Helvetic Kitchen

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Jägerpiester

Remember about seven years ago when we all bought those IKEA cookie cutters that were shaped like forest animals? Well, here's your chance to use them. 

The supermarkets in Switzerland are currently filled with these packages of Pfeffer, or marinated game. Often you can get them for a very good price, and pie is an exceedingly easy way to take advantage, especially if you don't have time to make all the parts of the Wild plate. Decorate the lid with some forest animals and you have a Jäger's, or Hunter's pie. 


A double recipe of Kuchenteig, or about 500 g of ready made dough

2 packages (circa 700 g) Reh, Hirsch etc. Pfeffer, or a double recipe of Rehpfeffer

2 tbsp cranberry sauce


Preheat oven to 200 C / 400 F / gas mark 6

Roll out half of the dough and cover the bottom of a 24 cm / 9 inch pie plate. 

Spread some cranberry sauce over the dough, then carefully spoon in the pfeffer.

Roll out a quarter of the remaining dough to make a thin lid for the pie, then carefully cover the pie, pressing down the edges. 

Now, roll out the remaining dough and cut out animal shapes, then arrange them on the top of the pie.

If desired, brush with egg yolk for a nice sheen.

Bake 45-50 minutes, until it is golden brown. 


  • This recipe makes a large pie, but if you'd like to make it for two, just use a single recipe of the dough, a single package of meat and a 6 inch / 15 cm tart or pie pan.

  • There will probably be some leftover dough. Roll it out and cut out some additional forest creatures. Place them on a baking sheet, brush with some egg (if desired) and bake for about 15 minutes or until golden.

  • Reindeer and easter bunnies also make excellent decorations.