Chesapeake Tomato Pie Food

THE BEST TOMATO PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350ºF and if making prepare the pie dough.
• Slice the tomatoes to about 1/4-inch in thickness and arrange them in a single layer on a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Coat the tomatoes in salt and cover again with another layer of paper towels. Let sit for 10 minutes.
• In a medium bowl combine the shredded cheese, mayonnaise, fresh basil, and spices together until mixed well. Set aside.
• Place the 9-inch pie shell into your pie dish and arrange a single layer of sliced tomatoes on the bottom. Cover the tomatoes with half of the cheese mixture and repeat this step.
• Layer the last of the tomato slices on top, overlapping is okay, and firmly press them into the pie. This helps the ingredients come together.
• Place the pie into the oven and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until the cheese begins to bubble and the crust turns a golden brown.

TOMATO PIE

Steps:

• Arrange the tomato and onion slices in a single layer on a paper towel-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with salt. Let sit for 1 to 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Fit the pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate and crimp the edges. Prick the bottom and sides with a fork. Line the crust with aluminum foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the edges of the crust are just golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the foil and weights and continue to bake until the bottom of the crust is dry and brown, another 15 to 20 minutes. Cool completely.
• Mix together the Cheddar, mozzarella and mayonnaise in a medium bowl. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few cracks of black pepper.
• Transfer the tomatoes and onions to a dry paper towel and pat dry. Liberally season the tomatoes with cracked black pepper. Arrange a third of the tomatoes in a single layer in the pie crust, overlapping slightly. Sprinkle a third of the basil over the tomatoes and top with a third of the onions. Repeat twice with the remaining tomatoes, basil and onions. Spread the mayonnaise mixture over the top of the onions.
• Bake until the topping is golden brown and bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool completely. Garnish with basil leaves. Serve at room temperature.

SOUTHERN TOMATO BASIL PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Prepare the pie crust by mixing the flour and salt in a bowl.
• Add the cold butter and shortening. Using a pastry cutter (trust me, it's worth the couple of bucks), cut the fats into the flour mixture until it resembles small peas.
• Using a tablespoon, add a little water to the flour mixture at a time, using a fork to stir everything together until the dough just comes together. It should not be smooth and soft like cookie dough, but instead a little more flaky until you squeeze it together.
• Place the dough between two pieces of plastic wrap, shaping it into a ball.
• Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a circle.
• Place in a pie dish and trim any overhanging dough, leaving a good inch around the lip. Crimp this dough and prick the bottom and sides of the pie crust.
• Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup mozzarella and place in a 450 degree F oven for 10 minutes.
• Remove from the oven to cool while you prepare the filling.
• Slice the tomatoes thin and place on a double layer of paper towels
• Lightly salt tomato slices and leave them for 10 minutes. The salt will pull out excess water which the paper towels will sop up so you don't have a wet pie.
• Combine 1/4 cup cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Sprinkle tomato slices with the garlic powder, oregano, and black pepper to taste. Layer 1/3 of the tomato slices, 1/3 of the cheese mixture, and 1/3 of the basil. Repeat layers.
• In a small bowl combine remaining 1/4 cup cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup mayonnaise. Dot over the final layer of tomatoes.
• Reduce oven heat to 350 degrees F and bake the pie uncovered for 30-35 minutes. Cool before serving.

TOMATO PIE WITH CORNMEAL CRUST

Steps:

• Make the cornmeal crust: Combine the cornmeal, flour and salt in a food processor and pulse until combined. Add the shortening and pulse until the mixture resembles small peas. Add the cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse just until the mixture comes together and forms a dough. Shape the dough into a disc, then wrap with plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• For the filling: Meanwhile, arrange the tomatoes in a single layer on paper towel-lined baking sheets. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Let stand for 30 minutes to allow the water from the tomatoes to release, then pat the tomatoes dry with paper towels.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Roll out the dough out to an 11-inch circle and fit into a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. Fold the edges under and crimp the edges. Fill the pie crust with parchment paper and pie weights or dried beans. Bake on the bottom rack until the crust is browned and crisp, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, carefully lift out the parchment and weights and let cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
• Sprinkle the tomatoes with the House Seasoning. Layer a third of the tomatoes on the bottom of the crust and sprinkle with a third of the herbs. Top with half of the onion, half of the ham and 1/3 cup Pimiento Cheese. Repeat the layers once. Top with the remaining tomatoes, herbs and remaining 1/3 cup Pimiento Cheese. Bake on the bottom rack until the pie is golden brown and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Let stand 20 minutes before slicing. Garnish with more fresh herbs, if desired.
• Stir together the garlic and onion powders, paprika, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container.
• Add the Cheddars, cream cheese, pimientos and mayo to a bowl and mix together. Add the chives, garlic powder, cayenne, smoked paprika and salt and pepper and mix until thoroughly combined.

