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+ servings
Kabocha Squash Pie
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
2 hrs 10 mins
Total Time
2 hrs 35 mins
 

A creative twist on a classic pumpkin pie recipe, this kabocha squash pie is flecked with chipotle chili powder, black pepper, and ginger. Recipe adapted from The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters. 

Recipe Type: Dessert
Makes: 8 servings
Author: Brooklyn Supper, (adapted from The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters)
Ingredients
Kabocha Puree
  • 1 large green or orange kabocha squash (I used green)
  • 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
  • pinch sea salt
  • water
Dough
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter , frozen
  • 5 - 6 tablespoons ice water
Filling
  • 1 cup heavy cream , divided
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 1/2 cups kabocha squash puree
  • 3 eggs , room temperature
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh, finely grated ginger
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper , plus more for serving
  • 1/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
  1. To make the kabocha squash puree, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. 

Cut the woody stem from the top and bottom of the kabocha. Halve the squash and scoop out the seeds and stringy stuff from the center. Rub squash all over with a small drizzle olive oil and sprinkle with a tiny pinch of sea salt.
  2. Pour 3 tablespoons water in a rimmed baking sheet. Set the squash cut side down, cover tightly with foil, and slide into the oven. Bake until soft, roughly 50 – 60 minutes.
  3. Set aside to cool, then scoop the soft squash out of the peel and into a bowl. Mash with a potato masher; for a smoother texture, puree with a food processor or stick blender.
  4. To make the dough, In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and sea salt with a fork. Grate in the frozen stick of butter, rubbing butter into the flour with your fingertips until the flour has a crumbly texture. Drizzle in the ice water, mixing just until the dough mostly holds together. (If you’re new to homemade dough, you can always add more water –– just enough so the dough’s easy to work with.)
  5. Dump dough out onto a section of plastic wrap, gather into a disc, and wrap tightly. Set in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes.
  6. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a shallow 9-inch pie pan and set aside.
  7. On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a 12-inch disc. Set in the pie pan, trim excess dough from the edge, and crimp the edges. Pierce all over with a fork.
  8. Carefully set a sheet of foil onto the dough, and add either dried beans, rice, or pie weights.
  9. Set on a rimmed baking sheet and slide into the oven. Bake for 15 minutes, lift out the foil with weights, and bake for another 5 – 7 minutes.
  10. Set aside to cool while you prepare the filling (but keep the oven at 375 degrees F).
  11. To make the filling, in a heavy bottomed sauce pan over medium-low heat, whisk together the flour and 1/4 cup of the cream. When mixture starts to bubble and thicken, slowly whisk in the remaining 3/4 cup cream. Continue whisking until mixture begins to bubble and thicken once again, 3 – 4 minutes. Remove from heat.
  12. In a medium bowl, whisk to combine kabocha puree and eggs until light and frothy. Whisk in the sugar, spices, and sea salt. Whisk the cream mixture into the squash mixture.
  13. Carefully pour filling into the pie shell. Sprinkle a pinch of ground black pepper over the top. Set on a rimmed baking sheet and slide into the oven. Bake until all but a 4-inch circle in the center of the pie is set, 45 – 55 minutes. If the crust starts to darken too much, shield the edge with foil.
  14. Allow pie to cool completely, several hours or more, before serving. Serve slices with twist of pepper and a dollop of very lightly sweetened whipped cream.