Flawless Food
menu icon
search icon
×

Pie Mash and Liquor

by 18 Comments

Recipe Card Jump to Video Print Recipe

A traditional pie mash and liquor recipe. That looks and tastes just like the one served in the East End London pie and mash shops.

We show you every step of the way how to make pie mash and liquor from scratch. Using simple ingredients, the best cheap British meal.

Pouring liquor by hand from a silver jug onto pie and mash on a white plate with a knife,fork and spoon on the side

This high-calorie proper cockney dinner will become a new family favourite recipe.

How to make pie mash and liquor?

Our slideshow below gives you step by steps to cook pie mash and liquor like the East end London shops.

Continue reading for more advice and the history of this nostalgic cockney classic meal. To get started straight away, go check out the recipe card. All the ingredients you need and how to make it.

Jump to Recipe

We have been working on this homemade pie mash and liquor recipe for a while now, to get it right! We are so excited to share it with you. So you can make your own pie mash and liquor at home.

History

Pies were originally sold by piemen on the streets of London in Victorian times. They would be filled with eels, one of the only fish that survived the polluted River Thames. They were cheap and plentiful!

From the 1850's pie and mash moved off the streets and into Victorian shops. Around this time, they started making more desirable, but still relatively cheap minced beef pies. They served the pie with mashed potato and liquor.

The mince beef pies soon become more popular then the eel version.

Pie Mash and Liquor served on a white plate with a knife, fork, spoon, a bowl of jellied eels, a jug of liquor and a bottle of chilli vinegar on the side

The meat pies mash and liquor were a great high calorie, cheap meal for the working class, who would need all the calories they could get after a hard day's work.

Eels

They didn't stop the eels though, the liquor sauce was made from stewed eel stock and fresh parsley.

The pie shop would also sell stewed eels, jellied eels and live eels to be cooked at home.

Over the years the two most succesful families to run London's pie and mash shops are the Manzes and Cookes, who still have family run shops open today.

Ingredients for pie and mash

Pie pastry

The pie has two different types of pastry a suet pastry base and a shortcrust pastry lid. When rolling out make sure to keep the suet base big enough to fit into the pie tins and the shortcrust lids big enough to overlap the tin.

  • Four pie bottoms and four pie tops stacked on a floured surface
  • One pie bottom and one pie top being held up by hand to show thickness of both

The shortcrust pastry lid for the mince beef pie should be be thinner than the suet pastry bottom.

There will be extra suet pastry left, use it to help shape the pie base into the greased tins.

  • Greasing a pie tin with butter by hand
  • Pushing the middle of the pie bottom down with a lump of pastry

Pie mince beef filling

Inside the pie is a simple easy to make minced beef and stock filling which also has browning in to give the pies a deep meaty colour.

  • Pouring beef stock from a jug onto beef mince cooking in a cast iron pan

Add this mince beef filling into the pastry base.

Four pies being filled with mince beef filling by hand with a silver spoon

Wet the edges down very well before placing lids on top.

  • Coating four pies bottom edges with a water a wash by hand with a brush
  • Placing the pie tops on top of the bottoms of four pies by hand

When placing the pie lid on top stretch it over the sides and push to seal the edges before trimming away excess pastry.

  • Pressing down the pie tops by hands
  • Cutting away the remaining pastry away from the edges of the pie with a knife
  • Coating the tops of four pies with a milk wash with a brush

Seal the top of pie with milk, or just water will work too.

Mash

The mash served with the minced beef pie and liquor is a simple plain mashed potato with no milk or butter added.

Mashing the potato with a silver masher by hand in a large silver pot

What is liquor?

The most asked question from people who see this dish, is what is the green sauce served on pie and mash?

Liquor is what makes this meal so good! Our liquor sauce is made from fish stock, flour and parsley.

  • Whisking flour and water mix by hand into fish stock cooking in a cast iron pan
  • Placing fresh chopped parsley into the liquor cooking in a cast iron pan

In the past, it was made out of the stock from the stewed eels because they were cheap, but it is now cheaper to buy fish stock cubes instead!

Homemade liquor cooking in a pan

How to serve pie mash and liquor?

