Pigeon Pie

Name: Pigeon Pie
Yield: Serves 6–8 (makes a 21 cm/8 inch raised pie)
Ingredients: 600 g/1 lb 3 oz/scant 3 cups minced veal; 3 tsp salt; 200 g/7 oz/generous ¾ cup butter, chilled and diced, plus 2–3 tbsp for the mould; 200 g/7 oz/generous ¾ cup lard, chilled and diced; pinch each of salt, ground cloves and ground mace; 140 g/5 oz/1⅔ cups fresh breadcrumbs; 200 g/7 oz/4–6 slices of cooked ham, finely chopped; 1 tbsp finely chopped sage leaves; salt and pepper, to taste; 2–3 tbsp cold water; 1 egg; 1 tbsp port; 740 g/1 lb 10 oz/scant 6 cups flour; 8 pigeon breasts; 3 leaves of gelatine; 3 eggs, lightly beaten; 1 tbsp milk; 3–4 pigeon feet and first part of the leg, toenails removed, scalded and, if large enough to do so, skinned (optional, unless you are Mrs Crocombe); 170 ml/6 fl oz/¾ cup chicken stock; 1½ tbsp sliced truffles, or 2 truffles if whole (optional); 45 g/1½ oz/½ cup mushrooms, sliced; 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley leaves; 1 tbsp brandy; 14 quails’ eggs, hard-boiled for 1 minute 45 seconds (or use pickled quails’ eggs); watercress, to garnish; pickles, to serve

Preparation info

Serves
6–8
(makes a 21 cm 8 inch raised pie)

Difficulty
Medium

Appears in

How to Cook The Victorian Way with Mrs Crocombe

By Annie Gray and Andrew Hann

Published 2020

About

Raised pies were one of the more spectacular elements of the Victorian table. Elaborate copper or tin moulds were used and the tops ornamented with pastry decoration. Often, as here, the pies were further decorated with bits of the bird. Pigeon pie had the feet poking out, for instance, while pheasant pie used the head, wings and tail on sticks. These bits could be gently baked beforehand to retain their shape (and prevent raw meat leaking onto the pi

Ingredients

Method