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Monday, October 13, 2008

Coconut Cream Pie

This is the real deal.

Ingredients:
  • 2 coconuts
  • 1 cup graham crumbs
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 1 inch piece ginger root
  • approximately 1 cup hot water
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons corn starch
  • 3 tablespoons coconut rum
  • 1 cup whipping cream

Directions:

Drill through the eyes of the coconuts with a 1/4 inch drill bit.
Drain water from coconuts, sieve and reserve.
Bake coconuts at 400°F for 15 minutes.
Smash coconuts open with a hammer.
Pry flesh away from the shell.
Peel brown skin off coconut flesh.
Finely grate half of one coconut.
Peel and grate ginger root.
Mix graham crumbs, melted butter, ginger root and finely grated coconut together.
Press graham crumb mixture onto the bottom and sides of a buttered pie plate.
Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.
Chill crust in refrigerator.
Chop flesh of one coconut into small chunks.
Pour water from coconuts into a blender with enough additional hot water to make 1.5 cups total volume.
Add coconut chunks to blender and purée.
Allow puréed coconut mixture to stand for 15 minutes.
Press coconut mixture through a fine sieve to extract milk.
Whisk egg yolks and 4 tablespoons sugar together until sugar is dissolved.
Add corn starch and 1 tablespoon coconut rum, mixing until smooth.
Bring coconut milk to a boil.
Add hot milk to corn starch mixture, stirring constantly until smooth.
Return mixture to pan and continue to heat until custard has thickened.
Pour custard layer over base and chill until set.
Whip the cream with 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons rum until stiff peaks form.
Spoon cream over top of pie.
Coarsely grate remaining half coconut.
Sprinkle coarsely grated coconut over pie.
Serve chilled.

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