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Ever wonder what’s ripe at the Crescent City Farmers Market this week? Who will be there? Who is cookin’? Sign up here for our popular electronic newsletter Market Morsels to learn recipes, market updates, and food preparation tips from our own vendors, chefs, and shoppers. It’s published each Monday so you can prepare to shop for the week!

Recipe

Creole Cushaw Pie

Despite temperatures still reaching the upper 80s, the arrival of the autumnal equinox has us pumpkin spice dreaming. Ready for those warm and cozy, savory fall flavors? The elusive cushaw squash, a harbinger of autumn, is now available at the market and is the perfect vehicle for those spice-laden flavors you crave. Try out this traditional cushaw pie recipe and feed your need!!

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Ingredients

  • 8 cups peeled and cubed cushaw squash (about ¾-inch)
  • ½ (14.1-ounce) package refrigerated piecrusts
  • ⅔ cup firmly-packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • Sweetened whipped cream, to serve

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°. Place racks in the center of oven. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with foil, and lightly spray with cooking spray.

Divide squash evenly between baking sheets. Cover with foil, and bake 35 to 45 minutes or until tender. Rotate pans half way through cooking time. Let cool to room temperature.

Line a fine-mesh sieve with a double layer of cheesecloth, and place over a large bowl. Place contents of 1 sheet pan into a prepared sieve. Carefully bring together ends of cheesecloth, and squeeze into a ball shape, ringing out excess water from the squash. Repeat with remaining squash. Combine squash in a sieve over a large bowl; cover, and let stand in refrigerator 1 hour or overnight. Roasted squash should yield about 2 cups.

Preheat oven to 375°.

On a lightly floured surface, roll piecrust into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate, pressing into bottom and up sides of plate. Fold edges under, and crimp as desired. Top with a piece of parchment paper, letting ends extend over edges of plate. Add pie weights. Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully remove paper and weights. Let crust cool on a wire rack while preparing filling.

Reduce oven temperature to 350°.

In the work bowl of a food processor, combine squash, brown sugar, eggs, cream, butter, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt. Process until smooth, and spoon into piecrust. Cover edge of piecrust with foil to prevent excess browning. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until filling is set. Serve warm or at room temperature. Top with a dollop of whipped cream.

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About Us

Market UmbrellaMarket Umbrella is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3), based in New Orleans, whose mission is to cultivate the power of farmers markets to drive economic and community health in the region. Market Umbrella has operated the Crescent City Farmers Markets (CCFM) since 1995.

Crescent City Farmers MarketThe Crescent City Farmers Market operates weekly year-round throughout New Orleans. The CCFM hosts 70+ local small farmers, fishers, and food producers, and more than 150,000 shoppers annually.