Cheesy Creole Tomato Pie Recipes

CHEESY SPAGHETTI PIE WITH MEAT SAUCE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 425˚ F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Brush the bottom and sides of a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate with olive oil.
• Add the spaghetti to the boiling water and cook as the label directs for al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain the spaghetti and shake the colander to remove the excess water. Put the spaghetti in a large bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt. Add the beaten eggs and 1/2 cup Parmesan, then toss.
• While the spaghetti cooks, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and zucchini and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until softened, 1 more minute. Crumble in the beef, season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the oregano and red pepper flakes, then clear a spot in the center of the skillet and add the tomato paste. Let it toast for 30 seconds, then stir into the beef mixture. Add the tomato sauce, 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water and 1/4 teaspoon salt, then bring to a simmer and cook until very thick, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with more salt to taste.
• To assemble the pie, transfer the spaghetti mixture to the pie plate and press to form a crust with a flat bottom and slightly higher sides. Spread the ricotta in the spaghetti crust, leaving a border around the edges. Spoon the meat sauce on top, then sprinkle with the mozzarella and the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan. Bake until the bottom and sides of the pie are golden and the cheese is browned, about 25 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 5 minutes before slicing.

CHEESY VIDALIA ONION AND TOMATO PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Roll out the pie crust on a lightly floured surface to fit a deep 9 or 10-inch pie pan. Place the pastry in the pie pan and crimp edges decoratively. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes, then line with aluminum foil. Fill with pie weights and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until lightly golden around the edges. Remove foil and pie weights, and return to the oven for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack to cool. Crack the egg in a small bowl, reserving yolk for the filling, separately. Lightly beat the egg white with a fork, then brush the surface of pie crust with a light coating of egg white and allow to cool.
• Slice the tomatoes, discarding the stem and root ends, into 1/4-inch slices and lightly season with the salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle about 1/3 of the bread crumbs in the bottom of the pie crust. In a small bowl combine the mayonnaise with the reserved egg yolk and stir until smooth. Place a layer of tomatoes in the bottom of the piecrust over the breadcrumbs, using about half of the tomatoes, then top with half of the sliced onions. Drizzle with half of the mayonnaise mixture, half of the thyme and basil, half of the fontina and half of the mozzarella cheeses. Top with half of the remaining breadcrumbs then top with the remaining tomato slices, remaining onions, remaining fontina and mozzarella, remaining mayonnaise mixture, and remaining thyme and basil. Top with the remaining bread crumbs and drizzle with the olive oil. cover with the Parmesan cheese, place in the oven and bake until bubbly hot and golden brown, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• 2 teaspoons Essence, recipe follows
• In the bowl of a food processor combine flour, Essence, salt, and butter and process until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. While the motor is running, add water in increments until dough comes together to form a ball. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and shape into a flat disc. Refrigerate overnight or at least one hour.
• Remove from refrigerator and roll out on a lightly floured surface to desired shape and thickness.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, Published by William Morrow, 1993.

TWO-CHEESE TOMATO PIE

Steps:

• Line unpricked pastry shell with a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Bake at 450° for 8 minutes. Remove foil; bake 5 minutes longer. , Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute onion in butter until tender. Stir in flour. Gradually add tomatoes. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add Italian seasoning and salt. Spoon into crust. , In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise and cheeses. Spread over tomato layer. Bake at 350° for 18-25 minutes until cheese is browned and bubbly.

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 WITH PIMENTO CHEESE TOPPING

Steps:

• Make the dough: In a food processor fitted with the metal blade, combine the flour and salt. Add the butter. Process until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal, 8 to 10 seconds. Add the egg yolks and pulse until just combined. Pulse in 5 to 6 tablespoons ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, just until the mixture holds together as a soft dough, not crumbly or sticky. Use your hands to shape into a 1-inch-thick disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes (or longer, if desired).
• Lightly flour a clean work surface and rolling pin. Unwrap and roll out the dough, starting in the center and rolling up to, but not over, the top edge of the dough. Return to the center, and roll down to, but not over, the bottom edge. Give the dough a quarter turn, and continue rolling, repeating the turns until you have a circle about 1/8-inch thick.
• Transfer to a 9-inch pie pan, being careful not to stretch or pull the dough. Cut away any excess dough, leaving enough to make a thick edge around the rim. Tuck the edges under, press together and, if desired, crimp the edge. Chill until firm, at least 30 minutes.
• Bake the crust: Heat oven to 425 degrees. Prick the bottom of the dough lightly all over with a fork. Line the dough with parchment paper and fill with pie weights, dried beans or uncooked rice, enough to come halfway up the sides of the pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and remove the paper and weights. Set crust aside to cool to room temperature.
• Meanwhile, line a rimmed baking sheet with paper towels. Using a serrated knife, core the tomatoes and slice them 1/4 inch thick. Place a layer of tomato slices on the baking sheet and sprinkle lightly with kosher salt. Top with more paper towels and repeat with remaining tomatoes. Set aside for at least 30 minutes.
• If using bacon, place in a medium skillet over medium heat, and cook until just crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Pour off all but about 1 tablespoon of the rendered fat from the pan (discard the fat or reserve it for another use). Or, skip the bacon and start the next step with 1 tablespoon olive oil in the pan.
• Heat the bacon fat or olive oil over medium heat, then add onions and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring often, until lightly caramelized and golden brown, about 20 minutes. (Don't rush this process: the onions should not be white or crunchy.)
• Assemble the pie: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Pat half the tomatoes dry with paper towels and arrange closely in the pie crust. Add half the onions, bacon and herbs. Season with salt and pepper. Repeat with remaining tomatoes, onions, bacon and herbs.
• In a bowl, combine the cheese, mayonnaise and pimento very well. Gently spread the mixture on top of the pie. Bake for 30 minutes, or until lightly browned. Transfer to a wire rack to cool at least 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, slicing with a serrated knife.

BEST TOMATO PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Press pie crust into a 9-inch pan or glass pie plate; fold excess dough under and press to form a thick edge. Cover edges with foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until light brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese over the bottom. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Drain tomato wedges in a colander or on paper towels. Arrange tomato wedges in the pie shell. Sprinkle basil and garlic on top.
• Combine remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Spread evenly over tomatoes; do not spread onto crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden and bubbly, 35 to 40 minutes. Cover edges with a ring of foil to keep from overcooking if needed. Garnish pie with whole basil leaves and serve warm.