Brazilian recipe
Heart of Palm Pie with Homemade Shortcrust Pastry
A savory Brazilian classic featuring a delicate, melt-in-the-mouth pastry shell filled with a rich and creamy heart of palm mixture. Perfect for any occasion.
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Ingredients
300 g culinary margarine or lard
500 g all-purpose flour
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 large egg
Salt to taste
1 jar (approx. 300g drained) hearts of palm
1 1/2 cups whole milk
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 onion, finely grated
Nutmeg to taste
Black pepper to taste
500 g all-purpose flour
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 large egg
Salt to taste
1 jar (approx. 300g drained) hearts of palm
1 1/2 cups whole milk
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 onion, finely grated
Nutmeg to taste
Black pepper to taste
Where to find ingredients
Find hearts of palm in the canned vegetable aisle of major supermarkets or specialty grocers. For the pastry, use high-quality block margarine or lard available in the baking section. Flour and dairy are standard pantry items in any local supermarket produce and dry goods sections.
Preparation method
- In a large bowl, combine the margarine or lard, flour, lime juice, egg, and salt, working the mixture with your fingertips until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Gather the dough into a ball, wrap it, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before rolling.
- Prepare the filling by creating a white sauce: dissolve the 3 tablespoons of flour in a small amount of cold milk to ensure it is lump-free, then whisk into the remaining milk in a saucepan.
- Add the grated onion and half of the hearts of palm, blended with a splash of milk, into the pan.
- Cook the sauce over low heat, stirring constantly, until it begins to thicken.
- Season the white sauce with salt, freshly grated nutmeg, and black pepper to your liking.
- Fold in the remaining hearts of palm, which should be chopped into bite-sized pieces, and combine thoroughly.
- Press the chilled dough into your pie dish by hand, ensuring the bottom and sides are evenly lined.
- Pour the prepared heart of palm filling over the bottom crust.
- Roll out or flatten the remaining dough to cover the pie, crimping the edges to seal.
- Bake in a preheated high-temperature 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 staple of Brazilian comfort food, cherished for its golden, crumbly pastry—often called 'massa podre'—that practically melts upon contact. The contrast between the delicate, buttery shell and the savory, velvety heart of palm filling creates a truly sophisticated flavor profile.
While mastering the pastry requires a gentle touch, the process is straightforward and yields a deeply satisfying result. The filling highlights the subtle, refined taste of heart of palm, elevated by a seasoned white sauce base. Whether presented as the centerpiece of a light lunch, a savory addition to a dinner menu, or a refined snack, this homemade pie is sure to impress.
While mastering the pastry requires a gentle touch, the process is straightforward and yields a deeply satisfying result. The filling highlights the subtle, refined taste of heart of palm, elevated by a seasoned white sauce base. Whether presented as the centerpiece of a light lunch, a savory addition to a dinner menu, or a refined snack, this homemade pie is sure to impress.
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