This was my favorite pie recipe as a kid. Grandma told us kids that it was apple and raisin pie, because otherwise we (I) might not have eaten it! Green tomato mince pie is different from most pie recipes because it has a tart tanginess that comes from the unripened tomatoes. This pie is heavily spiced with cinnamon and allspice and is perfect for the holidays!
A few weeks ago, around thanksgiving time, we got our first hard freeze and had to pull all our tomatoes off the vine. Most of them were still very green. You can let your tomatoes sit until they ripen, or you can use them in this delicious pie recipe! This recipe inspires me because it utilizes a food that might otherwise be seen as inedible. There was never a tomato wasted at grandmas house, ripe or not.
Fall apples are also used in this recipe. Most recipes for green tomato mince pie use tart green apples. Grandma grew Jonathan apples and that is what she used. I experimented with both kinds of apples, green apples and a red variety from a local orchard. Honestly, there is enough sugar and spices in the pie that I couldn’t even tell. Use any apples you have on hand and this pie will still amaze.
I hope you all can gather with your families this holiday, share memories, and maybe even eat some pie {wink}! This recipe makes me thankful that my grandma taught us to be frugal, and find a way to use the food that we have. Happy holidays, and thanks for stopping by Alison’s Allspice!
- 6 cups ground green tomatoes, about 3 lbs tomtoes
- 6 cups apples, peeled and thinly sliced, about 3 lbs
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup white vinegar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp allspice
- 1 tsp cloves
- 3 cups white sugar
- 1 cup raisins
- 2 Pre-made or homemade pie crusts (Top and bottom)
- Combine tomatoes, apples, vinegars, and spices in a large pot or dutch oven. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered over low heat for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Mix in sugar and raisins and simmer for about 30 more minutes, stirring frequently to prevent it from sticking to the bottom. The filling should be thick when done, and will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Divide filling into 2 portions, about 3 cups each. Each portion makes 1 - 9 inch pie. Filling not being used should be frozen for later use.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Pour 1 portion of filling into a pre-made pie crust and cover with a top crust. Cover the edges of the pie with foil to keep the crust from over cooking. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and Bake 10 more minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
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