Pies are one of America’s most favorite desserts, but their history goes back thousands
of years, well before the nation was established. The ancient Greeks may have been
the first to use pastry shells to cover ingredients. These were simple creations,
concocted through a flour and water mix. Often, shells were only meant to function as
containers to better cook meats. Later, meat and seafood pies became popular among
the wealthy in Rome. The Romans are also said to have been the first civilization to
make sweet pies. When the Roman Empire conquered Britain in the first century, pies
spread to the rest of Europe. Lard became a common substitute for water to make pie
crusts, but meat was still the usual filling. European settlers then brought pies to the
New World in the early 17th century. Having shells to cover the contents could keep
food fresh during the harsh winter months for settlers. Sweet pies gained favor in the
States as sugar became widely available. Savory pies have remained more common
than sweet ones in many parts of the world; both the U.K., with its shepherd’s pie, and
Australia, with its meat pies, have dishes that are an iconic part of each country’s
cuisine.