Serve up one pie per person with 2 scoops of mash and drizzle the liquor all over the top!

Pie Mash and Liquor served on a white plate with a knife, fork, spoon on the side

Pie and mash shops sometimes still serve them with jellied eels too, we picked some up from Tesco's.

Traditional Pie Mash and Liquor served on a white plate with a knife,fork, spoon, a bowl of jellied eels, a jug of liquor and a bottle of chilli vinegar on the side

The final must-have is a splash of vinegar, use malt vinegar or if you want it like a real East End or Essex pie mash and liquor shop, make yourself some of our Chilli Vinegar to go with it.

I have included some FAQ's below the recipe card, if you have any more questions please comment and we will get back to you asap.

Homemade Pie Mash and Liquor served on a white plate

Pie Mash and Liquor

This a proper pie mash and liquor recipe, that looks and tastes just like the original pie and mash shops in London.
We show you every step of the way how to make pie mash and liquor from scratch using simple, and best of all cheap ingredients.
A homemade suet base pastry, minced beef filling, shortcrust pastry lid, oven-baked and served with simple mash and liquor, a green sauce made from stock, flour and parsley.
This traditional high-calorie cockney dinner will become a new family favourite.
Makes 4 individual pies, enough for 1 per person.
4.93 from 54 votes
Rate this Recipe
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 40 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine British, London
Servings 4 People
Calories 1565 kcal

Equipment

Pie dishes 16cm x 12cm
rolling pin
Cake mixer

Ingredients
  

This recipe will make enough for 4 individual portion pie tins measuring 16cm x 12cm x 3.5cm deep

    Mince beef filling

    • 500 g Beef mince 20% We find frozen beef breaks down better than fresh - 5% or 12% mince will work too.
    • 500 ml Beef stock Knorr beef stock pots are the best.
    • ½ tsp Sarson's Browning see blog post for substitute

    Pie Base - Suet Pastry

    • 250 grams Plain flour
    • 150 grams Suet
    • 5 grams Baking powder
    • Pinch of salt
    • 125 ml Cold water

    Pie Lid - Shortcrust Pastry

    • 150 grams Plain flour
    • 75 grams Cold butter cut into small cubes plus extra butter to grease pie tins
    • Pinch of salt
    • 3 tbsp Water
    • splash of milk to glaze the pastry lid

    Liquor - Parsley Sauce

    • 900 ml Fish Stock Use 2 x Knorr fish stock cubes (not the stock pot)
    • 5 tbsp Plain flour
    • 180 ml Cold water (¾ cup)
    • 2 Handful's Fresh parsley finely chopped
    • Black Pepper & Salt to taste

    Mash Potato - Keep it simple, don't add milk or butter.

    • 1.5 kg White Potatoes Chopped
    • Salt
    • OPTIONAL to serve- Jellied eels

    Instructions
     

    Mince beef pie filling

    • Brown off the mince in a pan over medium-low heat for 7 minutes, breaking down into small pieces as it browns. (If using leaner mince you may need a bit of oil to prevent sticking)
      Browning off mince in a cast iron dish and stirring it with a black spoon
    • Add beef stock, bring to a gentle boil then turn the heat off.
      Pouring beef stock from a jug onto beef mince cooking in a cast iron pan
    • Add browning, stir through add black pepper and salt to taste
      Pouring browning into the cooked beef mince cooking in a pan
    • Leave to cool whilst making pastry. Preheat the oven at 180°C fan / 200°C conventional / 400°F/ Gas mark 6
      Stirring the pie beef mince filling with a black spoon cooking in a cast iron pan

