"Most accounts of homity place its origins in the privations of World War II when the German blockade of Britain cut off the supply of imported foodstuffs, forcing the British Government to institute a strict system of rationing. But while these restrictions applied to staples such as meat, butter, eggs, and milk, rationing did not cover fruit and vegetables, meaning recipes such as homity pie remained viable."
"Simple, rustic, but undeniably hearty, homity pie traditionally features potatoes, leeks, onion, garlic, and perhaps some mushrooms or peas. Once cooked, these ingredients are combined with milk or cream and used to fill an open-faced pie of shortcrust pastry, before being topped with cheese -- which would have been the most prized ingredient during rationing -- and baked until gooey and golden-brown."
Homity pie originated in Britain during World War II when German blockades and food rationing limited access to imported staples but left fruit and vegetables un-rationed, encouraging vegetable-based dishes. The pie combines potatoes, leeks, onion, garlic and sometimes mushrooms or peas with milk or cream, filled into an open-faced shortcrust pastry and topped with cheese before baking until gooey and golden-brown. Cheese was a prized wartime ingredient. The dish saw renewed popularity in the 1960s through Cranks, a vegetarian chain, and remains flexible, allowing additions like Gruyere or bacon.
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