Paul Bergeron’s Pumpkin Pecan-Praline Pie

Pumpkin Pecan-Praline Pie, Pecan-Praline, Pumpkin Puree and Flaky Pie Dough
By: Paul Bergeron via Martha Stewart.com

Makes One 9-Inch Pie

Ingredients:
All-purpose flour, for work surface
Flaky Pie Dough (Recipe Below)
4 large eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup Muscovado light or dark-brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 pound Pumpkin Puree (Recipe Below)
1 cup heavy cream
Pecan-Praline (Recipe Below)

Directions
On a lightly floured work surface, roll out half of the dough to 1/8-inch thick. Using a 1-inch tear-shaped cookie cutter, cut out 50 tear-shaped pieces of dough. Starting with the pointed end, roll each piece of dough three-quarters of the way toward the fat end of the tear, forming a curl. Transfer curls to a baking sheet; refrigerate 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out remaining dough into an 11-inch round. With a dry pastry brush, brush off any excess flour; fit dough into a 9-inch glass pie plate, pressing it into the edges. Trim to a 1-inch overhang all around. Fold under overhang so it extends slightly beyond the edge of the pie plate.
Prick bottom of dough all over with a fork. Line with parchment paper, leaving at least a 1-inch overhang. Top with a 9-inch metal pie tin. Bake for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack. Remove parchment paper and weights; let cool.
Beat 1 egg in a small bowl. Brush the edge of the pie crust with egg. Starting with 1 dough curl, place the flat bottom on the egg-washed rim, with the curl perpendicular to the edge of the pie plate. Working in the same direction, continue placing curls next to one another until the rim of the pie shell is completely covered with curls. Transfer pie shell to refrigerator; let chill 1 hour. Brush curls with remaining beaten egg.
In a large bowl, mix together both sugars, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Add pumpkin puree and stir well to combine. Whisk in remaining 3 eggs and cream.
Pour pumpkin mixture into prepared pie shell. Transfer to a 375 degree oven and bake until filling is just set, about 40 minutes. Let pie cool completely on a wire rack. Sprinkle pie with praline topping just before serving.

Pecan-Praline
Makes enough topping for two 9-inch pies

Ingredients:
Vegetable oil, for baking sheet
1 cup sugar
1 cup whole pecans, lightly toasted

Directions
Lightly coat a baking sheet with vegetable oil; set aside.
Mix together sugar and 1/4 cup water in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Cover and cook, without stirring, until an amber-colored syrup has formed, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat and add pecans. Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet; let cool completely.
When praline has cooled, coarsely chop praline. Praline should be kept in an airtight container at room temperature.

Flaky Pie Crust
Makes enough for 1 pumpkin pecan-praline pie

Ingredients:
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 cup ice water
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons sugar
9 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
6 tablespoons cold leaf lard, cut into pieces

Directions
Mix together salt and water in a small bowl until salt has dissolved; set aside.
Add flour and sugar to the bowl of a food processor; pulse to combine. Add butter and lard; continue pulsing until butter and lard form pea-sized pieces. Add the salted water and pulse until dough just comes together. Divide dough into two equal pieces, wrap tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight before using.

Pumpkin Puree
Makes 1 1/2 pounds

7 to 8 pounds pumpkins, washed and stems removed

Directions
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
*Cut pumpkins in half crosswise; scoop out seeds
*Place pumpkin halves, flesh side down, on prepared baking sheets.
*Transfer to oven and roast until easily pierced with a knife, about 1 hour.
*Let cool slightly.
*When pumpkins are cool enough to handle, scoop out flesh from skin; discard skin.
*Place pumpkin flesh in the bowl of a food processor; process until smooth.
*Place pumpkin puree in a mesh strainer set over a large bowl. Transfer strainer and bowl to refrigerator; let drain overnight.
*Discard liquid.
*Use pumpkin puree immediately, or store in an airtight container refrigerated, up to 2 days, or frozen up to one month.