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{{Short description|Meat pie from Louisiana, United States}}
{{Infobox prepared food
| name             = Natchitoches meat pie
| image            = Natchitoches-meatpies-and-beans-rice.jpg
| image_size       = 250px
| caption          = Natchitoches meat pie with New Orleans [[Red beans and rice|beans and rice]]
| alternate_name   = 
| country          = [[United States]]
| region           = [[Louisiana]]
| creator          = 
| course           = 
| type             = [[Pie]]
| served           =

| main_ingredient  = Pie shell, ground [[beef]], ground [[pork]], [[onion]]s, [[Capsicum|peppers]], [[garlic]], [[oil]]
| variations       = 
| calories         = 
| other            = 
}}

The '''Natchitoches meat pie''' is a regional [[meat pie]] from northern [[Louisiana]], in the United States. It is one of the [[List of U.S. state foods#Louisiana|official state foods of Louisiana]].<ref>Laws of Louisiana, LL 170.9, 2003.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=USA |first=State Symbols |date=2014-06-02 |title=Louisiana State Meat Pie {{!}} Natchitoches Meat Pie |url=https://statesymbolsusa.org/symbol-official-item/louisiana/state-food-agriculture-symbol/natchitoches-meat-pie |access-date=2025-06-11 |website=statesymbolsusa.org |language=en}}</ref>

==Ingredients==
Ingredients include ground [[beef]], ground [[pork]], [[onion]]s, [[Capsicum|peppers]], [[garlic]], [[oil]], and a pie shell. Natchitoches meat pies are often fried in [[peanut oil]] because of that oil's high [[Smoke point|smoking temperature]]. A number of restaurants in the historic district in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]] serve meat pies, and frozen pies are available from grocers in northern Louisiana.

It has a savory meat filling in a crescent-shaped, flaky wheat pastry turnover. It is similar to a Spanish [[picadillo]] beef [[empanada]]. Varieties are found throughout the colonies of the [[Spanish Empire]].

The meat pie is found throughout Louisiana, including southern Louisiana which tends to have a spicier version compared to its northern counterpart, but its origins are found to be from Northern Louisiana.  Although found in Greater New Orleans today, ''The Picayune's Creole Cook Book'' published in 1901 by ''[[The Times Picayune]]'' of New Orleans does not contain a recipe for a Natchitoches style meat pie in its list of over 1,000 recipes. Natchitoches meat pies are found in other parts of Southern Louisiana as well as sold at food booths at the [[New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival]], and seems to have spread south from Northern Louisiana.

The use of wheat flour as an ingredient is significant.{{cn|date=September 2020}} Corn is grown locally. It is a staple of both Spanish and Native American food. Wheat is difficult to grow in this wet, warm climate. Mexican wheat flour<ref>{{cite web|url=http://inside.sfuhs.org/dept/history/Mexicoreader/Chapter2/conquestsofwheat.pd|title=Report|website=inside.sfuhs.org}}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> could have been imported initially by annual supply convoy over [[El Camino Real de los Tejas]] (a portion later became The [[Old San Antonio Road]]) or sourced from Europe via the French port on the [[Red River of the South|Red River]] at [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]].

==Modern recipe==
In the modern recipe, ground pork or pork sausage is blended into the ground beef for additional flavor.  [[Onions]], [[bell pepper]] and when used [[garlic]] and [[parsley]] provide aromatics. Ground [[black pepper]] and [[cayenne pepper]] are added as well. Flour is added to the browned meat and vegetable mixture to dry, thicken and loosely bind the filling. The meat filling can be used in other foods (such as tacos and tamales, among others) but the wheat turnover crust is a defining element. The traditional size is approximately 4 ounces (by weight) on a 5"-6" diameter pastry dough (with the dough circles being cut, traditionally, using an empty coffee can). The filling should be made the day before to allow the flavors of the ingredients to meld. Filling, dough and tools should be chilled before assembly. Warm filling will cause the dough to disintegrate.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

In the first part of the 20th century, meat pies were sold from home kitchens or from carts by street vendors. By 1967, Natchitoches meat pies were produced in commercial kitchens.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ktbs.com/story/25966926/natchitoches-meat-pie-to-be-featured-in-new-tv-series |title=Natchitoches Meat Pie to be featured in new TV series &#124; News |publisher=ktbs.com |date=2014-07-08 |access-date=2018-01-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://lasyones.com/ |title=Lasyone's Meat Pie Restaurant |publisher=Lasyones.com |access-date=2018-01-29}}</ref> Now, they may be ordered online.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.natchitochesmeatpies.com |title=Natchitoches Meat Pies & Empanadas |publisher=Natchitochesmeatpies.com |access-date=2018-01-29}}</ref>

[[Louisiana Public Broadcasting]] aired a program January 20, 2007, describing how to make Natchitoches meat pies. It is available on DVD entitled "A Taste of Louisiana with Chef [[John Folse]] & Company:  Our Food Heritage - The Spanish Shows". An annual Meat Pie Festival, held in September, celebrates the Natchitoches meat pie.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.natchitoches.net/events-and-festivals/natchitoches-meat-pie-festival |title=Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival in Natchitoches Louisiana |publisher=Natchitoches.net |access-date=2018-01-29}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Crawfish pie]]
* [[List of regional dishes of the United States]]
* [[Pistolette]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.natchitoches.net/events-and-festivals/natchitoches-meat-pie-festival/ Meat Pie Festival page] at Natchitoches online city guide
* [http://www.natchitoches.net/events-and-festivals/natchitoches-meat-pie-festival/meat-pie-recipe/  Official recipe] at Natchitoches online city guide
* [http://www.crt.state.la.us/louisiana-state-parks/historic-sites/los-adaes-state-historic-site/index Los Adaes State Historic Site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512005123/http://www.crt.state.la.us/louisiana-state-parks/historic-sites/los-adaes-state-historic-site/index |date=2015-05-12 }}
* [http://www.crt.state.la.us/dataprojects/archaeology/LosAdaes State of Louisiana Los Adaes Site Explorer]
* [http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/adaes/index.html Los Adaes at Texas Beyond History]
* {{cite Handbook of Texas |id=qfc02 |title=Chicken War}}
* {{cite Handbook of Texas |id=azr03 |title=Ranching in Spanish Texas}}
* [http://www.canerivernha.org/ Cane River Heritage Area]
* [http://adaicaddoindiannation.com Adai Caddo Indian Nation]
{{Nachitoches, Louisiana}}
{{American pies}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Natchitoches Meat Pie}}
[[Category:American pies]]
[[Category:Louisiana cuisine]]
[[Category:Savoury pies]]
[[Category:Natchitoches, Louisiana|Meat pie]]
[[Category:Deep fried foods]]
[[Category:American beef dishes]]
[[Category:American pork dishes]]
[[Category:Spanish-American culture in Louisiana]]