Description
Silky pistachio custard pie blends Mediterranean flavors with classic dessert techniques. Green nutty richness melts elegantly, inviting passionate bakers to savor each delightful slice.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (240 ml) lightly salted roasted pistachios
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk
- 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 ¼ cups (156 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tbsps white granulated sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 8 tbsps (113 g) cold salted butter, cubed
- ¼ cup (30 g) finely chopped pistachios
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 6–8 tbsps ice water
- Whipped cream (to top)
Instructions
- Dough Preparation: Blend flour, salt, sugar, and cold butter in a food processor until mixture resembles coarse crumbs, then fold in finely chopped pistachios and add ice-cold water until dough forms a cohesive ball.
- Dough Resting: Shape dough into a disc, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to enhance texture and flavor.
- Filling Creation: Pulverize pistachios with sugar in a blender, then whip cream cheese and remaining sugar until smooth, gradually incorporating eggs, vanilla extract, almond essence, and milk to form a silky custard base.
- Pistachio Integration: Gently fold pistachio-sugar blend into custard, whisking until completely homogeneous.
- Crust Formation: Roll out chilled dough on a floured surface, carefully transfer to a 9-inch pie dish, and crimp edges decoratively.
- Baking Process: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), pour custard filling into prepared crust, and bake for 45-50 minutes until edges are set but center remains slightly jiggly.
- Cooling and Setting: Remove from oven, cool at room temperature for 1-2 hours, then refrigerate for 2-3 hours to achieve optimal consistency.
- Serving Presentation: Garnish with whipped cream and chopped pistachios before serving chilled.
Notes
- Chill Dough Thoroughly: Refrigerating the pastry for 30 minutes helps prevent shrinkage and ensures a flaky, tender crust during baking.
- Monitor Baking Carefully: Watch the pie closely in the final 10-15 minutes to prevent over-browning, as custard can quickly transition from perfectly set to overcooked.
- Rest and Set Completely: Allowing the pie to cool at room temperature and then chill in the refrigerator helps the custard set properly and develop rich, full flavors.
- Customize Texture: For a smoother custard, strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve before pouring into the crust, removing any potential lumps or uneven particles.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 404
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 113 mg