 Traditional Shaker lemon pie | |
| Alternative names | Ohio lemon pie |
|---|---|
| Type | Pie |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Midwestern United States |
| Serving temperature | Warm |
| Main ingredients | lemons, white sugar, and eggs |
Shaker lemon pie, also known as Ohio lemon pie, is a fruit pie typical of the Midwestern United States.[1] Shaker lemon pie is notable in that it uses all parts of the lemon except for the seeds.[2][3][4]
Origin
The pie was first made in the religious communities of Shakers during the early 1800s.[1] Their success at fruit-growing led to the development of what has been called "a veritable calendar of pies"[5] In the Midwestern climate, however, lemons could not be grown, and cookbook author Caroline Piercy writes that "according to old accounts, lemons were the first food ever purchased by North Union." Two versions of the lemon pie developed,[5] one resembling a standard lemon meringue pie, the other, more frugal version using the whole lemon.[6]
Preparation
The original pie filling recipe calls for ordinary lemons, white sugar, and eggs. The entire lemon including peel is sliced paper thin,[2][7] gently mixed with sugar, and left to macerate for at least four hours and up to a full day,[3] "the longer the better".[8] During this time the mixture should be stirred every few hours, and any seeds picked out. The sugar will dissolve and the peel will soften. The beaten eggs are then mixed in, the filling added to the crust, either a lattice or full top crust added, and the pie baked. The resulting filling is a cross between marmalade and lemon curd.[2][9]
Modern variations may substitute Meyer lemons or brown sugar and add other flavorings such as ginger or blackberries.
See also
References
- ^ a b Cashman, Ryan (February 22, 2023). "The Religious 18th Century Origins Of Shaker Lemon Pie". Tasting Table. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Pie of the Week: Shaker Lemon Pie". Serious Eats. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ a b O'Brien, Sam (May 15, 2020). "Eat Like a 19th-Century Shaker With This Simple Lemon Pie". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ Fieldhouse, Paul (April 17, 2017). Food, Feasts, and Faith: An Encyclopedia of Food Culture in World Religions. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9798216085959.
- ^ a b Jeanette Vanausdall (Winter 1991). "Hoosier Home". Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History.
- ^ Sue Hubbell (2004). From here to there and back again. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-472-11419-1. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016.
- ^ Susan Westmoreland, Beth Allen (2006). Good Housekeeping Great Home Cooking: 300 Traditional Recipes. p. 301. ISBN 978-1-58816-597-8. Archived from the original on May 15, 2016.
- ^ Irma S. Rombauer and Marion Rombauer Becker (1975). Joy of Cooking. p. 657.
- ^ "Runner-up 1986: Shaker Lemon Pie". October 4, 2006. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012.
External links
- Great Ohio Recipes: Shaker Lemon Pie - PBS Western Reserve
This page was last edited on 25 May 2024, at 19:03