Keep the Pies Coming: Passion Fruit

Who doesn't love pies! and did I mention its one of the hottest food trend this year.

That's why today we are making a delicious passion fruit pie! with a secret ingredient COCONUT (sorry I couldn't help myself but  you can leave the guessing part for your family and friends) unless you're like me and go crazy decorating it with freshly grated dry coconut.

   

                                  



I've been thinking of making passion fruit bars for a long time now and while looking for ideas and recipes I came along with a recipe at makeandtake and really got inspire by it. Since I was invited to a pie party through facebook, I couldnt resist baking this lovely and oooh so tropical, perfect for summer pie.

This delicious crust has fresh coconut in it. And the filling is a easy to make curd made with fresh passion fruit pulp.

Crust
1 cup of unsalted butter, cubed
2 1/2 cups of flour
1/2 cup of powdered sugar
1/3 cup freshly grated dry coconut.
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 egg yolk
1 Tablespoon of milk

Pre heat oven to 325F
In a bowl mix flour, sugar, coconut, salt and cubed butter and mix by hand, trying to use your finger and not the palms of your hands as they are the warmer part of your hand, making butter melt faster. When everything is mixed together and looks crumbly add the yolk and milk to the mix and work the dough until is all mix together well. Fill free to sprinkle a little extra flour if need but watch the amount. Wrap it with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 20 mins.

Sprinkle flour where you are planning to work the dough. With the help of a rolling pin roll out the dough and place it in an already buttered and floured 8 inch pie plate, making sure to cut the the excess around the edges. A quick way of doing this is rolling the pin around the plate edge.
Cover the crust with parchment paper and fill in with dry beans, this is going to prevent the dough from rising. Cook for 20- 30 minutes. Let cool



Filling
1 1/2 cup of fresh passion fruit pulp
1/3 cup of fresh orange juice
1 cup of sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup of flour

Pour into a blender the passion fruit, orange juice and sugar. Blend.
Pass the juice through a strainer. After add the eggs and whisk then slowly start adding the flour while whisking.
Pour the mixture into a sauce pot and cook in medium heat whisking constantly.
When the mixture starts thickening, pour into the pie crust and sprinkle grated coconut on top of the filling. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until the curd is firm.

This pie is simply spectacular, you are going to love it. You can make a merengue to decorate the top of your pie with it or like me use coconut on top, looks great and tastes delicious.

Have fun!
'till next time
Fran