By Mary Dodge Allen
Why does a Cornish pasty have a distinctive D-shape and a crimped crust?
The earliest mention of the pasty in Cornwall and Devon dates back to the early 1500s. This meal of meat, vegetables and/or cheese wrapped inside a thick pastry crust is considered the national meal of Cornwall.
Cornish Pasties (Cornish Pasty Association)
The Cornish Pasty - A Proud Part of Cornwall's Heritage
More than 300 years ago, Cornish tin and copper miners began eating a pasty as their mid-day meal because it could be eaten without utensils, and the thick pastry crust could keep its contents warm. Traditionally, pasties were eaten from end to end. Miners often carved their initials in the far end, to identify their particular pasty.The Cornish word for pasty is “hoggan,” which evolved into popular slang as "oggy." Tradition states that women who had baked pasties for the miners would shout into the mine shaft: “Oggy, oggy, oggy!” and the miners would shout back: “Oi, oi, oi” when they were ready to eat.
(You may recognize this chant as part of an Outback restaurant commercial).
Arsenic was often found in tin and copper mines, and arsenic dust was a known hazard. It has been said that the pasty’s thick crimped edge provided a convenient hand-hold that was discarded after eating the meal, to avoid arsenic poisoning from dusty hands. This rings true in the opinion of some historians. But other historians argue that the pasties were most likely wrapped in paper or muslin cloth bags to protect the miners from arsenic dust.
Few photos were taken inside the Cornish tin mines, and in the rare photo below, it appears that two of the seated miners in the foreground are holding pasties wrapped in something.
Arsenic was often found in tin and copper mines, and arsenic dust was a known hazard. It has been said that the pasty’s thick crimped edge provided a convenient hand-hold that was discarded after eating the meal, to avoid arsenic poisoning from dusty hands. This rings true in the opinion of some historians. But other historians argue that the pasties were most likely wrapped in paper or muslin cloth bags to protect the miners from arsenic dust.
Few photos were taken inside the Cornish tin mines, and in the rare photo below, it appears that two of the seated miners in the foreground are holding pasties wrapped in something.
Undated photo of Cornish tin miners, (Cornish Pasty Association)
Pasties provided a convenient mid-day meal for all types of workers. Farmers, field workers and factory workers could leave in the morning, carrying a pasty in a jacket pocket.
Cornish Pasty Ingredients
Family recipes often varied, according to the food at hand. The crust was traditionally made of white flour, or barley flour (which was cheaper). It had to be thick enough to hold its delicious baked filling, and yet not too tough to eat.
The traditional pasty filling consisted of a small portion of meat such as beef or pork or even cheese, mutton or rabbit, along with a much larger portion of vegetables like potatoes, carrots, onions or turnips, seasoned with salt and pepper.
The raw meat and vegetables were placed inside the crust and sealed with a prominent crimp. Then the pasty was baked long enough for its filling to become fully-cooked, tender and juicy, while the crust browned.
Vintage post card of a partially-eaten Cornish pasty (Wikipedia)
The Cornish Pasty Spreads Across the World
With the fluctuating economy of tin and copper, many Cornish miners – known for their mining expertise - emigrated to work in mines around the world. My great, great grandfather Nicholas emigrated from Cornwall with his young family in 1850 to work in a copper mine in Ontario, Canada. Years later, he moved his family to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, to work in the copper mines there.
Many Cornish miners emigrated to work in mines located in Pennsylvania, California and Nevada. While other Cornish miners relocated as far away as Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.
Wherever Cornish miners and their families moved, they brought with them the traditional recipe for Cornish pasties. A Cornish festival is held annually in parts of Australia, and an annual Cornish Festival is also held in Real del Monte, Mexico. The Mexican pasty is called a "paste."
A Mexican "paste" (Wikipedia)
The Traditional Cornish Pasty
I tasted my first Cornish pasty when I was a child, visiting relatives in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Unfortunately, the ancestral Cornish pasty recipe, handed down to my great-aunt in Michigan has been lost.
But I located a traditional Cornish pasty recipe online, at the website of The Salt Wind Catering Kitchen, located in Redruth, Cornwall (near the area my ancestors lived).
Click this link to see the recipe: Traditional Cornish Pasty Recipe
Traditional Cornish Pasty (The Salt Wind Catering Kitchen)
I plan to bake this traditional Cornish pasty for my family this holiday season.
If you enjoy baking, you might want to give it a try. Enjoy!
If you enjoy baking, you might want to give it a try. Enjoy!
__________________
Mary Dodge Allen is currently finishing her sequel to Hunt for a Hometown Killer. She's won a Christian Indie Award, an Angel Book Award, and two Royal Palm Literary Awards (Florida Writer's Association). She and her husband live in Central Florida. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith Hope and Love Christian Writers.
Website: www.marydodgeallen.com
Recent release, anthology devotional: El Jireh, The God Who Provides
Click the link below to purchase on Amazon:
Mary's novel: Hunt for a Hometown Killer won the 2022 Christian Indie Award, First Place - Mystery/Suspense; and the 2022 Angel Book Award - Mystery/Suspense.
Click the link below to buy Hunt for a Hometown Killer at Amazon.com:
No comments:
Post a Comment