Brazilian recipe
Brazilian heart of palm pie with shortcrust pastry (torta de palmito)
A traditional, savoury Brazilian pie featuring a delicate, crumbly shortcrust pastry and a creamy, flavourful heart of palm filling. It's the perfect comfort food for a light lunch, dinner, or a sophisticated snack.
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Ingredients
300g margarine or lard
500g plain flour
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 egg
Salt to taste
1 jar of hearts of palm (palmito)
1 1/2 cups milk
3 tablespoons plain flour
1/2 onion, grated
Nutmeg to taste
Pepper to taste
500g plain flour
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 egg
Salt to taste
1 jar of hearts of palm (palmito)
1 1/2 cups milk
3 tablespoons plain flour
1/2 onion, grated
Nutmeg to taste
Pepper to taste
Where to find ingredients
Margarine, plain flour, milk, onion, and eggs are staples found in any Australian supermarket or corner store.
Hearts of palm (palmito) are the key ingredient; you can typically find them in the international section of major Australian supermarkets like Woolworths or Coles, often labelled as 'hearts of palm'. Alternatively, visit local continental grocers or Latin American specialty stores.
Lard can be found in the refrigerated section of some butchers or high-end grocery stores, though high-quality butter or baking margarine are standard substitutes if preferred.
Nutmeg and black pepper are readily available in the spice aisle of any local grocery shop.
Hearts of palm (palmito) are the key ingredient; you can typically find them in the international section of major Australian supermarkets like Woolworths or Coles, often labelled as 'hearts of palm'. Alternatively, visit local continental grocers or Latin American specialty stores.
Lard can be found in the refrigerated section of some butchers or high-end grocery stores, though high-quality butter or baking margarine are standard substitutes if preferred.
Nutmeg and black pepper are readily available in the spice aisle of any local grocery shop.
Preparation method
- Prepare the dough by mixing the margarine (or lard), plain flour, lemon juice, egg, and salt until it forms a coarse, sandy crumble
- Chill the dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before you start rolling or pressing it
- Make the filling: in a saucepan, create a white sauce by mixing the milk and 3 tablespoons of flour, ensuring the flour is dissolved in a little cold milk first to avoid any lumps
- Stir in the grated onion and 1/2 of the jar of hearts of palm, which you have blended with 1/2 cup of milk
- Cook the sauce over low heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens slightly
- Season the sauce with salt, nutmeg, and pepper to your liking
- Fold in the remaining hearts of palm, chopped into bite-sized pieces, and mix well
- Line a baking dish with the dough, pressing it firmly with your fingers to cover the base and sides
- Pour the creamy heart of palm filling over the prepared pastry base
- Cover the pie with the remaining dough, shaping and sealing it however you prefer
- Bake in a preheated hot oven for approximately 40 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and the filling is bubbling
Observations
This heart of palm pie, or 'torta de palmito', is a classic Brazilian comfort food loved for its unique 'massa podre'—a shortcrust pastry prized for its melt-in-the-mouth, crumbly texture. The pastry offers a delicate base that pairs beautifully with the rich, creamy heart of palm filling, which is seasoned to perfection. Whether you are hosting a special dinner, planning a light lunch, or looking for a crowd-pleasing snack, this pie is an authentic taste of Brazilian home cooking.
While the dough requires a gentle hand to get that signature texture, the final result is well worth the effort. The filling is straightforward and highlights the subtle, distinct flavour of hearts of palm. Serve this pie warm and enjoy every bite of this homemade classic.
While the dough requires a gentle hand to get that signature texture, the final result is well worth the effort. The filling is straightforward and highlights the subtle, distinct flavour of hearts of palm. Serve this pie warm and enjoy every bite of this homemade classic.
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