Recipe: Concord Grape Pie

Recipe Source: Martha Stewart Livingissue 179 p. 44, October 2008.  I haven't been able to find the online version of this recipe.

I've been wanting to make this recipe for over a year.  It appealed to me for a number of reasons, but first and foremost was the presence of Concord grapes.  Concord grapes have a special place in my heart.  My grandmother had some Concord grapes growing in her backyard when I was growing up.  These were the best grapes in the whole wide world.  All you had to do was sneak out back (not that there was any real sneaking - she wasn't using them for anything other than to entertain her grandchildren) and help yourself to perfectly fresh, ripe grapes that filled your taste buds with this amazingly wonderful flavor.  The Concords I can buy in the supermarket don't measure up.  That would be impossible.  But they do bring back at least fleeting memories of a very tasty childhood. 

Last year I never got around to making the tart, I forget why.  (Probably because my husband, being a new devotee of the Concord grape, ate them all.  But I can't prove it.)  This year I told myself that as soon as I found Concords at the market, they were going in the pie.  But then life got even better.  I went back to Syracuse to visit my parents.  My parents now live in the house my grandparents occupied while they were alive.  There have been a few changes - there had to be! - but one of the many things that has stayed the same is the backyard fence, still crawling with Concord grapes.  And this year was a bumper year.  On my last morning there I scavenged them, putting them into a plastic bag for the long trip back to Boston.  I managed to not eat even one of my precious grapes for the whole trip.  And then, eventually, I made my pie. 

I made a few changes.  First, I made a pie and not a tart because I needed my tart pan for another recipe.  There was not enough jam to fill the deeper dish, so the pie looks a little odd, but that's okay.  I also used my family crust recipe.  I did that because I have atrocious luck with pie crust recipes and I'd rather stick with one that works for me.  You can use whatever pie crust recipe works for you, or even a frozen store-bought pie crust if that's what you do. 

Concord Grape Pie (serves 10; approx. $0.28/serving)  (That's using foraged grapes, mind you.)

1 double-crust pie crust

1 1/2 pounds Concord grapes, stemmed

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1 cup sugar

Equipment:

• Pie plate
• Saucepan
• Pastry bag tips 
• Strainer
• Bowl
• Candy thermometer

1. Prepare your pie crust recipe however you do it. 
2. Line the pie plate with the pie crust. 
3. Roll out the top crust.  Cut out little grape shapes in the crust.  I, and the staff at Martha Stewart Living, used the tips from a pastry bag, but if you have some other way of doing it go for it. 
4. Chill the top crust until ready to use. 
5. Combine the grapes and the lemon juice in the saucepan over high heat.
6. Cook, stirring frequently, until the grapes have released their juices.  According to the original recipe, this should take 7 minutes.
7. Strain through the strainer into the bowl.
8. Return the juice to the saucepan over high heat. 
9. Add the sugar and, if needed, a pinch of salt.
10. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook until the mixture reaches 220 degrees on a candy thermometer. 
11. Return to the bowl and let cool, stirring occasionally.
12. Pour the contents of the bowl into the pastry shell. 
13. Carefully top with the decorated top crust. 
14. Crimp to seal shut, then brush with either an egg or a milk wash and dust with some sanding sugar if so desired.  (I used some wonderful rose-scented sugar I got as a gift.)
15. Bake 15 minutes.  I used a baking sheet under my pie plate to avoid problems with jam boiling over into my oven, but it's up to you.
16. Gently tap the pie on the counter to release any bubbles, then bake another 20 minutes. 
17. Serve warm or cold. 

Comments

[Sophie]

I have the same recipe!!!! I haven't made it yet,...

Your version looks lovely!!!! MMMMMMMMM,...

[Natasha - 5 Star Foodie]

A concord grape pie sounds really good! I would love to make this very soon!