    Pie base - Suet pastry

    • Sieve flour into a mixing bowl.
      Sieving flour into a large silver mixing bowl
    • Add a pinch of salt, suet and baking powder.
      Plain flour, beef suet in a large silver mixing bowl and pouring baking powder into the bowl by hand
    • For best results use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment.
      Slowly combine the ingredients together
      Or use a wooden spoon to combine ingredients together.
      Mixing the flour and suet mix with an electric mixer and pouring water into the bowl with a tablespoon by hand
    • Increase speed and add cold water a little at a time
      If using a spoon switch to your hands for easier mixing, try to work quickly you don't want the heat from your hands to ruin the pastry
      Mixing the pie dough in an electric stand mixer
    • Once all water has been added and the dough has formed into a ball. Remove from the bowl on to a well-floured worktop. Knead for a minute little until soft and pliable.
      Kneading the pastry by hand in flour and a rolling pin in the background
    • Divide the suet dough into 4, which should be about 100 grams each (this is enough to cover 4 pie tins measuring 16cm x 12cm).
      You will have some left still which you will use later to shape the pastry in the tins, so don't throw it away!
      Four pastry balls on a floured surface and one in a hand with a wooden rolling pin in the background
    • Roll out until 3 cm bigger all the way around the tin, repeat for all 4. Use plenty of flour whilst rolling to prevent sticking to pin or worktop. Keep to one side.
      Rolling out the pie bottoms by hands with a wooden rolling pin on a floured surface

    Pie lid - Shortcrust pastry

    • Sift out flour into a mixing bowl (you can use the same one from before).
      Sieving flour into a large silver mixing bowl
    • Add cubed cold butter and salt use paddle attachment on medium speed to combine into breadcrumb texture.
      Or use your fingers to quickly rub butter into the flour, dont handle too much as the heat from your hands can melt the butter.
      Flour and cubed butter in a large silver mixing bowl
    • Add 1 tablespoon at a time of cold water to form a dough. Remove from the bowl and onto a floured worktop.
      Pouring water from a tablespoon into the shortcrust pastry mixture while being mixed in a electric standing mixer
    • Knead into the flour, then divide into 4 pieces, they should weigh about 60g each.
      Four balls of shortcrust pastry on a floured surface
    • Roll out until bigger than the pie dish, you want it to overlap the tin slightly. It will roll out thinner than the base.
      Rolling out pastry with a wooden rolling pin on a floured surface
    • It will roll out thinner than the base. See image top is the shortcrust lid and the bottom is the thicker base.
      One pie bottom and one pie top being held up by hand to show thickness of both

    Mash

    • Place your potatoes into a large pan of cold water. Bring to a gentle boil. cook for about 20 minutes. Continue making the pies and come back to the mash later!
      Boiling chopped potatoes in a large silver pot
    • Once potatoes are soft enough, drain and put back into the pan to mash until smooth. Traditionally mash for this recipe does not have any butter or milk added as the liquor adds a rich enough flavour.
      Mashing the potato with a silver masher by hand in a large silver pot

    Time to make the mince beef pies!

    • The 4 sheets of shortcrust should be rolled out smaller and thinner for the pie lid.
      The 4 sheets of suet pastry should be rolled out bigger and thicker for the pie base.
      Four pie bottoms and four pie tops stacked on a floured surface
    • Use butter to grease the tins well, so pies are easy to remove when cooked.
      Greasing a pie tin with butter by hand
    • Place the larger suet pastry base over the tin, use the ball of leftover pastry to gently push the pastry into the tins without tearing it.
      Pushing the middle of the pie bottom down with a lump of pastry
    • Add the minced beef mixture equally into the 4 prepared suet pastry bases, pour any remaining stock in with them too.
      Four pies being filled with mince beef filling by hand with a silver spoon
    • Get a bowl of water and wet down the pastry edges with A LOT of water. Do not be shy here, it needs to be soaked well for the lid and base to stick together well. It doesn't matter if water drops into the beef mince.
      Coating four pies bottom edges with a water a wash by hand with a brush
    • Now place the pastry lids on top, DO NOT push the pastry lid down onto the mince filling. Think of it more like a drum stretching the pastry across to meet the edges!
      Placing the pie tops on top of the bottoms of four pies by hand
    • Cup your hand and push the lid firmly onto the pie tin edges to seal.
      Pressing down the pie tops by hands
    • Use a knife to cut down and around the pie tin edges.
      Cutting away the remaining pastry away from the edges of the pie with a knife
    • Use a pastry brush to very gently glaze the lid with milk.
      Coating the tops of four pies with a milk wash with a brush
    • Ready to bake, place all 4 prepared pies onto a baking tin. Cook in the preheated oven at 180°C fan / 200°C conventional / 400°F/ Gas mark 6 for 25 minutes. Meanwhile, make your liquor.
      Four homemade pies on a black baking tray ready to go in the oven
    • If you want more brown on top, leave in for 5 more minutes.
      Four mince beef pies cooked on a black baking tray

