Rustic Tomato Pie is a free-formed butter crust with an herb goat cheese filling topped with fresh sliced tomatoes.
If I had to consider the rest of my life without homegrown tomatoes, I suppose I would survive. I didn’t say I’d be happy about it. And, I don’t think I’d ever stop thinking about them or craving them.
There’s something special about homegrown, vine ripened tomatoes that goes beyond the magnificent flavor. Maybe we cherish them so because the time from bloom to harvest seems to take forever. The extra care they need to prevent diseases and pests from wiping out the heralded crop adds to the charm and anticipation. I’ve taken to picking mine shortly after the first blush appears and letting them ripen for one or two more days in my kitchen window sill. The birds are getting mighty greedy and show no bit of remorse as they peck, peck, peck at the ripening fruit. I’ve told them, in no uncertain terms, that I don’t mind sharing my tomatoes with them but please don’t destroy my entire crop. In case you’re wondering, birds don’t listen.
During the season, we routinely have fresh sliced tomatoes and cucumbers at lunch and supper. Fresh tomatoes with a little sprinkling of salt and pepper is just about as good as it gets. Throw those seasoned tomatoes between two slices of white bread coated with Duke’s mayonnaise and you’ve got a feast.
Ordinarily, I save my best tomatoes to eat raw or in a sandwich. There’s plenty of good canned tomato products on the market and that’s my go to for cooking. However, I do like good fresh tomatoes baked into a simple tomato pie. Plus, I love the appeal of rustic pies. They make me feel all natural and down to earth. That’s such a good feeling.
If you’ve got extra tomatoes, try this Italian Tomato Stew .
Rustic Tomato Pie
yield: 4 servings as a main dish, 6 or 8 as appetizer or first course
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
The fresh taste of good tomatoes shines through in this simple pie. Goat cheese and tomatoes are natural buddies and they play well together in this dish. Slice tomatoes ahead of time, salt them and let them drain for at least an hour to release some juices.
Pastry dough for a 9-inch pie, rolled into an 11-inch oval or circle, omit sugar
For the filling:
About 4 cups (2 ½ pounds) sliced tomatoes or halved cherry tomatoes (a combination of sizes and colors is fine)
3 or 4 ounces soft goat cheese
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 to 3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon of flour
Half-and-half for brushing edges of pie
Salt and pepper to taste
Place tomatoes in a colander or on rack in sink to allow juices to drain. Salt them to help release juices.
In a small bowl, mix goat cheese, mayonnaise and chives. Set aside.
Roll premade dough into an 11-inch oval or circle on floured surface. This is a free-form pie baked on a sheet. If it is too hard to roll because butter has firmed too much, let sit on counter for about 15 minutes. (You can also roll it on a Silpat baking mat or a piece of parchment paper that can be easily transferred to your baking sheet).
Spread goat cheese mixture onto dough, leaving an edge of about 2 inches. Arrange tomatoes on top of that. (The tomatoes may look high but they will cook down.) Sprinkle the flour over the top of tomatoes. This will soak up excess liquid.
Fold the dough over just to the edge of the tomatoes. It will not cover them completely but will make an edge. Brush it with half-and-half and sprinkle edge with salt and pepper.
Bake 1 hour and 10 minutes. Let stand at room temperature for at least an hour before cutting.
Rustic Tomato Pie
Ingredients
- Rustic Tomato Pie
- yield: 4 servings as a main dish 6 or 8 as appetizer or first course
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- The fresh taste of good tomatoes shines through in this simple pie. Goat cheese and tomatoes are natural buddies and they play well together in this dish. Slice tomatoes ahead of time salt them and let them drain for at least an hour to release some juices.
- Pastry dough for a 9-inch pie rolled into an 11-inch oval or circle, omit sugar
- For the filling:
- About 4 cups 2 ½ pounds sliced tomatoes or halved cherry tomatoes (a combination of sizes and colors is fine)
- 3 or 4 ounces soft goat cheese
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
- 1 tablespoon of flour
- Half-and-half for brushing edges of pie
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place tomatoes in a colander or on rack in sink to allow juices to drain. Salt them to help release juices.
- In a small bowl, mix goat cheese, mayonnaise and chives. Set aside.
- Roll premade dough into an 11-inch oval or circle on floured surface. This is a free-form pie baked on a sheet. If it is too hard to roll because butter has firmed too much, let sit on counter for about 15 minutes. (You can also roll it on a Silpat baking mat or a piece of parchment paper that can be easily transferred to your baking sheet).
- Spread goat cheese mixture onto dough, leaving an edge of about 2 inches. Arrange tomatoes on top of that. (The tomatoes may look high but they will cook down.) Sprinkle the flour over the top of tomatoes. This will soak up excess liquid.
- Fold the dough over just to the edge of the tomatoes. It will not cover them completely but will make an edge. Brush it with half-and-half and sprinkle edge with salt and pepper.
- Bake 1 hour and 10 minutes. Let stand at room temperature for at least an hour before cutting.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I haven’t had my own home-grown tomatoes for several years but thankfully I have some generous friends. I would LOVE this tomato pie for lunch today.
Jackie Garvin says
Maureen,
Friends who share their tomatoes are worth their weight in gold. It’s also a testimony to how much they value your friendship.
Sue, a Florida Farm Girl says
Oh, girl, I do love me some tomato pie!!! Hadn’t thought of goat cheese but DUH!!!! We’re not having any tomatoes yet except hydroponic. Mine are sure struggling for some reason. Don’t know if its the soil or what. Gotta learn a whole new gardening language up here in the hills.
Jackie Garvin says
Sue’
Have you taken your blog down? Your last sentence intrigued me. It was then that I realized I hadn’t gotten your feeds in my reader for quite some time. I tired to go to your blog and all I get is a blank page. Where are you in the hills?
Mary | Deep South Dish says
That’s mighty purty Jackie – wish I had a slice!
Jackie Garvin says
Thank you, Miss Mary!
Jordan says
This sounds really interesting! I’ve honestly never had a tomato pie – but this looks very good. Will have to give this a try!
Jackie Garvin says
They’re something special! I hope you enjoy.
Katharina Goeggel says
Hi, Jackie, greetings from Germany! Your pie sounds wonderful.I will try it hext week.
Katharina
Jackie Garvin says
Hi Katharina,
How wonderful to hear from you. Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy the Rustic Tomato Pie!
pumpkin061 says
I love anything to do with fresh tomatoes! This pie looks delicious! Your pictures are the best as usual
Jackie Garvin says
Jill,
As usual, you’re sweet as pie!
Nicole Shillings says
This looks like summer decadence! We have 14 tomato plants growing right now… I’m making this as soon as a I have a few ripe ones!
Jackie Garvin says
I hope you give it a try, Nicole. It’s really good.
Micha says
This is a simple and tasty light summer meal. Definitely a winning recipe.
Jackie Garvin says
Thank you!
Terry Samuel says
What can I use instead of goat cheese
Jackie Garvin says
You might try cream cheese.