Vivian’s Tomato Pie
Tomato Pie must be a southern thing. It wasn’t until I read the recipe in Deep Run Roots by Southern Chef, Vivian Howard that I had ever heard of it.
The pie consists of roasted and fresh tomatoes. I used several varieties of heirloom tomatoes to give contrast in texture and taste. We are right in the middle of tomato season, here Indiana, so I had a lot to choose from when I was selecting my tomatoes.
Vivian's Tomato Pie
This pie is summer in a plate! Roasted tomatoes mixed with fresh creates a deep tangy base that mixed with creamy cheese and herbs, this will become a family favorite.
Ingredients
Pie Crust
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 6 tbsp cold butter cut into 1-2-inch pieces
- 2 tbsp+1/2 ice-cold water
- 1/2 tsp white vinegar
the filling
- 3 1/2 lbs vine-ripe tomatoes (about 12), cored, seeded, and cut into 1-2-inch dice, divided
- 2 tsp salt, divided
- 1 tsp sugar, divided
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced with the grain
- 1 tsp thyme
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup packed whole basil leaves
the topping
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup grated fontina
- 1/3 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 2 large Roma or heirloom tomatoes, thinly sliced and blotted dry with paper towels
Instructions
the crust
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Place the flour, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium for a few seconds. Begin adding the butter one cube at a time. Continue until the flour is speckled and crumbly, about 4 minutes. With the mixer still running, add the water and vinegar until just combined. Do not over mix. Press the dough into a 6-inch disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator overnight. Bring the crust to room temperature and lightly butter a 10-inch metal pie pan. Preheat the oven to 400°. Dust your counter and rolling pin lightly with flour and roll the crust slightly larger than your pan. Lay the crust in the pan and press gently into its edges. Cut off the edges that hang over and discard. Freeze for at least 15 minutes or until you're ready to blind-bake.
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Lay foil or parchment paper on top of the crust and weigh that down with dried beans or rice. Blind-bake the shell for 30 minutes. Remove the pie weights and foil or parchment and bake 5 minutes more. Set the cooked crust aside as you prepare the filling.
the filling
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Toss half of the diced tomatoes with 1?2 teaspoon salt and 1?2 teaspoon sugar. Set them over a colander to drain while you get everything else ready, at least an hour.
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Preheat your oven to 375°. In a medium sauté pan or skillet, melt the butter and then add the onion and 1?2 teaspoon salt. Cook over medium-low heat until deeply caramelized. This will take about 45 minutes. If the onion gets away from you and burns a little, add 1?4 cup of water to the pan, scrape up the over-browned bits, and keep going. In the end, you have a scant 2/3 cup caramelized onion.
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Toss the remaining diced tomatoes with 1?2 teaspoon salt, thyme, and olive oil. Spread in a single layer on a sheet tray with as much room separating the individual pieces as possible. Slide the tray onto the middle rack of your oven and roast for 30-35 minutes. You're looking for the tomatoes to dry out and brown slightly.
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Once all the individual components are done, stir together the onion, the fresh and roasted diced tomatoes, the remaining salt, sugar, black pepper, and basil.
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In a separate, smaller bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, fontina, and Parmigiano. Spoon the filling into your blind-baked crust. Top with the cheese mixture and tomato slices. Bake in the middle of your oven for 30 minutes. You can serve this warm or at room temperature.
the topping
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in a separate, smaller bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, fontina, and Parmigiano. Spoon the filling into your blind-baked crust. Top with the cheese mixture and tomato slices. Bake in the middle of your oven for 30 minutes. You can serve this warm or at room temperature.