2013-11-28

Your guide to the year’s most important meal, with our best recipes, techniques and tricks. Consider these building blocks, then make the feast your own.

BY JULIA MOSKIN & MELISSA CLARK

We’ve broken Thanksgiving dinner down to its essential elements. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and potatoes, of course. But no less necessary, if slightly less obvious, is something orange (yams, squash or even mac and cheese). A green and snappy vegetable. And pie — at least two.

In each category, we give you our preferred recipe, a standout of its kind. But we offer alternatives, too. If your family demands creamed onions or parsnip soup as a first course, have at it. Mix and match. Those dishes make the table yours; these are the essentials that make it Thanksgiving.

TURKEY

GRAVY

POTATOES

CRANBERRY SAUCE

STUFFING

SOMETHING ORANGE

GREEN & SNAPPY VEGETABLES

PIES

Turkey



Photo by Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times, Video by Jenny Woodward for The New York Times

For all the attention we lavish on Thanksgiving turkeys, the truth is more work does not necessarily yield a better bird. That’s why I swear by no brining, no stuffing, no trussing and no basting. Instead of a messy wet brine, I use a dry rub (well, technically a dry brine) — a salt and pepper massage that locks in moisture and seasons the flesh.

No stuffing or trussing allows the bird to cook more quickly, with the white and dark meat finishing closer to the same time. And if you oil but don’t baste your turkey, you’ll get crisp skin without constantly opening the oven. MELISSA CLARK

Simple Roast Turkey Recipe

TIME: 3 1/2 hours, plus 1 to 3 days’ standing

YIELD: 10 to 12 servings

INGREDIENTS

1 turkey (10 to 12 pounds)

Coarse kosher salt

1 tablespoon black pepper

1 lemon, zested and quartered

1 bunch fresh thyme or rosemary

1 bunch fresh sage

12 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled

1 bottle hard apple cider (12 ounces)

Dry white wine, as needed

2 onions, peeled and quartered

3 bay leaves

Olive oil or melted butter, as needed

PREPARATION

Remove any giblets from the cavity and reserve for stock or gravy. Pat turkey and turkey neck dry with paper towel; rub turkey all over with 1/2 teaspoon salt per pound of turkey, the pepper and the lemon zest, including the neck. Transfer to a 2-gallon (or larger) resealable plastic bag. Tuck herbs and 6 garlic cloves inside bag. Seal and refrigerate on a small rimmed baking sheet (or wrapped in another bag) for at least 1 day and up to 3 days, turning the bird over every day (or after 12 hours if brining for only 1 day).

Remove turkey from bag and pat dry with paper towels. Place turkey, uncovered, back on the baking sheet. Return to the refrigerator for at least 4 hours and up to 12 hours to dry out the skin (this helps crisp it).

When you are ready to cook the turkey, remove it from the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature for one hour.

Heat oven to 450 degrees. In the bottom of a large roasting pan, add the cider and enough wine to fill the pan to a 1/4-inch depth. Add half the onions, the remaining 6 garlic cloves and the bay leaves. Stuff remaining onions and the lemon quarters into the turkey cavity. Brush turkey skin generously with oil or melted butter.

Place turkey, breast side up, on a roasting rack set inside the roasting pan. Transfer pan to oven and roast 30 minutes. Cover breast with aluminum foil. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of a thigh reaches 165 degrees, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours more. Transfer turkey to a cutting board to rest for 30 minutes before carving.

Gravy

Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times

You need gravy to lubricate the turkey, moisten the potatoes, douse the stuffing. But don’t let the fact that it’s made at the last minute stress you out. Here’s a secret: You can make gravy up to five days ahead. Then, as you reheat it, whisk in the turkey pan drippings for extra flavor. Mark Bittman’s version is every bit as good as last-minute gravy (I tested the two side by side to be sure) — and far less crazy-making. MELISSA CLARK

Make-Ahead Gravy

MARK BITTMAN

TIME: 20 minutes, with premade stock

YIELD: 5 to 6 cups

INGREDIENTS

1 stick butter

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup flour

Salt and pepper

4 to 5 cups rich stock, warmed

Turkey drippings and giblets, optional

PREPARATION

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, then add onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle the flour on the onions, stirring constantly, and cook until flour is golden to brown. Adjust heat so mixture does not burn.

