Gluten-Free Whole Grain Mediterranean Pie Crust

Gluten-Free Whole Grain Mediterranean Pie Crust
Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times
Total Time
1 hour 30 minutes
Rating
4(116)
Comments
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For the flour here I use the same 70 percent whole grain flour to 30 percent starch (like potato starch, arrowroot or cornstarch) that I used in my whole grain gluten-free muffins a few weeks ago. It is based on a formula created by Shauna James Ahern, a gluten-free food blogger. Because there is no gluten involved you don’t have to worry about overworking the dough, but the dough can break apart if you try to roll it out. I just press it into the pan, which is easy to do. I love the strong, nutty-flavored combination of buckwheat flour and millet flour. If you want a crust with a milder flavor, try a combination of cornmeal and millet flours or teff and millet flours.

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Ingredients

Yield:Two 9- or 10-inch tarts
  • 120grams (approximately 1 cup) millet flour (I make this by grinding millet in my spice mill)
  • 100grams (about ⅘ cup) another whole grain gluten-free flour, like buckwheat, cornmeal, or teff
  • 95grams (approximately 7 tablespoons) potato starch, cornstarch, arrowroot or a combination
  • 5grams (¾ teaspoon) salt
  • 50grams (¼ cup) extra virgin olive oil
  • 150 to 165grams (⅔ to ¾ cup) water
  • 10grams (2 teaspoons) red wine vinegar or strained lemon juice (optional; the reason for the acid is that it relaxes the gluten in flour, but you don’t have to worry about gluten)
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (2 servings)

654 calories; 29 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 19 grams monounsaturated fat; 5 grams polyunsaturated fat; 87 grams carbohydrates; 8 grams dietary fiber; 1 gram sugars; 15 grams protein; 619 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Sift together the grain flour and starch. In a large bowl or in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle or a food processor fitted with the steel blade, add the salt and mix together. If using a bowl, make a well in the center, add the olive oil and mix in with a fork. If using a mixer or food processor, turn on and add the olive oil. When it is evenly distributed through the grain flour and starch, combine the water and vinegar or lemon juice and add it with the machine running. The dough should come together in a ball. In most cases you won’t need as much water as is required for wheat flour dough, because the grain flours don’t absorb as much, but each combination behaves a little differently. Divide into 2 equal pieces, shape into a flat circle and wrap tightly with plastic. The dough may be sticky, so flour your hands and work surface. Let rest for 1 hour.

  2. Step 2

    To line tart pans place the dough in the center of the pan and, pressing from the heel of your hand, press the dough out to the edges of the pan, then up the sides. It should be soft and easy to manipulate. Pinch an attractive lip around the edge of the pan and refrigerate uncovered until ready to use.

Tip
  • Advance preparation: The dough can be refrigerated for 3 days or frozen before or after rolling out.

Ratings

4 out of 5
116 user ratings
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Comments

I made this pie crust tonight using millet flour, light buckwheat flour, arrowroot, salt and butter (I like the rich fat of real butter). If I could thank you in person for this recipe I would. I'm allergic to both wheat and rice, and there is NOTHING out there with recipes which either don't include rice flour or just seem to have no care about the texture and flavor of wheat/rice-free foods. My pie was a delicious masterpiece. Thank you again!!!!

I swapped out the millet flour for almond flour...it was crispy and crumbly but held together really well...so many possibilities for this pastry.

Martha Rose, If there is no gluten to be relaxed, then why is acid needed? I see that many gluten-free baked goods call for acid. Do you know why this is so? Is this denaturing the protein of the alternative grain. Maybe this is not entirely necessary.

I found the instructions in this recipe to be extremely error prone. For instance, I would suggest you pick one flour and test it a bunch vs. letting people pick one of three flours that all behave somewhat differently. Also, you should specify an actual amount of water instead of a range. It is impossible to get a flaky pastry dough with olive oil. I would recommend readers check out America's Test Kitchen's gluten free pie crust, which does produce tasty/flaky results. They use butter.

How long and at what temperature is this crust to be baked blind?

I just have to say that the crust in the photo has definitely been rolled out, not pressed in the pan. I find it disappointing when photos don't match the method. When I make GF pie crusts, I roll them between two pieces of parchment, then flip it onto a floured piece; then the crust can be centered on the pie plate or pie top by sliding off of the parchment.

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