Delicious Full English Breakfast Pie Recipe
Picture the scene: it’s St George’s Day, and you’re feeling patriotic. You want something hearty to start your day off right; something that will set the tone for a day of English celebrations. That’s where my Full English Breakfast in a Pie recipe comes in.
But before we get started, let me tell you a little bit about why I love this recipe so much. Not only does it give you all the flavours of a traditional full English breakfast – sausage, bacon, eggs, and hash browns – but it also incorporates those lesser-known breakfast staples like mushrooms and onions. Plus, the whole thing is baked into a pie with a deliciously buttery shortcrust pastry crust.
Now, some may call this an old-fashioned dish, but I prefer to think of it as timeless. It’s a classic for a reason – it’s comforting, it’s indulgent, and it just hits the spot. So, whether you’re celebrating St George’s Day, hosting friends for brunch, or just looking for an excuse to treat yourself to a cooked breakfast, this Full English Breakfast in a Pie recipe is sure to do the trick.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This breakfast pie recipe is a crowd-pleaser, and I guarantee that you’ll love it! There are so many reasons why this dish is perfect for any breakfast lover out there.
Firstly, it’s the ultimate comfort food. Imagine all the components of a full English breakfast – hash browns, hard-boiled eggs, streaky bacon, sausages, mushrooms, and baked beans – made into a savory pie filling. It’s like a cooked breakfast in a pie! Every bite packs in all the delicious and hearty flavors that you crave from an old-fashioned English breakfast.
Secondly, this pie recipe is versatile. You can serve eggs baked into it or have your eggs cooked separately and served alongside your pie. You can also swap out ingredients or add extra spices to make it your own creation. This means that you can enjoy it time and again without ever getting bored.
Lastly, this recipe will leave you feeling satisfied for hours. The combination of protein, carbs and healthy fats that make up a full English breakfast will give you energy to power through the day without feeling hungry until lunchtime comes around.
Overall, I’m confident that this full English breakfast pie recipe will soon become a favorite dish in your household! Between its comforting flavors, versatility and its ability to keep you feeling full long into your day, there’s something about it that everyone can love.
Ingredient List
Here are the ingredients you will need to create this full English breakfast in a pie recipe:
For the Pie Crust:
- 2 cups of plain flour
- 1 cup of cold butter
For the Breakfast Inside:
- 4-5 sausages
- 4 slices of streaky bacon
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup of sliced mushrooms
- a pinch of thyme
- 1 can of baked beans
- 1 cup of shredded hash browns
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
Note: This ingredient list serves around six people. You can adjust the quantities according to your needs.
I recommend using quality ingredients such as free-range eggs and locally sourced bacon, which will add more flavor and richness to this recipe.
The Recipe How-To
Now, onto the main event: how to create the Full English Breakfast in a Pie – a dish that is sure to impress even the most discerning of palates. This hearty breakfast pie is packed full of flavor and texture with every bite. Here’s how to make it:
Ingredient List:
- 6 slices streaky bacon
- 2 sausages
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 150g mushrooms (chopped)
- 4 hard-boiled eggs (chopped)
- 4 hash browns
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 200g baked beans
- Sprigs of thyme
- Shortcrust pastry
Preparation:
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Preheat your oven to 200°C/ 180°C fan/gas mark 6.
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In a large frying pan, over medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy. Set aside on a kitchen paper towel to drain off excess fat.
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In the same pan, add the sausages and cook for 10 minutes, or until they are cooked through. Then slice them up.
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Using the same pan again, add the onion and let it sweat for 5 minutes before adding mushrooms. Cook until they’re softened.
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Remove the mushroom-onion mixture from the stove and mix in the chopped hard boiled eggs and stripy bacon**.
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Bake hash browns following packet instructions before setting them aside.
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In a heavy-based saucepan melt butter over medium heat then slowly sift in flour stirring as you go for about two mins.
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Gradually add baked beans together with their sauce to your heavy-based saucepan on low heat while stirring consistently.
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Line your pie dish with shortcrust pastry.
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Add the mixture of eggs, mushroom, onions and bacon into the pie dish.
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Place the hash browns and sausages on top of the mixture.
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Pour baked beans over everything, give it a little shake so that the beans are evenly spread throughout the pie.
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Lay sprigs of Thyme around as you desire.
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Cover the pie dish with another piece of pastry, trimming any excess pastry and sealing the edges.
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Brush with milk or an egg wash before placing in the oven until golden brown (approximately 30-40 minutes).
