Thursday, February 4, 2010

Did You Say Prune Pie?

So while I was living in New Mexico I was introduced to Prune Pies, yum! Usually made in an horno, which is a large outdoor oven made of adobe, many of the local pueblos make and sell them on the side of the road or in local shops. They became one of my favorite treats while living in New Mexico and since moving back I've missed them dearly!
It has been hard to find a recipe but I finally found one in a small pamphlet called "Sampling New Mexico Foods" printed in 1983, for the E. J. Martinez Elementary School. It didn't have a lot of "exact" measurements so I've listed how I made it below; you may need to do a little tweaking with the times depending on how much you make.
I've also renamed the recipe Pueblo Plum Pie (try saying that three times fast!) as everyone cringes at the word prune... not sure why? Well in any case they came out really good and pretty darn close to the pueblo made pies. I hope you are willing to try it as I'm pretty sure you'll really like it! It's pretty much like a giant cookie with fruit inside... enjoy!!!

Pueblo Plum Pie



Ingredients:
  1. 4 C flour
  2. 1 1/4 C sugar
  3. 1/4 tsp salt
  4. 2 tsp baking powder
  5. 1 C shortening
  6. 1 1/2 lbs prunes, pitted (I used SunSweet Pitted Prunes - 18oz)
  7. Pinch of ground cloves
  8. 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  9. 10-15 Tbls. cold water
  10. Milk
Directions:
  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F
  2. Mix together flour, baking powder, salt and 1/2 cup of sugar
  3. Cut in the shortening until the mixture is crumbly
  4. Add enough cold water to make a soft dough
  5. Knead slightly and cut in half
  6. Roll out dough, 1/4 inch thick, and line cookie sheet with one
  7. Cook prunes in water until soft, about 5-10 minutes, drain
  8. Mash well, adding 3/4 cups of sugar (to taste, you may not need it all)
  9. Season with cinnamon and cloves
  10. Spread filling evenly over bottom crust
  11. Roll out remaining dough, 1/4 inch thick
  12. Cover with top crust pinch seams and cut steam vents 
  13. Lightly brush top of pie with milk and sprinkle with sugar
  14. Bake until crust is slightly brown, approximately 30-40 minutes
After shortening was added:


Final dough before kneading:


Prunes after the boil:


Prunes mashed:


Prune mixture spread out onto bottom level of dough:


Pie before cooking with both layers of dough:





46 comments:

  1. My dad is from New Mexico and has requested Prune pie for this Thanksgiving. Having never had it myself, I don't really know what I'm making. This recipe sounds as authentic as it gets. Thanks for sharing!

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  2. My aunt always claimed that she invented them...from Penasco NM

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    1. That's where I was born,but raised in Colorado. My relatives always made those pies but they added a ittle vanilla to the dough. The younger generation doesn't make them. Maybe a few baby boomers do. They are so good! It's a treat!

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    2. I know people from penasco. What part of Colorado did you live in. I'm from Rocky Ford.

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    3. Wow! I’m from Ordway. My parents were from NM. Mom made prune pie for Christmas. I’m carrying on the tradition.

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  3. Who's your aunt from penasco? My family is from new mexico. I have family who still loves in penasco.

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  4. Replies
    1. So cool to hear all these stories about New Mexico. I have lots of Family all over New Mexico & Colorado. My Granma always made pasteles de cedwela. ( How ever its spelled) she would also make empanadas. Can't wait to take some to the Thanksgiving dinner with friends who I don't believe have ever had PRUNE PIES!

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  5. How much water do you cook the prunes in?

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    1. I just made this pie (it was delicious). I barely covered the prunes with water; once they were mashed the consistency was perfect and I didn't have any water to drain off.

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  6. My grandmere used to make this; she was from Belgium. It reads exactly as she made it, except that she used a pie pan. I wonder what the connection is between New Mexico and Belgium. I'm no cook, but I'm going to try to make it. I miss it, and the old times, that much. Thank you for printing this recipe.

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  7. I used to live in Santa Fe and would see these at the farmers market! -Jessie from CakeSpy

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  8. My gma n Tia are from Pensaco NM, well I was brought up in Penasco,by my Gma Salena,and we used to eat these all the time n I've been looking for thus recipe for years... my sister calls these pies go-go pies....prunes n pies.. ha ha...ty for sharing...:)

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  9. My gma n Tia are from Pensaco NM, well I was brought up in Penasco,by my Gma Salena,and we used to eat these all the time n I've been looking for thus recipe for years... my sister calls these pies go-go pies....prunes n pies.. ha ha...ty for sharing...:)

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  10. The picture of the slice of pie looks like the pie my beautiful grandma used to make for us during Thanksgiving & Christmas. She also made them in a pie pan. I can't wait to make this.

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  11. I've wanted this recipe for years. Thank you for sharing. Going to try this.

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  12. Have you tried adding a little vanilla extract to the crust mix....

