Recipe courtesy of Rick Bayless

Rick Bayless's Yucatecanstyle Fresh Coconut Pie

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 8 servings
Advertisement

Ingredients

1 cup slivered almonds

3 tablespoon sugar

4 ounces (about 5 slices) firm white bread, torn into pieces

3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1 medium size coconut with lots of liquid inside

1 cup heavy cream

2/3 cup sugar

3 large egg yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup sour cream

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Toast the almonds on a baking sheet in the oven stirring occasionally, until golden, 7 to 10 minutes. Cool; set 1/2 cup of the almonds aside. In a food processor; pulverize the remaining almonds with the sugar. Add the bread and pulse the machine until reduced to fine crumbs. Drizzle in the melted butter and pulse to mix thoroughly. Evenly pat the mixture over the bottom and sides of a 3/4-inch deep, 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Refrigerate several minutes to set. 
  2. Twist a corkscrew (or dive an ice pick or screwdriver) into 2 of the coconut's "eyes" (the dark indentations on one end), then drain the trapped liquid into a cup (strain if it contains any bits of coconut shell). Place the coconut on a baking sheet and put into the oven for about 15 minutes to help loosen the flesh from the shell. With a hammer crack the coconut into several pieces, then use a small knife or screwdriver to pry the flesh from the shell. Use a paring knife or a vegetable peeler to peel away the dark brown skin. 
  3. In a food processor (or, with determination and stamina, using a four-sided grater) grate the coconut into medium fine shreds. Measure out 2 1/2 cups for the pie; reserve the remainder for the garnish. Raise the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. In a small (1 to 1 1/2 quart) saucepan, combine the coconut water, cream and sugar. Simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently, until reduced to 1 cup, 10 to 15 minutes. Pour into a large bowl, then stir in the 2 1/2 cups of coconut, the reserved 1/2 cup almonds, the egg yolks and vanilla. Set the prepared crust onto a baking sheet, scoop in the coconut filling and bake in the middle of the oven until set and lightly browned on top, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. 
  4. While the pie is baking, toast the reserved coconut on a baking sheet in the oven, stirring occasionally, until nicely browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Cool the pie completely and slice. Place the pie back in the oven and heat for 10 minutes. Serve with sour cream and coconut.

Let's Get Cooking!

Sign up for the Recipe of the Day newsletter to receive editor-picked recipes,tips and videos delivered to your inbox daily. Privacy Policy

Thanks for subscribing to the Recipe of the Day newsletter. Check out all our other great newsletters from Easy Recipes, Healthy Eating Ideas and Chef Recipe Videos.

We're sorry, there was an error signing you up. Please try again later.

Advertisement

kittens33

While I think this is an "easy" pie to make in that no special skills or tools are needed, the time that it takes makes this pie a labor of love! Once I finally got it out of the oven, I allowed it cool even though I wanted to take a fork to it right then and there. I told my husband I was not going to put it back in the oven to warm. But he said, "You made it this far. Might as well finish!" So I put the damn cool piece of pie back in the oven for 10 more minutes. I FINALLY got my piece of pie, added a dollop of sour cream and toasted coconut, and inhaled it. It was a heck of a tasty piece of pie! But, as I suspected, it is best cold from the fridge, and no sour cream is needed.

See All Reviews