With the hot cross buns out of the way, dasheen pie was my next “project” to complete. Usually, around the time of Holy Week into Easter here in Trinidad and Tobago, there is a mad rush for provision and fish in the markets and supermarkets alike.
Time For a Dasheen Pie
Thus, the price of these two food items sky rocket. With this in mind I made sure to buy my stuff before the prices rose this year. So, my Salt Mackerel was already in the freezer weeks before and my Dasheen already peeled and frozen. How’s that for planning ahead? 🙂
But, after posting all these traditional provision and fish recipes over the years, I said to myself that it is time to be a bit creative and show what else could be done using provision. I already did some wonderful creations with cassava like cassava and saltfish pie, cassava au gratin, parsley cassava and cassava dumpling. So my next root crop to experiment with naturally was dasheen.
Dasheen has been another staple root tuber, or corm to be more exact, that has been used over the centuries here in Trinidad and Tobago. And, out of it many local dishes have been born like callaloo, saheena, bhaji rice and the ever popular dasheen bush bhaji and pigtail.
What I find though is that dasheen is usually associated with Trini peasant cooking and I’m looking to change that a bit today. So, I’ve decided to forego the usual provision and fish dish usually served around this time (Good Friday/ Easter) and do something different. What I’ve come up with is a simple Dasheen Pie I believe anyone can do. I’ve kept the ingredients to a minimum so you can add your own twists and seasonings and make it your own.
Here are some ideas to get you started….
You can…
- Add more cheese or use more than one type of cheese: one for the mixture and the other to top.
- Fill it with saltfish similar to the cassava and saltfish pie recipe.
- Add seasonings of your choice like paprika, oregano, basil, green seasoning, fine leaf thyme.
So without further ado here’s my Dasheen Pie recipe.
Dasheen Pie Recipe
Dasheen Pie
Ingredients:
2 1/2 lbs dasheen (taro)
1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup evaporated milk
2 tbsp butter
2 pimento peppers, chopped finely
1 tsp chopped parsley
1 egg
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
1 celery stalk, chopped
Salt and black pepper to taste
Direction:
Place the dasheen in a pot, cover with water and bring to boil. Cook the dasheen until soft.
Note: To test for doneness just stick the dasheen using a knife or icepick. If it goes through then it is cooked.
When the dasheen is boiled. Drain and crush with a strong fork or in a food processor.
In a deep bowl mix the crushed dasheen, parsley, butter, pimento peppers, nutmeg, celery, salt and pepper…
Add the cheese. Mix well.
Note: Reserve 1/2 cup of cheese for the topping.
In a separate bowl mix the egg and milk. Add to the dasheen and mix well.
Pour in a greased dish and sprinkle with the reserved 1/2 cup of cheese.
Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes or until the top is golden.Â
Allow to cool before serving.
Dasheen Pie
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 lbs dasheen taro
- 1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese grated
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 pimento peppers chopped finely
- 1 tsp chopped parsley
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg optional
- 1 celery stalk chopped
- Salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the dasheen in a pot, cover with water and bring to boil. Cook the dasheen until soft.
- NOTE: To test for doneness just stick the dasheen using a knife or ice pick. If it goes through then it is cooked.
- When the dasheen is boiled. Drain and crush with a strong fork or in a food processor.
- In a deep bowl mix the crushed dasheen, parsley, butter, pimento peppers, nutmeg, celery, salt and pepper.
- Add the cheese. Mix well.
- NOTE: Reserve 1/2 cup of cheese for the topping.
- In a separate bowl mix the egg and milk. Add to the dasheen and mix well.
- Pour in a greased dish and sprinkle with the reserved 1/2 cup of cheese.
- Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes or until the top is golden.
- Allow to cool before serving.
Well there you have it a simple dasheen pie to die for; see you soon. 🙂
Nice! My family and I do a yam pie which is essentially the same idea but we let the yam shine with minimal seasoning. Mash the yams with butter and mix in carnation milk, salt and black pepper, chives, cheese . A layer of yam, a layer of cooked mince meat, another layer of yam then cheese to top it off. The yams hold well with carnation milk and no eggs as long as the mix isn’t wet and all the jus/sauce from the mince meat is drained. Dasheen’s a bit sweeter but I’ll try this 🙂
I did a yam pie some time ago too so I know exactly what you’re talking about. Thank you for commenting 🙂
love this recipe, Made mine with boiled green fig, sooo yummy. Thanks for sharing this one.
I went to a wedding in Arouca back in 2009, and they served Dasheen anchar! Yesss!!! I was blown away…but it was surprisingly very good.
Dasheen Anchar! You live you learn. Was the dasheen dried? Sounds like something to try as well. Looks like you know a lot Pat 🙂
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts. I truly appreciate your efforts and I will be waiting for your further write ups. Thank you once again.
I am regular reader of your blog. How are you? This blog post is actually good. Surely will try this recipe.
Eddoes can be a substitute for Dasheen.
I have a breadfruit [substitute] , thank you will be doing this recipe as an additional dish for christmas.
I also have a breadfruit pie you should check out.