How to make a Pumpkin Pie

You will need:

For the Pastry:

200g Plain Flour

130g Butter

1 Egg

1 tbsp Caster Sugar

1 tbsp water

For the Filling:

600g Pumpkin

150ml Milk

25g butter (melted)

100g caster sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp Ground Cinnamon

0.5 tsp Ground Ginger

Method:

1. Firstly we will make the pastry. In a bowl, mix together your flour and sugar. Then mix in the butter with the tips of your fingers until it resembles breadcrumbs.

2. Then add the pre beaten egg and mix. As the mixture comes together as a dough you may need to add water to help bring it together, only add a little bit at a time. Then chill in the fridge while you make the filling.

3. For the filling, Boil your pumpkin (cubed) in a saucepan for about 15 minutes of until it is softened.

4. Then drain the water from the pumpkin using a sieve. Then keeping the pumpkin in a sieve, mash it with the back of a spoon. This will help remove as much water as possible. Discard the water.

5. To the mashed pumpkin add the milk and the butter having melted it prior and mix.

6. Then mix in the pre-beaten eggs.

7. Then add the sugar, cinnamon and ginger and again mix well.

8. The on a pre-floured work surface, roll your pastry out. I used a 22cm pie dish which I floured, then line the pie dish with the pastry, cutting of any excess.

9. Then blind bake the pastry case using foil and baking beans (if you don't have baking beans you can use dried beans from the cupboard). In a pre heated oven at Gas Mark 6, 200C, 180 Fan for 15 minutes.

10. Then remove the beans and foil and add the pumpkin filling. Reduce the oven to Gas Mark 4, 180C, 160 Fan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the middle has set.