Serving Suggestions:
A serving of this fantastic Full English Breakfast in a Pie will undoubtedly leave you sated for hours to come; it’s perfect as a brunch recipe or a hearty dinner option. Serve hot and fresh alongside your best cuppa joe or tea. Don’t forget to share this old-fashioned ‘pie’ with your nearest and dearest!
Substitutions and Variations:
This recipe is delightful, but suppose you’re feeling creative or fancy adding your
Substitutions and Variations
Substitutions and variations are great if you’re looking to put your own spin on the traditional English breakfast pie recipe. Here are a few variations that you can try:
– Vegetarian Breakfast Pie: If you’re a vegetarian, swap the sausages and bacon for meat-free alternatives, such as vegetarian sausages or veggie bacon. You could also add some additional veggies to the mix, such as spinach or bell peppers, to give the pie some extra flavor and nutrition.
– Sweet Potato Crust: Replace the shortcrust pastry with slices of sweet potato for a healthier option. Roast the sweet potato slices in the oven before adding them to the pie dish to ensure they are cooked through.
– Spicy Breakfast Pie: For a bit of extra heat, add some chopped jalapenos or red pepper flakes to the mixture of onions and mushrooms that go in the filling. You can also try different variations of spicy sausages instead of traditional pork sausages.
– American Style Breakfast Pie: Add some diced potatoes, green bell peppers, and Monterey Jack cheese to your filling while omitting black pudding and baked beans for an American twist on this hearty breakfast pie.
The substitutions above will offer new flavors worth exploring without affecting its classic yummy taste. So do not hesitate to take things up a notch by trying out any these variations.
Serving and Pairing
Nothing pairs better with a Full English Breakfast Pie than a hot cup of tea, to get your day up and running. This breakfast pie is hearty enough to stand alone as the main meal, but also complements a variety of sides that are sure to leave you feeling satisfied.
Sliced tomatoes and avocado add a touch of freshness to balance the saltiness of the bacon and sausage. Hash browns or baked beans make for great carb sources that give you plenty of energy throughout the day.
If you’re feeling creative, try serving the breakfast pie with a side of grill-roasted mushrooms or caramelized onion to add an extra depth of flavor to your plate.
For those seeking an indulgent twist, serve eggs baked in ramekins alongside the pie for an elegant touch. If you’d like something savory yet spicy, why not try some morning-after salsa or hot sauce?
No matter how you choose to serve this dish, it’s guaranteed to be a filling and flavorful meal that will warm your soul on any occasion.
Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating
Like many breakfast dishes, this Full English Breakfast in a Pie can be made ahead of time and stored for the busy mornings. Once the pie has been baked, let it cool completely to room temperature, then wrap it tightly in aluminium foil or plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge for up to three days.
To reheat the breakfast pie, simply preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C), remove the foil or wrap, and place the pie on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until heated through, then slice and serve. Alternatively, you can also warm up individual portions of the pie in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes.
If you’ve got leftover slices or portions of the Full English Breakfast in a Pie after serving, they should be stored similarly in the fridge or freezer. Wrap them well in foil or plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag. They can last for about three days in the fridge or up to two months in the freezer.
When reheating frozen slices of the breakfast pie, let them thaw completely overnight in the fridge before reheating using either method mentioned above. This recipe is perfect for busy mornings when there’s little time to cook but still want to indulge on a hearty English breakfast inside a pie!
Tips for Perfect Results
Here are some tips to ensure that your full English breakfast pie recipe delivers the perfect results.
1. Use Quality Ingredients
For the best-tasting pie, use high-quality ingredients. Look for free-range eggs and outdoor-reared sausages and bacon. The quality of the ingredients will make a significant difference in the taste and texture of your breakfast pie.
2. Cook Ingredients Separately
Cook each ingredient separately before assembling them into the pie. This will help ensure that everything is cooked evenly and will prevent any sogginess in the finished product. For example, fry the bacon until it’s crispy and cook the sausages until they’re golden brown.
3. Don’t Overcook the Hash Browns
Hash browns can easily become overcooked or greasy if you’re not careful. To get perfect hash browns for your English breakfast pie, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and cook at 200°C for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
4. Seasoning is Key
Seasoning is crucial when making a full English breakfast pie. Be sure to season each ingredient generously with salt and pepper to enhance the flavors.
5. Cut Ingredients Into Small Pieces
For even distribution of flavors, chop all of your ingredients into small pieces before adding them to the pie crust. This will allow each bite to have an equal amount of egg, bacon, sausage, mushroom, onion, and hash browns.