Gradually whisk in 4 cups stock until mixture thickens and is smooth. If it is too thick, add liquid. Cool, cover and chill.

When ready to serve, reheat mixture over low heat, stirring. Scrape bottom of turkey pan and add drippings or giblets to gravy. Taste and adjust seasoning, then serve.

Potatoes



Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times, Video by Deborah Acosta/The New York Times

To many Americans, gravy without mashed potatoes is like jam without toast: a condiment with no consequence. No potatoes is not an option. “But we’re having sweet potatoes and squash,” the cook laments. “Do we really need another side?” Yes, you do. Our essential recipe, an archival one by Melissa Clark, is simply the best mashed-potato recipe we know, adapted to serve a large number of people and to eliminate any last-minute work. Mash a pile of potatoes in the morning, then slide the casserole dish in with the turkey as it finishes cooking. JULIA MOSKIN

Mashed Potato Casserole With Sour Cream and Chives

MELISSA CLARK

TIME: 40 minutes, plus 30 to 40 minutes’ baking

YIELD: 12 to 14 servings

INGREDIENTS

14 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, and more for the pan

6 pounds russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks

2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 1/2 cups sour cream

1 teaspoon black pepper

6 tablespoons finely chopped chives

2/3 cup bread crumbs

2/3 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

PREPARATION

Lightly grease a 9-inch-by-13-inch baking pan.

In a large pot, bring the potatoes, 4 quarts water and 2 tablespoons salt to a boil. Boil potatoes until fork tender, about 20 minutes. Drain.

Mash potatoes with 10 tablespoons butter, sour cream, 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper. (If you have a food mill or ricer, now is the time to use it; push the potatoes through and then gently combine them with the butter, sour cream, salt and pepper.) Mash in the chives. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Spread potatoes into the prepared pan. At this point you can cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days, but it is best to avoid chilling mashed potatoes if you can.

In a small bowl, combine the remaining 4 tablespoons butter, bread crumbs and cheese. Mix together until it forms coarse crumbs. Crumbs can be refrigerated for three days.

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Sprinkle crumbs over the top of the potato casserole and bake until golden and crisp, 30 to 40 minutes.

Cranberry Sauce

Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times

Almost everything on the Thanksgiving table might show up at another holiday meal, but cranberry sauce is a one-night-only treat. Nothing beats its puckery-sweet jolt, a sharp knife that cuts through all the starchy food on the menu. Our essential recipe, from David Tanis, is modern and fresh; it underscores the usual sour and sweet flavors with the thrum of fresh ginger and chile heat. JULIA MOSKIN

Spicy Red Pepper Cranberry Relish

DAVID TANIS

Every year, I come up with a kicky condiment, usually made with cranberries, to offset the neutral (read: bland) yet rich nature of the meal. This time around it is going to be a hot red-pepper cranberry relish with jalapeños and cayenne. You can keep the seasoning somewhat tame, or ramp up the heat to taste. It will keep for 2 weeks or so; make it in advance, as soon as cranberries are available, and have it on hand in the fridge through the holiday season.

TIME: 30 minutes

YIELD: About 2 cups

INGREDIENTS

1 cup sugar

2 large jalapeños, preferably red, seeded and finely diced

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1 tablespoon grated ginger

12 ounces cranberries

PREPARATION

Put sugar, jalapeños, lemon juice, salt and cayenne in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 cup water, then stir with a wooden spoon to dissolve sugar, and simmer 2 minutes.

Add ginger and cranberries, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and let mixture cook, stirring occasionally, until cranberries have softened and no liquid remains in pan, about 15 minutes.

