If you love fresh, ripe tomatoes as much as I do, then you'll love this recipe for tomato pie. It's super simple and takes just a few ingredients. Tomato pie works great as a main course, or as a side dish.
When I was growing up we had a small garden in our yard, right behind the pool. My grandfather grew basil, mint, parsley, squash, cucumbers, eggplant and yes, tomatoes. Tons of tomatoes! We had so many that at the end of the season, Pop Pop would pick any unripened tomatoes and wrap them in newspaper, and let them sit in the basement windows until they ripened. No one in my family was a canner or a jar-er, we just loved tomatoes in our salads and on our sangwiches. Throughout the years though, I’ve found other ways to enjoy tomatoes: diced fresh fresh for salsa and pico de gallo, (sun)dried in the oven and tossed with pasta; even roasted and blended for soups and sauces. The Best Damn Tomato Pie You'll Ever Eat (Recipe)Recently, I remembered a recipe I tried a hundred years ago (OK more like 15) for tomato pie and thought to myself, ‘Self--you really need to make that tomato pie again, it was like the best damn tomato pie you ever ate’. Made with juicy, ripe tomatoes, fresh basil and 3 different types of ooey, gooey cheeses--I have to agree with myself--this pie is pretty damn good.
A word of warning about this pie: It’s absolutely beautiful to look at whole, but once you start slicing, it’s a big ole cheesey, tomatoey mess. My recipe is adapted from Paula Deen’s recipe, and her slices are picture perfect (um duh, I guess?). You can try to eliminate some of the moisture in the tomatoes (and ultimately the pie) by putting the sliced tomatoes in a colander and salting them slightly to allow the liquid draw out (for about an hour or so), then patting dry with a paper towel.
For a meat free meal, serve the tomato pie with a light salad tossed with Italian vinaigrette dressing and a nice glass of pino greesh.
You May Also Like:
Want to grow tomatoes like my Pops? Check out this infographic to learn the best way to grow your own tomatoes:
Would you do anything to tweak this tomato pie? I was thinking maybe giving it a Greek twist by using feta instead of moots, and dill and oregano instead of basil. Or adding chorizo, cheddar and onion for a Mexican flair. Let me know what you think in the comments below!
17 Comments
John
11/15/2017 09:27:06 am
Yum....it does look like a pretty darn nice pie.....pretty health to top it off. Gotta keep the recipe for my wife! Thanks for sharing mate!
Reply
11/15/2017 09:37:16 am
I have almost all the ingredients at home. Making it soon. Looks very tasty and quite an easy recipe.
Reply
11/15/2017 10:38:30 am
I've never even heard of tomatoe pie before. I will give this a try, as I love tomatoes and cheese!
Reply
11/15/2017 11:21:30 am
Can we please come live with you and eat your amazing creations everyday??
Reply
Marian Liebenow
7/18/2020 02:55:15 pm
As I was looking for an interesting brunch idea in anticipation of a visit from my brother and his wife, I came across this recipe. Oh, my gosh, it was delicious and received rave reviews from them. I didn’t have cheddar cheese, so just used mozzarella and Parmesan, but it was still full of flavor. The fresh basil I grow added so much, too. I wonder if a few bacon bits might be good?
Reply
Queene
7/31/2020 01:30:05 pm
Yikes...you had me up until the one cup of "Mayonnaise". Any recommendations for substitutes? Appreciate it!
Reply
Robin
8/8/2020 08:08:41 am
I was thinking the same thing. I don’t like mayo. I may use some, but add cream cheese too. And bacon bits!
Reply
Ann
8/25/2020 01:45:12 pm
Greek yogurt
Reply
Betty Wiese
8/4/2020 07:46:26 am
Paula Deans slices so nice because it is cold when sliced.
Reply
Ann
8/25/2020 01:47:44 pm
This is delicious, a definite keeper. I added the basil, tripled the garlic and added chopped green onions.
Reply
9/15/2020 12:55:36 am
My daughter in law and I made this today with fresh ingredients from her garden, it was absolutely delicious. I will definitely make again and again. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Reply
Janice
12/28/2020 05:31:46 pm
I have made this with bacon! Absolutely wonderful!
Reply
Sherri Thrasher
6/21/2022 09:31:20 am
I also make a Tomato Pie that my friends and family love. I add thinly sliced sweet onion and let Tomatoes and Onions sit in Italian dressing while pie crust cooks then add toms and onion to pie shell, cover with Hellmans reduced fat mayonnaise and low fat Mexican cheese blend.
Reply
Kathy
6/26/2022 08:30:08 pm
This was SO good! It was a damn good tomato pie!
Reply
Leave a Reply. |