Roasted Acorn Squash Pie with Candied Pecans
Thanksgiving isn’t the same without pumpkin pie but we wanted to use some of the ripe acorn squash from our farm instead. Pumpkin and acorn squash are both gourds that have slightly different flavors but cook the same. Ripe acorn squash has a milder and almost fruitier flavor. This recipe is a keeper!
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This is another in a series of posts titled “A Florida Family Farm Thanksgiving”, a collaboration with Chris and Eva Worden, owners and operators of Worden Farm, an organic family farm in Punta Gorda, Florida, and Tim and Chelsea Clarkson, owners and operators of Grove Ladder Farm, a Sarasota-based farm that specializes in pasture-raised, hormone and antibiotic free poultry and eggs.
The series includes recipes and photos of the food and beverage that the two families shared at their early Thanksgiving dinner at Worden Farm in Punta Gorda, Florida, Monday, Nov. 7.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 9-inch graham cracker crust pie shells
- 2 packs plus 2 full crackers (or around 20 ounces) of graham crackers
- 12 tbsp of melted butter
- 4 tbsp organic raw cane sugar
- Roasted acorn squash puree
- 1 cup roast acorn squash puree
- 1 – 3 (depending on size) ripe acorn squash (yellow to orange in color), halved, seeds and membranes removed, roasted
- 12 egg yolks
- 14 fl oz sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 cup roast acorn squash puree
- Candied pecans for garnish
- 1 lb raw pecans (you may also use walnuts)
- Egg white from 1 egg
- 1 tsp water
- 1 cup organic raw cane sugar (because it isn’t fully processed this type of sugar adds additional caramel flavor to any recipe)
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
DIRECTIONS
Preparation:- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- Prepare graham cracker crust pie shells (about 15 minutes).
- Prepare roasted acorn squash filling (about 15 minutes).
- Prepare candied pecans (for garnish if desired; about 15 minutes).
Cooking:
- Roast acorn squash puree:
- Wash and pat dry the acorn squash, slice in half and using a spoon remove the seeds and internal stringy membranes.
- Place cut side down onto a baking tray.
- Place on middle rack of preheated oven, cook for 30 – 40 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
- Leave oven on.
- Spoon the pulp into a food process, process until creamy; set aside.
- Graham cracker crust pie shell:
- Process graham crackers into fine crumbs in a food processor.
- Combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and organic sugar in a large mixing bowl; mix until there are no lumps left.
- Divide the mixture evenly and spoon into 2 9-inch glass pie plates, press evenly over the bottom and up the sides; do not go over the height of the pie plate.
- Place in the pre-heated oven on the middle rack; cook for 10 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove pie pans from the oven, place on a rack or other heat proof surface; cool to room temperature.
- Leave oven on.
- Roast acorn squash filling:
- Whisk egg yolk until well scrambled.
- Add roasted acorn squash puree and 1/2 cup heavy cream; mix well.
- Add sweetened condensed milk; mix well (will begin to visibly thicken at this point).
- Add cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg; mix well.
- Pour equal amounts into the prepared (baked) graham cracker pie crusts; you should have enough to fill both to just below the top rim of the pie shell.
- Place in oven on the middle rack; cook for 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a rack or heat-proof surface.
- Carefully cover with plastic wrap; place in the fridge for at least 4 hours to set.
- Candied pecans:
- These can be made days in advance!
- Preheat oven to 200° F
- Place egg whites and water into medium mixing bowl, beat until frothy.
- Add the pecans and mix well to coat each pecan with the egg white mixture.
- Pour the sugar and cinnamon mixture into the bowl and mix well to coat every pecan with the sugar and cinnamon.
- Place on the middle rack of the preheated oven and cook for 1 hour.
- Remove from the oven, allow to cool, then place the candied pecans into an airtight plastic container or resealable plastic bag.
ENJOY!
Roasted Acorn Squash Pie with Candied Pecans
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