6. Keep an Eye on Cooking Time
Baking time for English breakfast pies can vary depending on oven type, altitude and some other factors such as filling moisture levels, but it usually ranges from 35-50 minutes at 180°C or 375°F.It’s important to keep an eye on your breakfast pie while baking to avoid over or under-cooking it.
7. Let Sit Before Serving
Once your full English breakfast pie is done cooking, let it sit for 10 minutes to cool down and allow the fillings to set. This will make it easier to slice and serve.
By following these tips, you can create an exceptional full English breakfast pie that will impress anyone who tastes it. Enjoy!
FAQ
As we approach the end of this Full English Breakfast in a Pie Recipe article, it’s worth considering some frequently asked questions (FAQs) that readers might have. Whether you are a beginner or someone who has been making breakfast pies for years, it’s important to address any concerns or doubts you may have about this recipe. In this section, I’ll try to answer some of the most common questions and provide additional insights that can be helpful in achieving the perfect results. Let’s dive in!
What is in a traditional full English breakfast?
A classic British breakfast is a hearty meal consisting of bacon, eggs prepared in various ways, grilled tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, and toast or fried bread. Sausages, black pudding, baked beans, and bubble and squeak are other popular additions to the spread.
What to serve with pie for breakfast?
For breakfast, I enjoy pairing eggs with pastry. It’s a satisfying and tasty combination that also happens to be quite healthy. Whenever I’m in the mood for something a little different, I like to whip up a frittata or tart. Alternatively, eggs benedict or omelets also make for a great start to the day.
Was pie a breakfast food?
It’s not uncommon to have pie as a morning meal. In Medieval Europe, folks typically didn’t eat before noon, and their breakfast consisted of various ingredients like meat, fish, and fruit that were baked inside a crust – depending on their social class, of course.
Why is a full English called a full English?
The consumption of fried food has been around for centuries, but it wasn’t until the 20th century that it became associated with English cuisine. This was largely due to the meal being recognized as a substitute for the healthier options of pastry and fruit juice offered to tourists in Britain as part of a continental breakfast.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, the Full English Breakfast in a Pie recipe is a delicious and hearty meal that will leave you satisfied and energized for the day ahead. It’s a unique take on a classic breakfast dish that is perfect for anyone looking to switch things up in the kitchen. The combination of crispy hash browns, savory sausages and bacon, buttery mushrooms and onions, and creamy hard-boiled eggs all baked inside a flaky crust is simply irresistible.
Whether you’re celebrating St. George’s Day or just want to treat yourself to a special breakfast, this Full English Breakfast Pie is sure to impress. Don’t be afraid to make it your own by adding your favorite ingredients or making substitutions to suit your dietary preferences.
So go ahead and give this recipe a try! You won’t be disappointed. Just remember to follow my tips and recommendations for perfect results. And last but not least, enjoy your delicious Full English Breakfast Pie – the ultimate comfort food for any occasion!
Full English Breakfast in a Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 500 g plain flour
- 200 g butter
- 100 ml ice water
- 150 g mushrooms, finely diced
- 1/2 onion, finely diced
- 2 sticks thyme
- 6 sausages
- 50 g butter
- 1 1/2 cups baked beans
- 6 slices streaky bacon
- 6 small hard-boiled eggs
- 300 g hash browns
- 1 egg for egg wash
Instructions
- Add flour and butter to a food processor and blitz until it reaches breadcrumb consistency.
- Add in the water and blitz until the pastry starts to form a ball. Remove, shape into a ball, wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.
- Chop the mushrooms then saute in the butter and thyme, cook until the moisture has evaporated and the mushrooms are fairly dry.
- Put the hash browns in a food processor and pulse until roughly chopped.
- Split the sausages and remove the meat from the skins.
- Reserve one third of the pastry and roll the rest into a round. Use it to line a deep 6” springform or loose bottomed cake tin.
- Fill the pie starting with the sausage mix, then adding the cooked mushrooms, whole boiled eggs, baked beans, bacon and then the hash browns.
- Roll out the pastry lid and fix securely on top of the pie, sticking with egg wash and crimping the edges.
- Decorate with pastry shapes if you like, then egg wash the whole lid and bake for 90 minutes at 200°C.
- Let the pie cool in the tin for 15 minutes when you take it out of the oven, then slice and serve.
Nutrition
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Brian is a British chef cum food blogger who has been in the kitchen since he was a young lad. Growing up in Manchester, he developed a passion for cooking and a keen eye for the perfect dish. He now runs his own blog and YouTube channel, which is dedicated to sharing his passion for food with the world.