Let cool and taste. Add more cayenne or jalapeños if desired. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Stuffing

Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times, Video by Deborah Acosta/The New York Times

Discord swarms around the issue of stuffing. Should it be cooked in the bird or baked alongside, as dressing? White or corn bread? Firm enough to slice or soft as pudding? Call this recipe the peacemaker, because it’s adaptable enough to make everyone happy. You can use white or corn bread (and gluten-free corn bread works perfectly). The mushrooms allow vegetarians to nix the bacon without sacrificing all the flavor. We advocate dressing, but if you want to stuff, you can do that, too. MELISSA CLARK

Two-Way Stuffing With Mushrooms and Bacon

TIME: 2 to 2 1/2 hours

YIELD: 8 to 10 servings

INGREDIENTS

3 tablespoons melted butter, more as needed for greasing pan

1 1/2 pounds sliced white bread or corn bread

1/2 pound thick-cut bacon

2 large leeks, trimmed and sliced (3 cups)

1 1/2 pounds mixed mushrooms, cut into bite-size pieces

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

3/4 teaspoon black pepper

2 tablespoons chopped sage

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 1/4 cups chicken stock, more as needed

1/4 cup apple cider, if using white bread

3 tablespoons chopped parsley

PREPARATION

Heat oven to 250 degrees. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Trim the crusts from the white bread and cut into 1-inch cubes; if using corn bread, coarsely crumble it. Spread the bread pieces out on one or two large baking sheets. Toast in the oven, tossing occasionally, until very dry, about 30 minutes for white bread, 1 hour for corn bread. Transfer to a large bowl to cool. Increase oven temperature to 375 degrees.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the bacon strips until crisp. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain, leaving the fat in the pan. Add the leeks to the bacon fat and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the mushrooms, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Cook, tossing frequently, until mushrooms are tender and most of their juices have evaporated, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the sage and cook 1 minute. Add the wine and cook until it evaporates, about 2 minutes.

Spoon the mushroom mixture over the dried bread. Stir in stock. If using white bread, stir in the cider. Add parsley, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. The mixture should be moist and very soft. If you like your stuffing extremely moist, add enough stock to make it seem slightly soggy but not wet. (Think pudding.) Crumble bacon and stir it in.

Transfer the bread mixture to the prepared baking pan. Drizzle 3 tablespoons melted butter over the stuffing. Bake until golden, 35 to 45 minutes.

 

Something Orange

Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times, Video by Deborah Acosta/The New York Times

Yams, sweet potatoes and squash take us back to a time when Thanksgiving was a seasonal celebration of the harvest. You need the warm glow of Something Orange on your table; it will help brighten the monotonous brown of turkey, gravy and stuffing. Our essential recipe, a gorgeous combination of roasted squash and red onions with a shower of fresh green herbs, may seem daring for Thanksgiving, but it works together brilliantly. JULIA MOSKIN

Roasted Butternut Squash and Red Onions

Adapted from “Jerusalem” by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi

This dish can be served hot or room temperature, or even without the tahini sauce. (If you do use the sauce, and we think you should, drizzle it over the top.) Don’t worry about leaving the squash unpeeled. The high-temperature roasting softens it completely, and eliminating that step saves a lot of time.

TIME: 1 hour

YIELD: 10 to 12 servings

INGREDIENTS

About 1/2 cup olive oil, plus extra for pans

4 large red onions

Coarse salt and black pepper

4 pounds butternut squash cut into 1/2-inch wedges, peeled or unpeeled

1/3 cup pine nuts or shelled green pistachio nuts (optional)

2 tablespoons coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley, mint, cilantro or a combination, for garnish

FOR TAHINI SAUCE (OPTIONAL)

1/4 cup tahini paste

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 small clove garlic, crushed

PREPARATION

Heat oven to 475 degrees. Lightly coat two large baking sheets with olive oil.

Peel onions, leaving root ends intact. Cut each onion in half from stem to root. Cut each half into 4 wedges, leaving the root intact so that each wedge holds together. Spread on a baking sheet, sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with oil.

