Savory Pie Ala Martha Stewart Recipes

PERFECT PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Cut each stick of butter into 8 pieces, and refrigerate until needed. Place the flour, salt, and sugar in a large mixing bowl, and mix to combine.
• Add the chilled butter. Using a pastry blender, incorporate the butter into the flour mixture; the mixture should resemble coarse meal with small pieces of butter, the size of small peas, remaining visible.
• Drizzle 2 tablespoons ice water over the flour-butter mixture, and blend. Repeat with an additional 2 tablespoons water. At this point, you may have to add more water: When a handful of dough squeezed together just holds its shape, you've added enough; if the dough crumbles, continue incorporating water, 1 tablespoon at a time, checking the consistency after each additional tablespoon.
• Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface. Divide into two equal pieces, and place on two separate sheets of plastic wrap. Flatten, and form two disks. Wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Lightly dust a clean, dry work surface with flour. Place the chilled dough in the center of the work surface, and dust the dough as well as the rolling pin with flour. Position the rolling pin on the center of the disk, and begin rolling the dough away from you. Give the disk a quarter turn, and roll again. Continue turning and rolling until you have an even 1/8-inch thickness. Turning the dough as you roll will prevent it from sticking to the work surface. A dry pastry brush is handy to remove any excess flour during and after the rolling process.
• Lightly butter the pie plate. To minimize stretching when moving the dough, roll it around the pin, lift up, and unroll over the buttered pie plate. Using your fingers, gently pat the dough into place. Trim any excess dough with a paring knife or kitchen shears, leaving a 1-inch overhang; then fold dough under to reinforce the edge.

ALSATIAN POTATO PIE

Steps:

• Cover potatoes with water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add a pinch of salt; cook until just tender, 13 to 15 minutes. Drain. Let cool.
• Bring 3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons cream, garlic, and nutmeg to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook until mixture is reduced by half. Season with salt and pepper.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add leek; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in parsley; season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat oven to 400°. Whisk egg yolk and remaining 1 table- spoon cream in a small bowl; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, divide puff pastry into two 6-by-13-inch rectangles. Set one rectangle on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Top with half of potatoes, leaving a 1/2-inch border all around and overlapping slightly, then half of leek mixture and 3/4 cup cheese; season with salt and pepper. Repeat layering with remaining potatoes, leek mixture, and cheese. Brush edges of pastry with egg wash. Cover with remaining pastry rectangle; gently press edges with a fork to seal. Cut 2-inch slits lengthwise in center of crust, 2 inches apart. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with parsley sprigs. Refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
• Bake until golden brown and puffy, about 35 minutes. Remove from oven; pour cream mixture into pie vents with a funnel. Bake 10 minutes more. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

EASTER PIE

Steps:

• Line a 9-inch square cake pan with parchment paper, leaving a 1-inch overhang on two sides. On a nonstick baking mat or lightly floured piece of parchment paper, roll out one piece of dough to a 14-inch square, about 1/8 inch thick. With a dry pastry brush, sweep off excess flour; fit dough into the prepared pan, pressing into corners. Prick the bottom of the dough all over with a fork. Roll out the remaining dough in the same manner and, using a pastry wheel, cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips. Transfer dough strips (on parchment) to a baking sheet. Chill pie shell and dough strips until firm, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Line the chilled pie shell with parchment paper, leaving a 1-inch overhang; fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the edges just begin to turn golden, about 15 minutes; remove parchment and weights. Return to oven; continue baking until the edges turn light golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium heat; add spinach and cook until just wilted. Drain spinach on paper towels, then finely chop (for about 4 cups).
• In a medium bowl, combine spinach, ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, prosciutto, the whole egg, 1 egg yolk, salt, and nutmeg. Spread evenly into cooled pie shell. Weave dough strips on top to form a lattice. Using kitchen shears, trim dough flush with the top of the pan. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining egg yolk and the cream; brush egg wash over the lattice top and the edge of the pie shell.
• Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until crust is golden brown, about 45 minutes (if edges or top of crust browns too quickly, loosely cover with aluminum foil.) Cool slightly on a wire rack. Using parchment paper overhang, gently lift pie out of pan. Serve warm or at room temperature. The pie is best eaten the same day it is baked, but it can be kept, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.