    Liquor - Green Parsley Sauce

    • Make up the fish stock from cubes with boiling water in a pan.
      Pouring boiling hot water on two fish stock cubes in a cast iron pan
    • Add sieve flour into cold water, whilst whisking, to make sure it mixes well
      Sieving plain flour into water in a glass jug whilst mixing with a whisk
    • When you are positive there are NO LUMPS in the flour and cold water. Slowly pour whilst whisking into the stock. Bring to the boil.
      Whisking flour and water mix by hand into fish stock cooking in a cast iron pan
    • Use scissors instead of a knife to chop the parsley very finely, you want the green parsley juice in the pan, not on the chopping board!
      Chopped up parsley on a black plate with a pair of orange and silver scissors on the side
    • Add parsley, salt and pepper, then lower to a simmer for 5 minutes. The liquor sauce is meant to be a thin sauce.
      Placing fresh chopped parsley into the liquor cooking in a cast iron pan
    • If you want it thicker repeat flour and cold water steps to prevent lumps from forming.
      Homemade liquor cooking in a pan
    • Ready to serve! Serve pie with a couple of scoops of mash potato and drizzle the liquor all over!
      Pouring liquor from a silver jug onto pie and mash on a white plate with a knife,fork and spoon on the side
    • For a proper Eastend London Pie Mash and Liquor experience, serve with Chilli Vinegar and jellied eels!
      Pie Mash and Liquor served on a white plate with a knife, fork, spoon, a bowl of jellied eels, a jug of liquor and a bottle of chilli vinegar on the side

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1565kcalCarbohydrates: 171gProtein: 73gFat: 65gSaturated Fat: 35gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 148mgSodium: 30965mgPotassium: 2975mgFiber: 11gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 657IUVitamin C: 77mgCalcium: 280mgIron: 15mg
    Keyword Cockney, Eels, green sauce, liquor sauce, London recipe, mince beef pie, pie mash and liquor shop
    Tried this recipe? Share an image on Facebook / Instagram / PinterestPlease mention @flawlessfooduk or tag #flawlessfooduk!

    Frequently Asked Questions?

    What mince to use for pie filling?

    We find that frozen mince works better in this recipe than fresh, the moisture content helps break it down softer ready for filling the pie. Pouring frozen beef mince from a bowl into a cast iron pan

    What's the best beef stock to use?

    We find the best stock for adding richness and flavour to the pie mince filling is Knorr beef stock pots, the jelly like stock which you mix with hot water.Pouring beef stock from a jug onto beef mince cooking in a cast iron pan

    Browning substitute?

    The main purpose of browning is to give the pie a deep dark brown colour. The flavour will not be negatively affected if you do not use it.Pouring browning into the cooked beef mince cooking in a pan

    What is a substitute for suet?

    Suet is hard to find outside of the UK, if you need to substitute I recommend using vegetable shortening, weigh it out and freeze it before use then grate it into the flour.Plain flour, beef suet in a large silver mixing bowl and pouring baking powder into the bowl by hand

    What's the best fish stock to use for liquor?

    We tried a few and found the Knorr fish stock cubes better than the fish stockpot (which were too strong). Pouring boiling hot water on two fish stock cubes in a cast iron pan

    Can I serve with gravy?

    Please do try the liquor sauce first, many people are put of at first sight but it really is very tasty and in my opinion brings out the best of this recipe! One of our kids refuses it so he has gravy instead!

    What size pie tin to use?

    We use Falcon brand 16cm x 12cm pie dish the depth is about 3.5cm. I would say that they are slightly bigger than the average pie and mash shop mince beef pies. You can buy the tins in Sainsbury's or Amazon. I have seen some foil pie dishes too but they are smaller. Traditional cockney Pie Mash and Liquor served on a white plate with a knife,fork, spoon, a bowl of jellied eels, a jug of liquor and a bottle of chilli vinegar on the side

    If you enjoyed this and want to try some more classic British recipes, try out our Bakewell Tart, Butterscotch Tart or Manor House Cake.

