If there is one British dish that is known for being an all round crowd pleaser, it's a tasty pie.
Whether it be filled with chunks of chicken, steak, or vegetables, us Brits just can't get enough of a good pie when we are in need of something warm and comforting for dinner.
Last week was British National Pie Week, meaning it was the perfect opportunity to indulge in one of our most beloved dishes without feeling guilty.
Which is exactly why North Wales Live reporter Harri Evans decided to try and find the best pie by testing five supermarket options and pitting them against a brand-leader.
Picking up steak and steak & ale pies from Aldi, Lidl, M&S, Tesco, Morrisons and Pukka, the reporter decided to dig in to find out which one would officially take the crown.
Here is what he had to say for every pie tested.
Tesco
Price: £3.60 for 500g
Starting out with Tesco, the reporter had to begin the pie test with the supermarket's large 500g Steak and Ale Pie with puff pastry that serves up to three people, as there were no smaller pies available.
After being in the oven for 30 minutes the pie "looked quite appeasing, with a sheen on the top and the pastry having turned a nice golden brown." However, it seemed there were a few disappointments, despite an encouraging start.
To begin, the short crust pastry was a a bit tough, as Harri said: "I would have been better placed had I gone to the shed to pick up something a bit more heavy duty as the shortcrust casing was so tough and unyielding it felt like I was sawing through plywood."
Despite being encouraged by large amounts of steak that were large and not overly-chewy, the pie was found to be "a bland affair overall", as it lacked flavour, which even the steak could not make up for.
Harri said: "Vague traces of the ale would surface with the odd bite as if to meekly remind me that I was actually tucking into a steak and ale pie, but this was barely perceptible most of the time and didn't make the pie any less bland.
"And despite being twice the size of any other pie in this comparison, it wasn't actually that filling in the end as I was forced to cast aside most of the pastry because it tasted like cardboard. A very underwhelming offering from Tesco."
Rating: 3/10
M&S
£3 for 200g
After the underwhelming offer from Tesco, the next up on the list was M&S' Classic Steak and Ale Pie which lived up to the retailer's premium price-tag by being the most expensive option.
The supermarket's pie offering came in a less flashy packaging compared to some others, which seemed to have worked in its favour, as the reporter found it to be "satisfying."
Relieved to find that his knife managed to slide through the pastry easier than Tesco's option, Harri found that the puff pastry top and the shortcrust casing blended well with the contents of the pie as well.
Speaking of the M&S pie, he said: "The chunks of beef in this pies were slightly smaller than the others I tried, but there was still plenty there and it melted in the mouth. The IPA infused gravy was rich but not too rich. Overall a very satisfying option, though at double the price of some of the other pies tested, a luxury one at that."
Rating: 7/10
Morrisons
£1.25 for 200g
Following on from the most expensive option was Morrisons Steak Pie which was the cheapest of the list - but not as good as M&S' pricier option.
From the box, the pie did not look to be the most appetising out of the bunch and, after 25 minutes in the oven, didn't seem to look any more appetising.
Described as a "no-nonsense pie", Morrisons Steak Pie was found to just have shortcrust pastry, with no puff pastry lid or seasoning at all. That being said, it was still found to be easier to cut into than Tesco's tough pastry.
Nevertheless, Morrisons pie "fell a bit flat" and was "another bland offering" with the flavours being quickly washed away with each bite. Harri said: "There was a bit more to it than the Tesco pie, however, and at just £1.25 it can be considered a solid but unspectacular option.
6/10.
Lidl
£2.49 for 250g
Lidl's Deluxe Steak and Ale pie lived up the supermarket's reputation of providing top-quality food for less, as it was found to have a lot more flavour than the previous offerings.
The puff pastry was found to be the "puffiest pastry of all the pies tested" - not to mention that it was sprinkled with pepper that was found to add to the flavour.
Despite the gravy being that bit more rich than all of the others, the test "never strayed too far away from what you'd expect from a standard steak and ale pie."
Harri said: "Along with the steak chunks, there were also slices of onion which sweetened the taste of the pie overall without overpowering the steak and ale. Definitely lived up to its billing as a more luxurious option and had the best pastry of all the pies we tested. At £2.49 a reasonable gourmet option for the more discerning pie eater."
Rating: 8/10
Aldi
£2.49 for 250g
Next up was Lidl's fellow German rival, Aldi, with its Specially Selected Gastro Steak Pie which had diced beef, gravy, smoked bacon and caramelised onions.
Found to be the sweetest pie so far, Aldi's pie also had the richest and most fragrant gravy "by some distance" compared to all the rest tried. The supermarket's pie also came with a wine pairing suggestion on the back, meaning it was really going that extra mile for its customers.
Speaking of Aldi's pie, Harri said: "The pastry itself combined well with the contents of the pie and the sprinkling of thyme on the lid was a nice touch as well. A more complex and richer steak pie than any of the others on the list, and a very satisfying offering by Aldi here overall."
Rating: 8/10
Pukka
£1.50 for 200g
Last, but certainly not least, was Pukka's All Steak Pie, which has been loved by pie lovers all across the nation.
As the second cheapest option on the list, the reporter didn't know if the bar was set too high by the previous gourmet offerings from Aldi and Lidl, but it looks like you can't beat a classic, no matter how hard you try.
Harri said: "After placing it in the oven for 25 minutes, I took my first bite and felt as if I had been transported to half-time on a cold, wet, and windy Tuesday night at Stoke - as the pie was very similar to the ones served in stadiums and chippies."
Despite coming with no fancy extras, such as caramelised onions, or even wine pairings, this no-nonsense pie stood out from the rest for doing exactly what it said on the tin. The pastry also scored well and mixed in nicely with the steak and gravy.
Harri added: "This was my personal favourite overall and it gets an extra mark for value. Pukka Pies' no frills offering justifies the pie maker's position as the brand leader and just about pips it over Aldi and Lidl's pies which finish in joint-second place."
Rating: 9/10
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