New Orleans Mirliton Pie Food

NEW ORLEANS MIRLITON PIE

Steps:

• With shortening grease a 9 inch glass pie pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. with cheesecloth or fine strainer, strain about 7 ounces of liquid from mirliton pulp. Beat together softened butter and sugar until light and creamy. By hand, mix in bisquick, mirliton pulp and eggs. Then add cinnamon, vanilla and pecan pieces. Pour mixture into prepared pie pan and bake for 50-55 minutes, until pie is a dark golden brown on top and bottom. Pie is ready when toothpick or knife is inserted into the center and comes out clean. Serve hot or cold topped with whipped cream. Optional: add shredded coconut

SHRIMP AND MIRLITON CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the mirlitons and cook until tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove from the heat, drain, and set aside to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, combine the shrimp with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon Bayou Blast in a mixing bowl and toss to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• When the mirlitons are cool, cut them in half lengthwise, remove the seeds, peel, and coarsely chop. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onions, bell peppers, and jalapeno. Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon Bayou Blast and the thyme. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are soft and lightly golden, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes. Add the mirlitons and cook, mashing them with a potato masher, until very tender and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 30 minutes. Add the shrimp, salt, black pepper, green onions, and parsley. Cook, stirring, until the shrimp turn pink, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Add the eggs, 1 cup of the bread crumbs, and the pepper sauce. Mix well. Spoon the mixture into a 9 by 13-inch casserole dish. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top, then sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of bread crumbs. Bake until the topping is lightly browned and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Serve warm.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, published by William Morrow, 1993.

MIRLITON CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Take the mirlitons and boil until tender by sticking a sharp knife into it. If it goes in easily just as when testing a potato they are ready. Do not overcook.
• Drain and cool.
• Meanwhile, take your seasonings except for the garlic and parsley and saute until soft.
• Add shrimp and saute until pink.
• add garlic and parsley, bread crumbs, salt & pepper.
• Turn off heat.
• Take the mirlitons and cut in half lengthwise.
• Take a teaspoon and scoop out the seed and sac that surrounds it.
• Then scoop out the meat of the merliton and save it in the pan along with the dressing.
• You can use the shells to refill with the dressing if you care to. Since I usually end up tearing my shells, I usually end up using a casserole dish and adding everything into it after mixing well.
• If the mixture is dry once it is all mixed, you can add a little water or chicken broth a little at a time until it is just a tad pasty.
• Place a pat of butter on each half and bake in medium oven until browned and bubbly.
• You can make these ahead of time and freeze them.
• Take them out a day before you need them and let them thaw in the refrigerator and bake right before serving.
• For variety, you can use hot sausage out of the casing or ground meat.

MIRLITON

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add mirliton, and boil until tender, about 45 minutes. Drain, cool, and peel. Cut in half, remove seeds, and cut into cubes.
• When the mirliton are almost done, bring another pot of water to a boil. Add shrimp, and cook for about 5 minutes, until pink. Drain shrimp, reserving the water for later. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry onion and garlic in the oil until soft. Transfer to a 9x13 inch baking dish. Add the shrimp, ham, and cubed mirliton. Beat the egg in a small dish with a tablespoon of the water from the shrimp; pour into the baking dish. Mix in the bread crumbs, parsley, thyme, salt and pepper until evenly blended. If it seems a little dry, add a little more water from the shrimp. You have the choice to freeze, refrigerate, or bake at this point. Sprinkle some more breadcrumbs on top if desired.
• Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown on top.