Speaking of pie crusts

Posted January 11, 2010

I made an orange-chocolate tart for dessert this evening, and the crust was fantastic. Well, the whole pie was fantastic. I got the recipe from Vegan Table by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau. The crust is just 2 cups of nuts (pecans and walnuts), 3/4 cup sugar and 4 tablespoons vegan butter. Grind up the nuts and sugar in a food processor. Melt the butter and add to the nut-sugar mixture. Process 'til you have a thick dough. Press dough into a 9- or 10-inch pie plate or tart dish. Bake in a preheated oven at 375° F for about 15 minutes -- until golden brown.

The crust was delightfully nutty. The orange-chocolate pudding filling seemed almost like an excuse to eat the crust. I can't wait to use the recipe with other fillings. I think it would also be good for savory pies. I'd substitute a small amount of herbs and/or spices for the sugar, though.

Enjoy!