Put the squash in a large mixing bowl. Add 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and about 1/4 teaspoon pepper; toss to coat. Spread on a baking sheet, peel side down (if intact).

Place both pans in oven and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, until the vegetables have taken on some color and are cooked through. Keep an eye on the onions, as they may cook faster than the squash and need to be removed earlier.

If using pine nuts, pour 1 tablespoon oil into a small frying pan and place over medium-low heat. Add nuts and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often, until the nuts are golden brown and smell toasty. Immediately remove from the heat and dump onto a cutting board to stop the cooking. If using pistachios, chop coarsely when cool enough to handle.

To make tahini sauce, place tahini in a bowl. Add lemon juice, 1/4 cup water, garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Whisk until sauce is the consistency of honey, adding more water or a tablespoon of olive oil if necessary.

When the vegetables are cooked, set aside until ready to serve. (The vegetables should be served the same day they are made. They can be served at warm room temperature, or reheated just before serving.)

To serve, arrange vegetables on a large serving platter. If using tahini sauce, drizzle on top. Sprinkle herbs and, if using, nuts on top and serve.

 

Green & Snappy Vegetables

Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times, Video by Deborah Acosta/The New York Times

Green vegetables are the hallmark of the modern holiday table, the dish that says, “We know it’s Thanksgiving, but not everything has to be starchy, sweet or both.” The lineup cries out for something zippy and tart to cut through the richness. Cranberry sauce played this part for centuries, but you can’t eat much of it: It’s a sauce, not a side. The combination of citrus and cruciferous in this archival recipe makes it essential, but any winter green with a bit of tang, spice or ginger will do the job. JULIA MOSKIN

Hashed Brussels Sprouts With Lemon Zest

Adapted from “The Union Square Cafe Cookbook” by Michael Romano and Danny Meyer

This is a pain-free way to cook a whole lot of brussels sprouts, so long as you have a food processor. (And if you’re cooking Thanksgiving dinner, you deserve to have a food processor.)

TIME: 25 minutes

YIELD: 8 to 12 servings

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, more to taste

Grated zest of 1 lemon

2 to 3 pounds brussels sprouts

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons butter

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons black mustard seeds, cumin seeds, or poppy seeds

1/4 cup dry white wine or vermouth

Salt and pepper to taste

PREPARATION

Place lemon juice in a large bowl. Cut bottoms off sprouts, and discard. Working in batches, use a food processor fitted with the slicing blade to cut sprouts into thin slices. (If cutting by hand, halve sprouts lengthwise, and thinly slice them crosswise. The slices toward the stem end should be thinner, to help pieces cook evenly.) As you work, transfer slices into bowl with lemon juice. When all sprouts are sliced, toss them in juice and use your fingers to separate leaves. (Recipe can be prepared to this point and refrigerated, covered, for up to 3 hours.)

When ready to serve, heat oil and butter over high heat in a skillet large enough to hold all sprouts. When very hot, add sprouts, garlic and seeds, and cook, stirring often, until sprouts are wilted and lightly cooked, but still bright green and crisp, about 4 minutes. Some leaves may brown slightly.

Add wine and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, 1 minute more. Turn off heat, add salt and pepper to taste, and more lemon juice if desired. Stir in the lemon zest, reserving a little for top of dish. Transfer to a serving bowl, sprinkle with remaining zest and serve.

 

Pies

Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times

Thanksgiving is all about excess, and that is why you need at least two or three pies. And yes, it needs to be pie; it’s an icon of the holiday table. (If you really want cake, ice cream or cookies, serve them alongside.) Here we offer a trio of updated classics: a tangy apple-cranberry with ginger and rum; a fudgy chocolate pecan spiked with bourbon; and a particularly creamy brandied pumpkin. Choose two, or go ahead and make all three. MELISSA CLARK

Apple Cranberry Slab Pie With Ginger and Rum

A slab pie is nothing more than a regular pie writ large. Baked in a 9-x-13-inch pan, this pie feeds 24 but is easier to make (and to carry) than 3 separate pies. The filling was inspired by an e-mail from Pete Wells, our restaurant critic, who mused about his ideal Thanksgiving dessert; the brown sugar, ginger and rum give it a complex and more autumnal flavor than most apple pies. Serve with whipped crème fraiche and small glasses of good, aged rum.

