"Karjalanpiirakka" (Like Rice Pie)

*** Note the pressed indented ridges are done by the backside of a spoon ... Just press the dough prior to going into oven, to form ridges as if making a seal ...

The appetiser in the photo resembles " Empanadas " which are quite similar in appearance, however, stuffed with a variety of interiors ... ( Argentina, Mexico and Spain, amongst other countries in Central and South America ) ... Each country referenced prepares their dough differently however, some making their empanadas with a crispy type finish and others with a softer texture and still others with an egg brushed finish. In Galicia, Spain there is Empanada Gallega, which is filled with tuna, onion, tomato sauce and herbs. In Buenos Aries, many of these pastry filled empanadas are filled with ground beef and a combination of vegetables or ground beef and chili peppers. The art of wrapping food hails from  the Greeks who have been filling their spinach pies and grape leaves since time memorial. Though I have never been to Russia, in N.Y.C. I had some type of potato filled dumplings at the Russian Tea Room Restaurant --- and  in Stockholm, Sweden where my maternal aunt had resided many years, I had eaten herring in cream, which filled pastry boats. 

Another culture which is quite well known for an empanada type pastry is India, and a well known one is  called a Samosa, and moreover, there is another one, filled with cheese, called Paneer however,  Could be the Portuguese as they are quite astute with their baking rituals and had travelled to Goa, India and the East Indies --- and thus, other parts of Asia. China´s Dim Sim though not a pastry, is a dumpling filled with stuffings and what they call Chinese Bread, also is sort of on this " dough " creation  with fillings. Globalisation.  

Margcata.   

In shape they resemble some versions of Cornish pasties - but they  are traditionally filled with beef, onion, potato and Swede (rutabaga). Cornish miners exported their dish to various South American countries where they mined and in the USA, too (I think Michigan and other areas), and the fillings changed to reflect the differing cuisines in the countries.

Filled pastries had derived from India and Central Asia in the 10th century, thus, Marco Polo ( 1250 ), The Portuguese via Vasco di Gama and the Spaniards, especially the Galicians  brought them over to Argentina and Central America ... Globalisation. Since Finland borders Russia on the east, and they have a potato filled pastry called Perogins, they are literally known world wide --- each country adopting their own style of dough and products to fill the pastries. British Guyana, South America could certainly had been an influence in reference to Cornish Pasties.   

I think trying to trace the origins of filled pastries makes as much sense as tracing the origins of bread.  People had grain, ground it, mixed with water and baked it.  Probably it was done all over the world at the same time.  Same with filled pastries.  We don't need to trace them to china, i'm sure they were everywhere. 

Even the marco polo story of pasta being brought by him to italy is clearly false, since there is a recipe (written) for pasta in a medieval cookbook that pre-dates Marco Polo.  What did we expect - some people kneaded flour and water and baked it, others tossed it in boiling water! 

It's interesting, fts, that this resembles a rice pie made in the area near Lucca where my parents come from - the filling is almost the same, the crust slightly different, and the form was more of an open-faced pie.  But i bet it tastes similar. 

You are right, Siduri.  Mind you, I would find it EXTREMELY hard to believe that Cornish housewives were influenced by south America, considering how long pasties have been eaten, to almost the same recipe.....! 

Egypt is key historic culture in ref to proven evidence, that empanadas or pastry filled patties or pies stuffed with veg. and meat or game etcetra, and then the Greeks and Romans, thus, Spain bringing to Las Americas and the Romans probably through Europe ...