Southern Cheesy Tomato Pie Recipe

This Carolina-based recipe is a favorite among us Southerners with a taste for tangy tomatoes and warm cheesy goodness.

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Prep Time 25

Cook Time 45

Cooling time 5

Total Time 1 15

Servings 6

1 Deep Dish Pie Shell, 9 inch
5 Ripe Tomatoes, washed, stem removed Slice thickly and uniformly for even cooking.
7 Ounces Dukes Mayonnaise Salad Dressing Duke's Low-fat mayo works well.
½ Cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
¼ Cup Parmesan Cheese, shredded
½ Cup Fresh Basil Leaves, chopped Optional herb could be chives.
1 Egg, beaten well
⅛ Teaspoon Black pepper, ground
Non-iodized salt

Preheat oven to 375℉.
Prebake pierced bottom of pie shell 20 - 25 minutes at 350F until golden. Let the crust cool completely.

Pre-bake the bottom pie crust while sliced tomatoes are draining on paper towels to save time.

Place thick sliced tomato slices on a tray lined in paper towels and sprinkle with non-iodized salt or allow to drain in a colander for about 15 minutes to drain some moisture. Pat tops of tomatoes with paper towels to absorb excess liquid that could cause pie crust to get soggy during cooking.
Use a mixing bowl to combine mayonnaise, cheddar, egg, basil, and pepper.

Add a few drops of your favorite hot sauce into the egg for an added spice.

Place sliced tomatoes in cooled pie shell flat down. Reserve a few slices for decorating the top if desired. Top the tomato layer with mayo mixture and spread to the edges of crust. Cover the top completely.
Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool and sprinkle top with parmesan cheese before slicing and serving. Garnish with basil. if desired.

Store leftovers in the refrigerator and reheat in air fryer, toaster oven or conventional oven.

Tomato Trivia:

Tomatoes were likely first grown in South Carolina in the 1700's, which truly makes them a Carolina thang, y'all!
Tomatoes and pasta were paired together by Italians first in the 19th Century.
Tomatoes were designated as "vegetables" by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1893
Just 1/2 Cup of fresh tomato contains 22mg of Vitamin C
Tomatoes are synonymous with summer in the hot Carolinas. Temperatures are high for so long that we get a second growing season for these plants annually.