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American Layered Pie

Serves 4 to 6 Pastry vegetarian, Breads & Pastry

American Layered Pie

American Layered Pie is a comforting dish that brings together layers of flaky pastry, rich cheese, and aromatic herbs. It's a staple at American home tables, where cooks rely on their instincts to balance salt and use butter generously, creating a pie that's both hearty and satisfying.

This version captures the essence of home cooking, where the recipe is passed down through generations and adapted to personal tastes. The pie should taste rich and buttery, with the cheese providing a creamy contrast to the crisp pastry, all enhanced by the fresh notes of herbs. It's a dish meant for sharing, bringing people together around the table.

Ingredients

  • 10pastry sheets
  • 200 gcheese
  • 100 gbutter
  • herbs — chopped

Method

  1. Begin by setting out 100 g of butter to soften at room temperature. This will ensure it blends smoothly with other ingredients later. While the butter softens, grate 200 g of cheese and set aside. If using herbs, chop them finely now to incorporate easily into the pie layers.
  2. Prepare the pastry sheets by laying them flat on a clean surface. Brush each sheet lightly with the softened butter. This step helps create a crispy, golden texture in the final pie. Stack the buttered sheets together, ensuring they are evenly aligned.
  3. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt any remaining butter. Once melted, add the grated cheese to the saucepan, stirring continuously until the cheese is fully melted and smooth. This mixture will act as a binding agent between the pastry layers, adding flavor and moisture.
  4. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Begin assembling the pie by placing one buttered pastry sheet into a baking dish. Spread a thin layer of the cheese mixture over the sheet, then sprinkle a small amount of the chopped herbs. Repeat this process, layering pastry sheets, cheese mixture, and herbs until all ingredients are used, finishing with a pastry sheet on top.
  5. Place the assembled pie into the preheated oven. Bake until the top layer is golden brown and crispy, which should take about 25-30 minutes. The pie is done when you can see the cheese bubbling slightly at the edges and the pastry is firm to the touch.
  6. Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool slightly in the baking dish. This rest allows the layers to set and makes slicing easier. Serve warm, allowing the flavors to meld together, and enjoy the rich, buttery layers with family and friends.
Cover of Authentic American Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic American Cuisine

This recipe is from Authentic American Cuisine by Yassine Sbiti — the American volume in the ComidaTime International Cuisines series.

Available soon on Amazon…

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