Brazilian recipe
Torta de Palmito: Brazilian Heart of Palm Pie with Shortcrust Pastry
A traditional Brazilian savoury pie featuring a delicate, crumbly pastry shell and a rich, creamy heart of palm filling. Ideal for any occasion.
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Ingredients
300g culinary margarine or lard
500g plain flour
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 egg
Salt to taste
1 jar of heart 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 heart 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
Find hearts of palm (palmito) in the world foods or specialist Latin American aisles of major supermarkets. Plain flour and standard dairy products can be found in the baking and chilled sections of any local grocery shop.
Preparation method
- Prepare the pastry by mixing the margarine (or lard), flour, lemon juice, egg, and salt until it forms a coarse, crumbly texture.
- Chill the dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before handling.
- For the filling, prepare a white sauce by heating the milk and stirring in the 3 tablespoons of flour, which should be pre-dissolved in a little cold milk to prevent lumps.
- Stir in the grated onion and half the jar of heart of palm, blended with half a cup of milk.
- Cook the sauce over a low heat, stirring constantly, until it begins to thicken.
- Season the sauce with salt, nutmeg, and pepper to taste.
- Fold the remaining heart of palm, chopped into pieces, into the sauce and mix well.
- Line a baking tin with the pastry, pressing it gently with your fingers to cover the base and sides.
- Pour the creamy heart of palm mixture over the pastry base.
- Cover the pie with the remaining pastry, shaping it as desired.
- Bake in a preheated hot oven for approximately 40 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
Observations
This Torta de Palmito is a quintessential Brazilian comfort food, cherished for its unique 'massa podre'—a shortcrust pastry known for its delicate, melt-in-the-mouth texture. The buttery, crumbly pastry serves as the perfect vessel for a creamy and aromatic heart of palm filling. Whether you are hosting a sophisticated lunch, planning a light dinner, or looking for a special savoury treat, this pie never fails to impress.
While mastering the texture of the shortcrust pastry requires a delicate touch, the effort is well rewarded by the professional finish. The filling highlights the subtle, distinct flavour of the heart of palm, balanced by a smooth, seasoned sauce. Serve this pie warm to enjoy the full harmony of its textures and flavours.
While mastering the texture of the shortcrust pastry requires a delicate touch, the effort is well rewarded by the professional finish. The filling highlights the subtle, distinct flavour of the heart of palm, balanced by a smooth, seasoned sauce. Serve this pie warm to enjoy the full harmony of its textures and flavours.
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