There are tons of sweet pie fillings out there, but what about savory? That flaky buttery crust goes perfectly with your entree, too, especially using seasonal tomatoes. I used fresh mini heirloom tomatoes for this rustic pie (or galette if you want to make rustic sound fancy), and the result is a savory delight. There’s corn for crunch, softened onions for another flavor dimension, and two kinds of cheese. It was messy, delicious and quickly gobbled up. I already know I’m making at least once more before tomato season is over. Enjoy and happy baking!
Rustic Tomato Pie Adapted from a recipe from Smitten Kitchen 2 to 4 servings
1 small onion, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
3 cups small fresh tomatoes
¼ tsp. kosher salt
½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper or red pepper flakes
1 Tbsp. dried thyme
¾ cup corn
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 Pie Crust (recipe follows)
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp. mayonnaise
¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese, plus more for sprinkling
¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese, plus more for sprinkling
Handful fresh basil, chopped
1 egg, beaten
• In a large pan over medium heat, cook the onions with 1 tablespoon olive oil, stirring every so often until soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Pour into a bowl and set aside.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, tomatoes, salt, pepper and thyme to the same pan over high heat. Cover and let cook, shaking the pan occasionally to roll the tomatoes around so they cook evenly. They will burst and pop in 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the lid, reduce the heat to medium, and add the corn and softened onions. Season to taste with salt and pepper and let cool to room temperature.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Roll 1 pie crust out on a lightly floured surface to a rough 12-inch round. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush the crust with the Dijon mustard and mayonnaise. Sprinkle the cheddar cheese onto the crust.
• Sprinkle the tomato mixture with Parmesan cheese, then spoon the tomato mixture on top of the cheddar in the center of the circle, leaving a 2-inch border all the way around. Fold the edges up around the filling, pleating as needed. The center of the pie should remain open.
• Brush the crust with the egg and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until puffed and golden-brown. Remove and sprinkled with the basil. Let stand 5 minutes, then transfer onto a serving plate. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature.
Pie Crust Adapted from a recipe from SmittenKitchen.com Makes 1 double- or 2 single-crust pies
2½ cups flour
1 Tbsp. sugar
½ tsp. salt
2 sticks (8 oz.) butter, cubed and chilled
¾ cup ice cold water
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar and salt.
• Sprinkle the butter over the flour mixture. Use a pastry blender or your hands to mix together until the pieces of butter are the size of small peas.
• Drizzle half of the ice water over the mixture, and use a rubber spatula to gather the dough together. Add more ice water 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough comes together in a ball.
• Divide the dough in half and flatten into a thick disc. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap, and let chill for at least 1 hour. Dough will keep refrigerated up to 3 days; freeze to use later.
This article appears in August 2014.
