How to Make Tomato Pie

Learn how to make this savory, summer classic tomato pie using tomatoes and basil from your garden in three easy steps!

Nothing says summer in the South like a homemade tomato pie! While the two words might sound foreign together if you've never heard of it--tomato and pies don't normally go together--but a "pie" in a lot of southern dishes simply describes a casserole type dish baked in a pie crust. For example, oyster pie--but that's a dish for another day :)

We were overflowing with tomatoes in our garden and running out of ways to use a bunch of them in one dish. We had made the classic recipes that include tomatoes like tomato sauces, Caprese salads and roasted tomatoes with veggies. That's when we remembered this summer favorite--tomato pie. We live in South Carolina which is known for having wonderful locally grown tomatoes. The summer sun seems to bake the tomatoes perfectly, giving you a fresh taste of the garden heat in that first juicy bite.

The best part about this tomato pie is all you really do is assemble and pop in the oven to bake and voila! You've got a dish that is sure to please the summer bbq crowds (small crowds 6ft apart that is ;)

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup chopped Basil from the herb garden

• 3 good sizes tomatoes that are fully ripened--the redder the better--whatever the equivalent is of 3 cups chopped tomatoes

• 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

• 1/2 cup Mayonaise

• 1 9 inch Pie Crust

• 1 teaspoon of hot sauce of choice

• 1/2 cup chopped onions

• 1/2 teaspoon of salt

• Fresh ground black pepper

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Step 1: Slice Tomatoes, Basil and Onions

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Rinse and dice your tomatoes. Some people likes to drain their tomatoes with a paper towels to rid some of the excess juice but I prefer to not drain the tomatoes. The only difference is the pie will have a more watery consistency if you don't drain them so it's a personal preference. Lightly salt your tomatoes.

Step 2: Add Onions, Tomatoes and Basil to Crust

First, layer in your chopped onions at the bottom of the pie crust. Then add in the chopped tomatoes, then sprinkle in the basil.

Step 3: Mix Cheese and Mayonnaise

Next, mix the shredded cheddar cheese, mayonnaise and hot sauce together and mold them into big, fluffy balls.

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Step 4: Layer Cheese Mixture on Top

Layer in your cheese mixture by spreading the cheese balls on top. And then with your spatula, spread the mixture evenly across the top so it will bake in with the tomatoes nicely.

Step 5: Bake at 350 degrees F

Depending on your oven, bake at 350 degrees F for 25-45 minutes. Once the top of the pie has a nice golden brown crust, let it cool on a pie rack for 20-30 minutes. Then top with fresh ground pepper and a basil leaf and voila! You'll have everyone asking for your tomato pie recipe after the first bite ;)