Naples Grape Pie Recipes

NAPLES GRAPE PIE

Steps:

• Pop the skins off the grapes by pinching them at the end opposite the stem; set them aside.
• Put the pulp (without water) into a heavy pan, bring it to a boil, and let it boil 5 to 6 minutes; put it through a colander or food mill to remove the seeds.
• Pour the hot pulp over the skins and let the mixture sit for 5 hours (Irene says this colors the pulp and makes it pretty).
• Add the sugar and tapioca, then pour the mixture into the pie crust and dot with butter.
• Put on the top crust (Irene uses a"floating" top crust-a circle of dough slightly smaller than the top of the pie-because it is easier than crimping top and bottom together and it also makes a pretty purple ring around the edge).
• Bake at 400° for 15 minutes.
• Lower the temperature to 350 degrees and cook 20 minutes more until the crust is browned and the juice begins to bubble up.

CONCORD GRAPE PIE

Steps:

• On a lightly floured work surface, roll 1 piece of pate brisee into a 15-inch round. With a dry pastry brush, sweep off the excess flour; fit dough into a 9-inch pie plate, pressing it into the edges. Trim to a 1-inch overhang all around. Crimp edge as desired. Cover with plastic wrap; chill pie shell until firm, about 30 minutes. Repeat process for rolling out dough. Using a 4-inch grape leaf cookie cutter, cut out 4 leaves from dough. Transfer to a baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
• Remove skins from grapes by pinching the ends of each grape, reserving both the pulp and skins separately, discarding any accumulated liquid.
• Place pulp in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook until the seeds separate from the pulp and the pulp breaks down, about 6 minutes. Strain mixture through a sieve into the bowl with the reserved skins; discard solids. Let cool to room temperature before placing in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Remove grape mixture from refrigerator. Stir in sugar and cornstarch. Pour into prepared pie shell. Beat egg with 1 tablespoon water. Brush edge of pie shell with egg mixture, reserving any remaining mixture. Transfer pie to oven; bake 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees, and continue baking until filling jiggles when shaken, about 30 minutes. Transfer pie to a wire cooling rack; let cool overnight.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Remove reserved grape leaves from refrigerator and brush with remaining egg and water mixture. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire cooling rack; let cool.
• Before serving, place grape leaves on top of filling.

CONCORD GRAPE PIE III

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place a foil-lined sheet pan on a lower oven rack.
• Wash and stem the grapes. Squeeze the pulp out of the skins into a saucepan, saving the skins in a bowl.
• Cook the pulp in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the seeds are beginning to come out.
• Strain the pulp into the skins, using a spoon to rub the pulp off the seeds. Add sugar, flour and lemon juice.
• Fit pastry into a 9-inch pie pan. Pour filling into crust. Use remaining pastry to make a lattice top.
• Bake in the preheated oven on the sheet pan for about 50 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly.

CONCORD GRAPE PIE

Steps:

• To make the pie crust, mix together the flour and salt in a bowl. Using a pastry blender or a fork, cut in the butter and shortening until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle the water over the mixture a tablespoon at a time, mixing lightly after each addition, until the dough can be formed into a ball. Divide the dough into two pieces, form each piece into a ball, and allow them to rest for 15 minutes before rolling out.
• To make the filling, slip the skins off the grapes and reserve them. Put the grape pulp in a saucepan and simmer over medium-low heat just until soft enough to release the seeds, about 8 minutes. Push the grape pulp through a wire-mesh strainer to remove the seeds. Combine the pulp in a bowl with the reserved grape skins.
• Roll out each ball of dough on a well-floured board until they are 10 to 11 inches in diameter. Line the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan with a round of dough. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Mix the sugar, salt, and tapioca together in a bowl and spread about half of the mixture onto the bottom of the crust. Mix the remaining tapioca mixture with the grapes and add the lemon juice. Pour the pie filling into the crust and dot with the butter. Cover with the top crust and crimp the edges to seal. Bake for 10 minutes, and then lower the temperature to 350°F and bake for another 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool for 30 minutes before serving. If not serving immediately, warm the pie in an oven set on the lowest temperature for 10 minutes before serving.

CONCORD GRAPE PIE I

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place a sheet pan on the lower oven rack.
• Wash and stem grapes; squeeze grapes out of their skins. Save the skins and set aside. Place grape pulp in a large saucepan; mash a few at the bottom to release their juice. Cook over medium-low heat until grapes come to a full boil. Remove pulp from heat, and press through a food mill to remove seeds. Combine pulp and skins in a large bowl. Stir in lemon juice.
• In a separate bowl, mix sugar, flour, and salt. Stir into grape mixture. Pour filling into pastry crust, and dot with butter. Cover with second pastry shell. Flute edges, and cut little slits in the top crust for steam to escape.
• In preheated oven on sheet pan for 45 to 50 minutes, or until crust is brown and juice begins to bubble through slits in top crust. Allow to cool before serving.