Strawberry Chiffon Pie

By DreiFromBK

For a pie that’s light as chiffon but actually tastes like fresh berries, we start with our own strawberry puree, which we strain for a silky-smooth texture. We thicken it with both gelatin and whipped egg whites for a firm and sliceable but not bouncy texture, and folding in whipped cream right before chilling adds welcome richness to this fruit pie. Finally, a crunchy, buttery crumb crust made from store-bought shortbread cookies is the perfect foil for the cool, creamy filling.

Ingredients

• Serves 8
• You will need about 3 pints of fresh strawberries for this recipe.
• Ingredients
• CRUST
• 1 (5.3-ounce) box shortbread cookies, broken into 1-inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• FILLING
• 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
• 2 tablespoons water
• 12 ounces strawberries, hulled (2 1/2 cups), plus 8 ounces strawberries, hulled, halved, and sliced thin (1 1/3 cups)
• 3/4 cup (5 1/4 ounces) plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 large egg whites
• 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 cup heavy cream, chilled

Details

Adapted from cookscountry.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. FOR THE CRUST: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease 9-inch pie plate. Process cookies, sugar, and salt in food processor until finely ground, about 1 minute. Add almonds and pulse until coarsely chopped, about 8 pulses. Add melted butter and pulse until combined, about 10 pulses. Transfer crumb mixture to pie plate. Using bottom of dry measuring cup, press crumbs evenly into bottom and up sides of plate. Bake until crust is golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes, rotating halfway through baking. Let crust cool completely on wire rack, about 30 minutes. (Crust can be wrapped in plastic and stored at room temperature for up to 24 hours.)

2. FOR THE FILLING: Sprinkle gelatin over water in small bowl and let sit until gelatin softens, about 5 minutes. Process hulled whole strawberries in food processor until completely smooth, about 1 minute. Transfer to fine-mesh strainer set over medium bowl and press on solids to extract 1 cup of juice; discard solids. Whisk 3/4 cup sugar, cornstarch, salt, and strawberry juice together in small saucepan.

3. Bring juice mixture to simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Off heat, whisk in gelatin mixture until dissolved. Transfer to large bowl, stir in lemon juice, and let cool completely, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Using stand mixer fitted with whisk, whip egg whites and cream of tartar on medium-low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Increase speed to medium-high and whip whites to soft, billowy mounds, about 1 minute. Gradually add remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and whip until glossy, stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk one-third of meringue into cooled strawberry mixture until smooth. Fold remaining meringue into strawberry mixture until only few white streaks remain.

5. In now-empty mixer bowl, whip cream on medium-low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Increase speed to high and whip until stiff peaks form, 1 to 3 minutes. Gently fold whipped cream into strawberry mixture until no white streaks remain. Fold in sliced strawberries. Spoon filling into crust and spread into even layer using back of spoon. Refrigerate pie for at least 3 hours or up to 24 hours. Serve.