EASY TOMATO PIE

Steps:

• Roll the pie crust into a 13-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Transfer the crust to a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan. Trim the edges so the crust hangs over the pie pan by 1/2 inch. Tuck the edges of the crust under to be even with edge of the pie pan and press all around with the tines of a fork. Place the crust in the refrigerator for 1 hour or in the freezer for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, slice the tomatoes crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Using your fingers, push out as many of the watery tomato seeds as you can. Lay the slices flat on a paper towel-lined sheet tray and sprinkle all over with the salt. Let drain for 30 minutes, then pat very dry.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• While the tomatoes are draining, in a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, whole egg, egg yolk and hot sauce, if using. Stir in the Cheddar, blue cheese, parsley, dill, black pepper and scallions.
• Sprinkle the cornmeal over the bottom of the crust. Pat the tomato slices dry once again, then place a third of the tomatoes in the bottom of the pie crust, overlapping them slightly to fit. Top with half of the mayonnaise mixture. Repeat with another layer of tomatoes and another layer of mayonnaise mixture. Place the remaining tomatoes on top, pressing the last layer gently into the mayonnaise mixture. Bake for 20 minutes.
• Remove the pie from the oven and wrap just the edges of the crust with foil to avoid burning. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F. Bake until the mayonnaise mixture is puffed and golden brown and the center is no longer wobbly, about 30 minutes more. Let cool for 1 1/2 hours.
• Top with additional herbs, if desired, then slice and serve.
• Combine the flour, shortening, butter and salt in a large bowl. Using a pastry cutter, gradually work it all together until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Beat the egg with a fork and add it to the mixture along with the vinegar. Add 5 tablespoons cold water. Stir until it comes together, adding another tablespoon or two of water if it needs the moisture.
• Form the mixture into 2 balls and wrap them in individual plastic bags. If using immediately, chill for 20 minutes in the refrigerator before rolling out. If freezing, remove from the freezer 30 minutes before you are ready to use them.

SOUTHERN TOMATO PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Fit pie crust inside a 9-inch pie plate, pressing into the bottom and up the sides of the plate. Fold crust edges under; crimp as desired. Place a piece of parchment paper over crust in pie plate, leaving a 3-inch overhang. Fill with pie weights or dried beans.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Carefully remove parchment paper and pie weights. Continue baking until crust is light golden brown, 5 to 8 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack; cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Meanwhile, slice tomatoes crosswise into 1/4-inch thick slices; arrange tomato slices in a single layer on paper towels. Sprinkle with 3/4 teaspoon of the salt; let stand for 20 minutes. Pat tomato slices dry with paper towels.
• Whisk together mayonnaise and cream cheese until combined and smooth. Fold in 1 1/4 cups Cheddar cheese, egg, flour, garlic, cayenne, black pepper, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt until combined.
• Spread half of the Cheddar mixture in the pie crust. Layer with 1/3 of the tomato slices in slightly overlapping circles. Repeat procedure with remaining Cheddar mixture and another third of tomato slices. Top with remaining tomato slices in slightly overlapping circles. Sprinkle with Parmesan and remaining 1/4 cup Cheddar cheese.
• Bake pie in the preheated oven until filling is set and lightly browned on top, 30 to 35 minutes, tenting crust with aluminum foil to prevent excess browning, if needed. Let stand for at least 30 minutes before serving. Garnish with thinly sliced basil before serving.

TOMATO PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Blind bake the pie crust, so it is not soggy.
• Place the tomatoes in a colander in the sink in 1 layer.
• Sprinkle with salt and allow to drain for 10 minutes or longer, if you don't the pie will fall apart.
• Layer the tomato slices, basil and onion in pie shell.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Combine the grated cheeses and mayonnaise together.
• Spread mixture on top of the tomatoes and bake for 30 minutes until lightly browned.
• To serve: cut into slices and serve warm.