TIME: 2 1/2 hours, plus 1 hour chilling

YIELD: 18 to 24 servings

INGREDIENTS

For the crust:

3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (450 grams)

1 teaspoon fine sea salt (6 grams)

3 sticks plus 6 tablespoons butter, preferably a high-fat, European-style butter, chilled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (15 ounces/425 grams)

6 to 8 tablespoons ice water, more as needed

FOR THE FILLING

6 3/4 pounds apples, preferably a mixture of Gala, Golden Delicious and Granny Smith, peeled, cored and sliced 1/4-inch thick (21 cups/about 3 kilograms)

1 1/2 packed cups light brown sugar (300 grams)

3/4 cup maple syrup

1 cup dried cranberries (150 grams)

6 tablespoons instant tapioca (75 grams)

3 tablespoons dark rum

1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest (3 grams)

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger (18 grams)

1 1/4 teaspoons fine sea salt (9 grams)

2 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon (6 grams)

3/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced small (1 ounce/28 grams)

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 tablespoon heavy cream

1 1/2 tablespoons Demerara sugar (20 grams)

PREPARATION

Make the crust: In a food processor, briefly pulse together flour and salt. Add butter and pulse until mixture forms chickpea-size pieces. Add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse until mixture is just moist enough to hold together. Form dough into two balls, one about 2/3 of dough and the other the remaining 1/3 of dough. Wrap each with plastic and flatten into disks. Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 2 days before rolling out and baking.

Lightly flour a work surface and remove the plastic wrap from the larger dough ball. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough ball to a 12-by-16-inch rectangle, dusting with flour if dough sticks. (Leave smaller dough ball in the fridge.) Transfer rolled-out dough to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Carefully line the pan with dough, pressing it into bottom of pan and completely up the sides. Crimp the top edges. Chill dough in fridge until ready to fill.

Roll out remaining dough ball to a 10-by-13-inch rectangle, dusting with flour if dough is sticking. Using a decorative cookie cutter (like apples, leaves or hearts), cut out dough shapes. Reroll scraps if necessary to use up as much dough as possible. Transfer cutouts to a small baking sheet. Return baking pan and sheet to refrigerator to chill while you prepare filling.

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Arrange a wire rack in the lowest position in the oven. Place a large rimmed baking sheet on the floor of the oven to preheat.

Make the filling: In a large bowl, combine apples, sugar, maple syrup, cranberries, tapioca, rum, lemon zest and juice, ginger, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Let mixture stand 10 minutes. Pour filling into bottom pie crust and dot with 2 tablespoons diced butter. Arrange dough cutouts on top of apple mixture, overlapping it slightly and making sure several cutout edges touch sides of pan. Whisk together egg and cream. Brush over crust; sprinkle with Demerara sugar.

Move rimmed baking sheet from oven floor to lowest rack. Place pie pan on baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees. Continue baking until crust is golden brown and juices are bubbling thickly, 40 to 60 minutes longer. Loosely tent top of pie with foil if crust browns before filling is ready. Transfer pie to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.

Note: To turn this slab pie into a standard 9-inch pie that serves 8 people, use 1/3 of the amount of each ingredient. (The exceptions are the whole egg and the tablespoon of cream for the egg wash; use the same amount as you would for the slab pie.) A smaller pie will bake more quickly, so watch it carefully; it should need about 50 to 60 minutes in the oven. It’s done when the juices bubble up thickly and the apples are tender. And don’t forget when dividing into thirds that a third of a tablespoon equals a teaspoon.

 

Brandied Pumpkin Pie

Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times

You can make this pie with canned pumpkin if you’re in a hurry. But if you’ve got time, homemade roasted butternut squash purée will give you a fresher, sweeter and more distinct flavor.

