Ingredients

  • Pie Crust
  • 3 cups plus 2 tablespoons AP flour
  • 1 cup plus 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, very cold, cut into small cubes
  • 2/3 cup water, very cold
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • For the pie filling
  • 4 to 5 large, ripe tomatoes, sliced and blotted dry
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 cup shredded, sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 large, sweet onion, sauteed
  • 1/2 pound thick cut bacon, cut into lardons, and cooked till crisp
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

Method

  • For the crust: In a bowl, combine the ice water and salt, stir to dissolve, and keep very cold. In the bowl of a food processor, pour the flour, and toss the butter pieces over the top. Pulse briefly until the butter is reduced to pieces the size of peas. Add the water and pulse a few more times, until the dough starts to come together and form a ball, but is still rough and shaggy. Dump the dough onto a well floured work surface, gather together in one piece, and then separate into 2 equal balls. Press each ball into a disc about 1" thick, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate 2 hours, or overnight.
  • To form your crust, take a disc from the fridge, and place it on a lightly floured surface, roll to about 1/8" thick, rotating the dough every few passes with the pin to assure even thickness. Transfer the dough to your tart pan or pie plate and finish the edge as desired. You may either freeze the second disc of dough, or better yet, double the filling recipe and make TWO pies! Chill the shell in the fridge for at least 1/2 hour before baking.
  • To blind bake the shell: Pre-heat oven to 375°F. Line the pastry shell with parchment paper and fill with pie weights. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, until the surface under the paper looks light brown. Remove the paper and weights and return the shell to the oven for another 5 minutes or so, until drier and a more golden brown. Remove the shell to a rack, and let cool completely before proceeding with baking your pie.
  • Slice the tomatoes and place them on a large cooling rack covered with paper towels. VERY lightly sprinkle the slices with kosher salt to help pull moisture from them, and cover them with another layer of paper towels. Let them sit like this for at least an hour.
  • Finely mince the onion and saute until golden brown in a little olive oil and butter, if desired. Cook bacon lardons until just crisp, and let drain on a paper towel. Mix mayonnaise, grated cheese and oregano in a bowl and set aside.
  • Set oven temp to 350°F. Assemble the pie by roughly chopping the tomato slices and spreading the pieces evenly into the pie shell. Generously cover the top with freshly ground black pepper, sprinkle with the onions and bacon, and, finally, top with the mayo-cheese mix. Place the pie in the oven and bake for about 1/2 hour, or until the top is nicely browned and the pie is bubbling. Remove from the oven and set on a rack to cool for at least 1/2 hour before cutting and serving.