Food Network Magazine (November 2016)
If there was a sleeper hit at this year's Fakesgiving dinner, it may have been this pie.
We'd chosen it because we really liked the idea of a chestnut dessert. We've made chestnut soup a couple times, but we couldn't ever remember seeing a chestnut pie before.
We were intrigued! But once we made it, we were kind of the opposite.
We were untrigued.
Despite the chestnuts, we were worried that the finished pie filling seemed to taste just like bland, sweet vanilla. We predicted this pie would be a total snooze, and the least-favorite dessert among our guests.
Shows what we know! Several people actually raved about this, and told us it was the best dessert of the day!
And once we actually ate some, it's hard not to agree. This pie ended up having a lovely sweet, nutty taste. It's mild, to be sure. But it's really quite nice. This would make a great substitute for pumpkin pie, and would be especially good if you're also serving another dessert that's heavier or has a stronger flavor, like that German Chocolate-Pecan Pie.
Have you ever had a Chestnut Pie before? This this one might show up on your Thanksgiving table next week?
- 2016's biggest Thanksgiving food trends
- The comprehensive 2016 Thanksgiving index -- every recipe from every magazine
Chestnut Meringue Pie
Food Network Magazine (November 2016)
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(This photo: Ryan Liebe for Food Network Magazine)
Prep time: 40 mins | Total time: 3 hours 5 mins
Serves 8
INGREDIENTS
For the crust:
3/4 teaspoon fennel seeds (optional)
8 ounces shortbread cookies (such as Lorna Doone; about 30 cookies)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the filling:
1 1/2 cups peeled roasted chestnuts (sold in bags or jars)
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped out
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 large eggs
For the meringue:
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Pinch of salt
4 large egg whites
DIRECTIONS
Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Toast the fennel seeds in a small dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Pulse the cookies in a food processor until finely ground. Add the fennel seeds and melted butter; pulse until moistened. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom and up the side of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake until lightly browned and set, about 8 minutes; let cool completely.
Make the filling: Combine the chestnuts, sugar, 1 cup heavy cream and the vanilla seeds and pod in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the cream is very thick and the chestnuts are softened, 25 to 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat; cook until it smells nutty and is golden brown, about 4 minutes. Discard the vanilla pod from the chestnut mixture; transfer the mixture to a food processor, add the browned butter and process until smooth. With the machine running, slowly add the remaining 1 1/2 cups heavy cream and the eggs; process until combined. Let stand until thickened and cooled, about 1 hour.
Carefully pour the filling into the crust (it will be full). Bake at 350 degrees F until the filling is set, about 45 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.
Make the meringue: Bring a few inches of water to a boil in a large saucepan. Whisk the sugar, cream of tartar, salt and egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer. Set the bowl over the boiling water (don't let the bowl touch the water); continue whisking until the mixture is hot (135 degrees F) and the sugar dissolves, 2 to 3 minutes.
Transfer the bowl to the stand mixer; beat with the whisk attachment on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Increase the speed to high and beat until stiff, thick and glossy, 2 to 3 more minutes. Spread the meringue on top of the pie. Toast with a kitchen torch.