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  13. Hello. I have made this recipe for Thanksgiving and Christmas for my grandfather-in-law who is from Valdez, NM and he is my official taste tester. He said that last year's was delicious and tasted just like his mom's did. I am hoping to get better every year but I really appreciate you posting this recipe because I could not find an authentic one anywhere prior to finding yours. In Valdez, NM and Taos, NM they call it "Prune Pie." When the holidays come around every year, the three generations, husband, husband's dad and grandfather always ask if I am going to make them Prune Pie and I always do! It's become a family tradition. Thank you!

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    1. I used to have a great recipe from a woman who lived in Arroyo Seco. We used to go out and pick the wild plums and make prune pie!!! Love it!!!!

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    2. I was raised in Ojo Caliente. My family was los Luceros. We lived right below the Mesa Vista School. I lived several years later in Espanola. Those prune pies are the best. Sadly here in Clovis NM they dont know about them. Will have to make a batch and introduce these people to our prune pies from Northern. New Mexico

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  14. My 97 year old grandmother is from the Taos area and has made this every Christmas with no recipe! So excited to find this and carry on the tradition!

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  15. Thank you for sharing this recipe. My husbands Grandmother came from Italy and always made this for Thanksgiving or Christmas. This is the first recipe I've found that is very close to how she prepared it only she also added some lemon juice. Going to try it.

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  16. I'm jewish, and we have a prune filled cookie called Hamentashen, which is a traditional and symbolic triangular cookie served at Purim. I had the idea to make it in to a pie, and found this recipe. We usually add lemon juice, and no spices. I cant wait to try it both ways!

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    1. Many New Mexican settlers were Jewish. In order to get to the New Word many pretended to be Spanish Catholic converses, like my family. We used a dremel in a game c as called Pon, very similar. My grandma also put out the menorah. I bet there is more to this prune pie then we realize. Thank you for sharing.

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  17. We are Mescaleros from New Mexico, and my ma used to make prune pies from scratch but she essentially made it the way this recipe reads, thanks...little wolf

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  18. My gramma Frances Graves from taos NM taught me this recipe in the early 80's.
    It's one of my favorites.
    Miss u gramma♡

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  19. From New Mexico, my family is from Rainsville near Mora! My Grandma who lived in La Cueva made the best cirguela pies ever! I love them!

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  20. My family is from las Vegas NM and love these pies as well

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  21. I wanted to compare this recipe with my mom's Prune Empanadas and it's very close! She is originally from Penasco, NM and this was always a nice treat. Yes, many cringe after hearing prunes, so I like the idea of plums. Mom has since passed, so my niece and I plan to make these this season.

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  22. I use the same brand prunes but I don't boil my prunes. I cut then in quarters put them in my food processor with a little prune juice until it is a good thick paste consistency. (Do it in small batches).I don't use sugar in the filling. The rest of the recipe is about the same. (I use lard in my crust) My family are Tewa from Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, New Mexico.

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  23. My grandmother Josepha and my mom Lucy were/are from Taos... These were made as sheet pies and empanadas with pinion oh what memories

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  24. I have eaten this from the native Americans in the Pueblo here in New Mexico I love them but I have heard they add corn meal to the dough does any one know of this and if so can any one let me know would love to make some pies thank you and please

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  25. My mom passed four years ago we have all her recipes but her prune fried pie recipe was lost. It was a family favorite

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  26. My mom was from Wagon Mound,NM, then family moved to Denver. She made prune pies, my dad's favorite. I made them for my dad after my mom passed. I have not made one in a very long time and have been craving one.

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  27. thank you so much for sharing, I have been looking for this recipe. it is a favorite my grandma made me. she passed away many years now. I never learned to make it. she was from Trinidad CO. I miss you grandma

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  28. My dear cousin (92 yrs old) has one for me each time I visit Mora which isn't often enough

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  29. I made this for the first time and it is delicious. I tweaked it by mixing it with apple pie filling and adding sliced peaches, diced pears, maraschino cherries and shredded coconut. It taste so good. I'm making hand held pies like what you would get at McDonald's.

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  30. I forgot to mention that all the other fruits were cooked until slightly softened.

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  31. I was so happy to find this recipe. I grew up in Antonito Colorado southern Colorado. My Mother made this pie during lent.Now I want to make for my family.

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  32. I have cans of Plums in lite syrup. How do I use those instead?

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  33. I have this cookbook. My estimates of ingredients are the same but double the filling (3 pounds prunes, 2 cups sugar)
    Love that cookbook and I miss Mrs Graham.

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  34. Wow I saw your recipe and I got excited my Nana used to make them but I never got the recipe. I remember her putting them in her bread box. They are so good thank you for sharing your recipe. My sisters are a static.

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  35. I'm delighted to stumble upon your recipe. My dad was from Taos and his mother was from Chamisal. This pie was always made around the holidays. How wonderful that you standardized the measurements.
    I'll be making this this week.

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  36. Your crust recipe is confusing do you add 11/4 cup sugar or 1/2 cup sugar not well written

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  37. my grandmother was from the U:K and she made the best prune pie ever. I did not know that the recipe was from new mexico. I thought it was English.

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