strawberry pie

PJ Hamel’s selected strawberry pie combines fresh berry pieces with a lightly cooked strawberry mixture. Its sweet, buttery crust is pressed directly into the pan and set in a microwave.

Unsalted butter melts in the pie pan before flour, granulated sugar, icing sugar and salt are stirred into it. The dough is pressed over the base and sides, then microwaved until set.

The strawberries are trimmed and cut, with three quarters set aside. The remaining berries are crushed and cooked with sugar, the selected cornstarch and a little water until thickened.

Lemon juice and salt enter the cooked mixture off the heat. That mixture is stirred through the uncooked berries, and the combined filling spreads over the prepared crust.

Hamel offers the complete pie warm or chilled for a firmer filling. Whipped cream is an optional topping over the contrasting cooked and fresh strawberry pieces.