Lemon Buttermilk Chess Pie

Ron Nebrerecipes, Tarts, Pies & Pastries


Straight from the South, but finding its home in your kitchen, this Lemon Buttermilk Chess Pie is all kinds of tasty for your family. A fresh and delicious taste that is perfect for spring, you absolutely need to share a slice – especially since it’s packed with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D when you’re baking with Mirage margarine.

Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Chilling Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Yield: 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

For the crust
  • 151 g / 2/3 cup Mirage margarine
  • 250 g / 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 12 g / 1 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 g / 1/4 tsp salt
  • 60 ml / 1/4 cup ice water
For the filling
  • 200 g / 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 163 g / 3/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
  • 40 g / 1/4 cup cornmeal
  • 16 g / 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 14 g / 2 tbsp lemon zest
  • 3 g / 1/2 tsp salt
  • 5 large eggs
  • 120 ml / 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 114 g / 1/2 cup Mirage margarine, melted
  • 60 ml / 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 5 ml / 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

For the crust

1. Scoop roughly 1/2 inch (1 centimetre) pieces of Mirage margarine onto a plate lined with a piece of plastic wrap. Freeze; 15 minutes.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar and salt.

3. Using a pastry blender, or 2 knives, blend the Mirage margarine into the dry ingredients until the mixture is the texture of coarse crumbs (mixed with pea-sized pieces).

4. Using a fork, stir in the ice water 1 tablespoon (15 millilitres) at a time. Gather dough into a ball and knead a couple of times. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill; 30 minutes.

5. In between 2 sheets of parchment paper, or plastic wrap, roll the dough into a 14 inch (36 centimetre) circle.

6. Ease the rolled dough into a 9 inch (23 centimetre) pie plate and flute the edges, as desired. Prick the bottom of the dough all over, with a fork, and place in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes.

For the filling

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cornmeal, flour, lemon zest and salt.

2. Whisk in the eggs one at a time until smooth.

3. Whisk in the buttermilk, Mirage margarine, lemon juice and vanilla extract until fully combined.

4. Set aside while par-baking the crust.

5. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line the chilled pie crust with a piece of foil or parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans.

6. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove foil and weights and return crust to oven for 4 minutes.

7. Remove crust and reduce oven temperature to 350°F (180°C).

8. Pour the filling into the crust and place in the oven; bake 30 minutes.

9. Cover edge of crust with a strip of tin foil to prevent over browning and bake until centre of filling is softly set (with a slight jiggle); 15 to 20 minutes.

10. Remove and cool pie completely on a wire rack. Chill in refrigerator for at least 2 hours before slicing and serving.

Chef Notes

  • 1/2 cup (240 millilitres) of whole milk combined with 2 teaspoons (10 millilitres) of white vinegar may be used in place of the buttermilk.