Pistachio Cardamom Ice Cream Pie
Photo by Yunhee Kim; written by Elaine Johnson
Kulfi, a lusciously dense, almost chewy Indian ice cream, is often flavored with pistachios and cardamom. It inspired this pie. If you’d like your topping to be a true pistachio green, use in-shell roasted pistachios—they tend to retain their color better than the type sold out of the shell.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Press cold pastry over bottom and up sides of a 9-in. pie pan. Crimp edges of pie with your fingertips and prick all over bottom with a fork. Chill 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°.
Step 2
2
Bake pastry on bottom rack of oven until golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely.
Step 3
3
Stir ice cream with rose water and cardamom until smooth. Spoon ice cream into crust, set on a plate, and freeze at least 4 hours.
Step 4
4
Peel papery brown skin from pistachios with a paring knife, then put nuts in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Sprinkle ground pistachios over pie. Serve immediately.
Step 5
5
*Find rose water at well-stocked grocery stores and at Indian and Middle Eastern markets. In-shell pistachios are a brighter green than the type sold shelled.
Step 6
6
More pie tips:
Step 7
7
Let the pie soften for 5 minutes at room temp to make slicing easier.
Step 8
8
If you're having trouble freeing your pie from its pan, set it over a bowl of hot water for a couple of minutes and then slide a thin knife between the pan edge and the crust. It should pop right out.
Step 9
9
Make ahead: Once the pie is fully frozen through step 3, it keeps for up to 4 days, double-wrapped in plastic wrap. Top just before serving.
Ingredients
5 cups pistachio ice cream (preferably not artificially tinted green), softened until easily spoonable
2 teaspoons rose water*, optional
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 tablespoons freshly shelled roasted salted pistachios*
Directions
Step 1
1
Press cold pastry over bottom and up sides of a 9-in. pie pan. Crimp edges of pie with your fingertips and prick all over bottom with a fork. Chill 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°.
Step 2
2
Bake pastry on bottom rack of oven until golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely.
Step 3
3
Stir ice cream with rose water and cardamom until smooth. Spoon ice cream into crust, set on a plate, and freeze at least 4 hours.
Step 4
4
Peel papery brown skin from pistachios with a paring knife, then put nuts in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Sprinkle ground pistachios over pie. Serve immediately.
Step 5
5
*Find rose water at well-stocked grocery stores and at Indian and Middle Eastern markets. In-shell pistachios are a brighter green than the type sold shelled.
Step 6
6
More pie tips:
Step 7
7
Let the pie soften for 5 minutes at room temp to make slicing easier.
Step 8
8
If you're having trouble freeing your pie from its pan, set it over a bowl of hot water for a couple of minutes and then slide a thin knife between the pan edge and the crust. It should pop right out.
Step 9
9
Make ahead: Once the pie is fully frozen through step 3, it keeps for up to 4 days, double-wrapped in plastic wrap. Top just before serving.
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