Cornmeal Pie Crust--1 Crust For 9 Pie"?

Cornmeal Pie Crust (1 crust for 9" pie)

This recipe yields a delicious, slightly crumbly pie crust that's perfect for both sweet and savory pies.

Ingredients:

* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

* 1/2 cup fine cornmeal

* 1/2 teaspoon salt

* 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces

* 1/4 cup ice water

Instructions:

1. Combine dry ingredients: Whisk together the flour, cornmeal, and salt in a large bowl.

2. Cut in butter: Add the chilled butter and use a pastry blender, two forks, or your fingertips to work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.

3. Add water: Gradually drizzle in the ice water, mixing with a fork until the dough just comes together. Don't overwork the dough.

4. Form a disc: Gather the dough into a ball, flatten it into a disc, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

5. Roll out dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a 12-inch circle. Gently transfer the dough to your 9-inch pie plate.

6. Trim and crimp: Trim any excess dough and crimp the edges to create a decorative finish.

7. Blind bake (optional): If you're using a filling that requires pre-baking the crust, blind bake it before filling. To blind bake, prick the bottom of the crust with a fork, line it with parchment paper, and fill it with pie weights or dry beans. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15 minutes. Remove the weights and parchment paper and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes.

Tips:

* Use cold ingredients: This will help keep the butter cold and create a flaky crust.

* Don't overmix: Overworking the dough will toughen the crust.

* Refrigerate the dough: This allows the gluten to relax and will help prevent the crust from shrinking during baking.

* Blind bake for a crispy crust: Blind baking prevents a soggy bottom crust when using moist fillings.

* Adjust cornmeal quantity: You can adjust the amount of cornmeal for different flavor profiles. More cornmeal will give a stronger corn flavor and slightly more crumbly texture.

Enjoy your delicious cornmeal pie crust!