Pumpkin Pie Recipe

For the pie crust

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• Vegetable shortening, cold and cut into small pieces
• ½ ice water

For the pie filling:

• 1 can of pumpkin
• 1 large egg
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 can condensed milk
• ¼ tsp. nutmeg, freshly and finely grounded
• 1 tsp. cinnamon, finely ground
• ½ tsp. ginger, finely ground
• 1/8 tsp. Chinese five spices or substitute it with a pinch of fresh ground star anise, cloves and white pepper
• ½ tsp. fine salt
• 9-inch pie crust, unbaked

Making the pie crust:

1. In a mixing bowl, put the flour, sugar and salt and mix it well. Add the butter cubes and vegetable shortening pieces and mix it with the flour with the help of a fork.
2. The mixture will have a crumbly texture with small pea-sized crumbs.
3. Use a tablespoon to add water by sprinkling it on the mixture one spoon at a time. Keep mixing and sprinkling the water till the dough begins to come together.
4. Spread some dry flour on a working surface and transfer the dough on to the surface. Put the dough together into a ball and cut it into half. Flatten the two balls of dough and wrap it with a plastic
5. Place it in the refrigerator for at least an hour.

Making the pie:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
2. In a mixing bowl, add the canned pumpkin puree and add the egg yolks as well as the egg. Mix well till they are properly combined.
3. Add the sweetened condensed milk along with the rest of the ingredients and whisk together till the filling is thoroughly mixed.
4. Take one of the pie crust balls and fit it in a 9-inch crust plate. Crimp the edges.
5. Pour the filling into the crust and bake it for 15 minutes at 425 degrees F.
6. Reduce the heat and bake for another 30 to 40 minutes till the upper crust looks perfectly cooked.
7. If the center is still partially uncooked, then avoid over-baking the crust, or else it may begin to show cracks and may turn dry and hard.
8. Allow the pie to cool and the center to set perfectly before serving it.