribed meat content of at least 25%, the fat content was 15-35 g of fat per pie. However, the study was referring to standard products from the freezer, not on freshly baked meat pies, their nutritional value may vary depending on the manufacturer. Another study by the ACA in 2006 already determined in 5 of 23 samples falling below the minimum meat content of 25%.

2006 awarded the ACA to the manufacturer Black and Gold Price "The CHOICE Shonky Award for UnAustralian Content" for their meat pies with only 17 % meat.

On the part of FSANZ are in Meat Pies the following meats allowed: Cattle, buffalo, camel, deer, goat, hare, pig, poultry, rabbit and sheep. Even the lean kangaroo meat is sometimes used. Most manufacturers perform " beef " ( Beef ) explicitly in the list of ingredients on in other meats is usually only "flesh" listed in the ingredients list. The definition of the FSANZ for " meat " also includes snout, ears, tongue roots, tendons and blood vessels. Only meats such as brain, heart, liver, kidney, tongue and tripe must be specified in the list of ingredients. Wild animals that were hunted in the wild shall not be used.

Industrial production

The manufacturers in Australia are predominantly in the individual federal states operate, which results from the large transport distances and the lack of cooling facilities in the early years of production. Many Pies, snacks are not sold under a brand name and may originate from local production, to be supplied by a major brand manufacturers or imported. The frozen, either pre-baked or fully baked pies already be warmed up or fully baked before consumption.

The Australian manufacturer Four'N'Twenty leads his product back to an invention in 1947 by a certain LT McClure in a small bakery in Bendigo. Because of its connections to the Australian Football brand in Victoria cult status and also in other states has a high reputation.

The manufacturer Sargent conducts its production back to 1906. Sargent's Meat Pies were served in 1927 at the opening of Old Parliament House in Canberra; 10,000 uneaten pies had to be disposed of afterwards. In South Australia provides Balfour ago since the early 1900s, Meat Pies and with Vili 's one of the two major manufacturers of this federal state. These manufacturers supply numerous games of Australian Football League. The Mrs produced in Western Australia Mac 's Pies are currently sold nationwide, often at food stalls and corner shops. They emphasize the strong competition of the fast food market quality and unusual fillings. In Victoria are well known manufacturers Clarke 's Pies from Mortlake, Kings Pies from Hamilton, Gillies from Bendigo, Beaumont 's Pies from Geelong and Patties Pies from Bairnsdale. In Tasmania, the main manufacturer National Pies ( despite the name it operates only in Tasmania ). National Pies is mainly pies with a filling of beef mass and " Cottage Pies " with a blanket of mashed potatoes forth. The Pies this brand are contrary to most others do not round but rectangular.

Well-known brands in New Zealand are Big Ben, Mrs. Mac and Ponsonby Pies. The New Zealand and Australian Meat Pies are now offered abroad as a culinary specialty from "Down Under".

"The Great Aussie Meat Pie Contest"

Since 1990, there will be a competition for the best commercially produced Australian meat pie in Australia. The The Great Aussie Meat Pie Contest is to promote product quality and drawing media attention to the Pies. However, competition is dominated by the ubiquitous advertising of the major manufacturers.

The competition attracts manufacturers from all over Australia. The Pies are tasted blind to avoid caveats that the jurors certain brands or countries of origin. In addition to the competition for " everyday Pies " there is another one for " gourmet " pies with categories, for example, chicken, seafood and even vegetarian pies. In addition to the coveted because of its revenue- effect top prize quality certificates are awarded upon achievement of certain criteria.