TIME: About 2 hours, plus 1 1/2 hours’ chilling

YIELD: 8 servings

INGREDIENTS

For the crust:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (150 grams)

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

10 tablespoons unsalted butter, preferably a high-fat European style, cold and cut into cubes

2 to 4 tablespoons ice water, as needed

FOR THE FILLING

1 3/4 cups squash or pumpkin purée (see note)

3 large eggs

1 cup heavy cream

3/4 cup dark brown sugar (153 grams)

2 tablespoons brandy

2 teaspoons ground ginger (4 grams)

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (3 grams)

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (3 grams)

1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

Pinch ground clove

PREPARATION

Make the crust: In a food processor, pulse together the flour and salt. Add butter and pulse until the mixture forms chickpea-size pieces. Add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse until the dough just comes together. It should be moist, but not wet. On a lightly floured surface, gather the dough into a ball. Flatten into a disk with the heel of your hand. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 12-inch circle. Transfer crust to a 9-inch pie plate. Fold over any excess dough, then crimp edges. Prick crust all over with a fork. Chill crust for 30 minutes.

While the dough chills, heat oven to 375 degrees. Line chilled crust with aluminum foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 20 minutes; remove foil and weights and bake until pale golden, 5 to 7 minutes more. Cool on rack until needed.

Lower oven temperature to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin purée, eggs, cream, dark brown sugar, brandy, ginger, cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, the nutmeg and clove. Pour mixture into the cooled pie shell. Transfer pie to a large baking sheet. Bake until crust is golden and center jiggles just slightly when shaken, 50 to 60 minutes. Cool completely before serving.

Note: To make butternut squash purée, peel, halve and seed a 2 1/2- to 3-pound squash and cut flesh into 1 1/2-inch chunks. Coat with melted butter or oil and roast at 400 degrees, stirring once or twice, until the squash is tender, about 30 to 45 minutes. Let cool, then purée in a food processor.

 

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times

If you can’t live without chocolate, this is the pie for your table. I used a combination of chocolate and cocoa powder, both to temper the usual cloying pecan pie sweetness, and to up the bittersweet factor. You can substitute walnuts, almonds or even cashews for the pecans, or use a combination.

TIME: 1 1/2 hours, plus at least 1 hour chilling and 4 hours’ cooling

YIELD: 8 servings

INGREDIENTS

For the crust:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (150 grams), plus more for dusting

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

10 tablespoons unsalted butter, preferably high-fat, European style, chilled and cubed

2 to 4 tablespoons ice water, as needed

FOR THE FILLING

1 1/2 cups pecan halves (170 grams)

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped (56 grams)

3/4 cup dark corn syrup

4 large eggs

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar (100 grams)

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder (5 grams)

2 tablespoons bourbon

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

PREPARATION

Make the crust: In a food processor, pulse together the flour and salt. Add butter and pulse until the mixture forms chickpea-size pieces. Add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse until the dough just comes together. It should be moist but not wet. On a lightly floured surface, gather the dough into a ball. Flatten into a disk with the heel of your hand. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.

On a lightly floured surface, after removing plastic wrap, roll out dough to a 12-inch circle. Transfer crust to a 9-inch pie plate. Fold over any excess dough, then crimp edges. Prick crust all over with a fork. Chill crust for 30 minutes.

While the dough chills, heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line chilled crust with aluminum foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake until very pale golden, 5 to 10 minutes longer.

Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Spread pecans on a rimmed baking sheet. Toast nuts, shaking pan occasionally, until fragrant, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool.

Make the filling: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter and chopped chocolate, stirring until smooth; cool.

In a large bowl, whisk together cooled chocolate-butter mixture, corn syrup, eggs, sugar, cocoa powder, bourbon and salt. Pour the mixture into the prepared crust. Arrange pecans over filling. Transfer to a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake until the filling is just set when the pan is jiggled, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove pie from the oven and cool completely on a wire rack before serving.

NYT > Dining & Wine

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