Succulent and Irresistible Heart of Palm Pie: A Family Favorite

The heart of palm pie (empadão de palmito) is the ultimate comfort food. It’s so versatile that it works perfectly as a savory breakfast, a hearty lunch, or a satisfying dinner. Try this irresistible, creamy version—your family will be begging for seconds!

Ingredients for your heart of palm pie:

Filling:

• 2 tbsp (30g) butter;
• 1/2 onion, finely chopped;
• 10.5 oz (300g) heart of palm, chopped;
• 1 tbsp (15g) tomato paste;
• 1 tomato, chopped (seeded);
• 7 oz (200g) cream cheese (or Brazilian requeijão);
• Salt to taste;
• 1/2 cup (120ml) milk;
• 1/4 cup (30g) all-purpose flour;
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped.

Crust:

• 2 1/2 cups (300g) all-purpose flour;
• 10 tbsp (140g) cold butter, cubed;
• 1/4 cup (60ml) ice-cold water;
• 1 pinch of salt.

How to make the heart of palm pie:

Filling:

1. In a skillet, melt the butter and sauté the onion over medium heat;
2. Once the onion is translucent, add the chopped tomato and sauté for about 2 minutes until softened;
3. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and cook while stirring for 1 minute; this will help thicken the filling;
4. Add the heart of palm and tomato paste, mixing well;
5. Pour in the milk and bring to a simmer;
6. Season with salt to taste;
7. Remove from heat, stir in the cream cheese and fresh parsley;
8. Mix thoroughly and let cool completely before assembling.

Crust:

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and cold butter, using your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour until you have a coarse, sandy texture;
2. Gradually add the ice-cold water, mixing just until the dough comes together;
3. Roll out 2/3 of the dough on parchment paper and transfer it to your pie dish;
4. Gently press the dough to fit the bottom and sides;
5. Roll out the remaining dough and cut into long strips;
6. Arrange the strips in a lattice pattern over the filling;
7. Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for about one hour, or until golden brown;
8. Serve warm and enjoy!

Pro Tip:

For an extra crispy crust, you can “blind bake” (pre-bake) the bottom crust for 10 minutes before adding the filling. This prevents the bottom from becoming soggy.

Did you know?

The Heart of Palm pie is a beloved classic of Brazilian cuisine. The star ingredient, hearts of palm, is harvested from the inner core of certain palm trees. Beyond adding a delicate, buttery texture to the pie, hearts of palm are a great source of fiber, potassium, and vitamin C.

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