Macaroni pie

Macaroni cheese pie is a pie dish based on baked macaroni and cheese.^[1][2] Primary ingredients may include elbow macaroni, cheese, and milk.

Macaroni cheese pie

Preparation

A slice of macaroni pie

Typical ingredients in macaroni pie include macaroni pasta, cheese, milk, butter, flour, salt, pepper and various spices.^[2] Additional ingredients sometimes used include onion and bread crumbs.^[2] Other ingredients may also be used. It can be prepared as a low-fat dish using reduced fat cheese and skim milk.^[2] Some versions, such as those in Scotland, are prepared using a pie crust,^[3] while others are not.^[4] It may be served sliced into wedges.^[5]

By region

In the Caribbean, macaroni pie is typically prepared without using a pie crust.^[6] In the Caribbean, it is sometimes consumed cold, which may be referred to as "Caribbean style".^[6]

Barbados

Macaroni pie is a popular dish in Barbados, where it is commonly consumed as a main or side dish along with fish or meat.^[6] It is sometimes prepared as a spicy dish, using spices such as black pepper and hot sauces.^[6]

Bajan macaroni pie

Scotland

In Scotland, macaroni pie is prepared by filling a Scotch pie shell with macaroni and cheese and baking it.^[3][7][8] Greggs sold it in Scotland, but stopped doing so in June 2015, which spurred an online campaign and petition for the company to return the dish.^[8] Several prominent Scottish politicians signed the petition, including main party leaders Nicola Sturgeon, Ruth Davidson and Kezia Dugdale.^[8]

Trinidad and Tobago

The dish is very popular in Trinidad and Tobago and is often available as a common dish at lunches and dinners.^[1] It has been described as a staple food in Tobago.^[9] Cheddar cheese, a key ingredient in the dish, was brought to Trinidad by Scottish peoples.^[1] It is sometimes served as a side dish accompanied with stewed meats.^[1]

United States

In the United States, macaroni pie has been and sometimes still is referred to as "baked macaroni and cheese".^[2][10] It is a part of the cuisine of the Southern United States.^[11] In the United States during the mid-1900s, the word "spaghetti" was typically used to refer to macaroni, and spaghetti noodles were used to prepare macaroni pie during this time period.^[11] An American recipe from 1870 includes grated ham as an ingredient in the dish, and also calls for the meat from squirrels, birds or wild ducks.^[12] An American recipe from 1892 includes pork and ham in the dish's preparation.^[13]

Similar dishes

Pastitsio

The Finnish macaroni casserole or makaro(o)nilaatikko is a popular dish made with elbow pasta and egg-and-milk mixture, and baked until it sets. Often sautéed minced meat (and optionally onion) is added, thus creating a lihamakaronilaatikko (literally, meat-macaroni casserole). The casserole may be topped before baking with breadcrumbs and grated cheese and/or knobs of butter, to form a crunchy crust.^[14] Makaronilaatikko is typically served with tomato ketchup and pickles such as gherkins.^{[citation needed]}

Pastitsio is a type of macaroni pie in Greek cuisine prepared using elbow macaroni noodles and various additional ingredients.^[15]

In Italian cuisine, the macaroni pie (Italian: Pasticcio (or Timballo) di maccheroni) is a traditional dish in several cities, with a long tradition originating from the pastizzi prepared by the chefs active in the Italian courts of the Renaissance: the most well known, filled with pigeon meat and truffles, comes from Ferrara,^[16] while also Rome (whose pasticcio, filled with chicken innards and topped with cream, has a clear Renaissance origin) Naples and Sicily have their own version.^[17][18] The Sicilian Timballo has been immortalised by Luchino Visconti in his movie Il Gattopardo.^[18]

See also

• Food portal

• List of casserole dishes