    Pin image of Pouring liquor from a silver jug onto pie and mash on a white plate with a knife,fork and spoon on the side
    «
    »

    Sharing is caring!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Delia

      5 stars
      I haven't tried it yet but will do. I agree the frozen mince will give it an authentic texture. I could live on pie & mash!!! The recipe looks great, and we don't all like mash scraped on the plate. Well done.

      Reply

      • Kay

        Thank you so much Delia for that great comment 🙂
        We love our pie, mash and liquor recipe and our family/friends loved it also
        Hope you like the recipe and let us know how you get on when you make it?

        Reply

    2. DC.Wales

      5 stars
      If you freeze these, would that be before or after cooking.

      Memories of Arments and Manzi’s 😊😝

      Reply

    3. Shona evans

      5 stars
      Looks amazing thanks for sharing this
      I can’t wait to try it myself

      Reply

      • Kay

        Thanks, Shona
        Glad you liked the recipe 🙂
        Let us know how it goes when you cook the pie, mash and liquor?

        Reply

        • Rob Hise-Denk

          5 stars
          Kay, I seem to be unable to make a separate comment. Sorry to jump on your comment, Shona.
          I live in the States and was able to make a version of this that was quite delicious using ingredients available to me. I used frozen grated lard in place of the suet and browning sauce powder. I also used hamburger that I sliced many times over with a chef knife to do the mincemeat. It hope I didn’t deviate too far! It was scrumptious nonetheless.

          Reply

    4. Steve G

      1 star
      need to chop the Parsley finer and the liquor needs to be greener.
      and do not use an ice cream scoope for the mash ! scrape it onto the plate.

      Reply

      • Kay

        Thanks for your input Steve! Did you make the recipe?
        Each to their own with how fine they like the parsley chopped, I know some shops also add green colouring to make it greener.
        I do agree with you that in the pie mash & liquor shops they do just serve the mash scraped on the plate, but I prefer it to look neat!!
        Ultimately, I feel the 1 star is a little unfair based on the way I chopped the parsley and served the mash?

        Reply

    5. Natalie

      5 stars
      This looks quite delicious. Sounds complicated but with your detailed instructions, I bet it will be a success. I can't wait to make this for my family for the upcoming weekend. Thanks!

      Reply

    6. Mihaela | https://theworldisanoyster.com/

      5 stars
      As well as your beautiful recipe, I also enjoyed its history and a little slice of Victorian London life. Only the image of eating a fish caught from the Thames!:)))

      Reply

    7. Brianna

      5 stars
      That is British comfort on a plate right there. Brings me back to my year in London!

      Reply

      • Kay

        Thanks, Brianna, for the comment and rating!!
        This is the ultimate comfort food from London, perfect for warming you up on a cold day 🙂
        Enjoy!!

        Reply

    8. Lindsay

      This looks so amazing and you gave so many good details to make the recipe perfectly. Love this fluffy mashed potatoes on the side!

      Reply

      • Kay

        Thanks, Lindsay
        Hope you like the pie mash and liquor recipe 🙂

        Reply

    9. Nora

      5 stars
      Yummy! This looks so delicious! And I love the historical background! I need to try your recipe right now! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

      • Kay

        Thanks, Nora
        There is a lot of great history behind this pie and mash recipe 🙂
        Hope you like the recipe, let us know what you think?
        Enjoy!!

        Reply

    10. AISilva

      5 stars
      I've never had pie mash and liquor before, but this looks delicious! Thank you for going through each of the steps in such detail, that's really helpful for someone who hasn't made this before. I'm looking forward to trying this soon.

      Reply

      • Kay

        Thanks, Alsiva for the comment
        Glad you like the step by step guide on the blog 🙂
        Hope you like the pie and mash recipe, let us know your thoughts?
        Enjoy!!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating





    Sign up to receive weekly recipe ideas to your inbox
    [mc4wp_form id="3110"]
    Many thanks,
    Kay & Luke
    Flawless Food