Oh hello there! I'm sure you guys (cuz there are so many of you right? haha!) are wondering where I've been, well I've been on a bit of a summer vacation myself! To celebrate my 22nd birthday (again!) I flew to Florida, piled the fam in a car and drove down to Key West in search of the best Key Lime Pie. I didn't really find it there but I'm still going to share my research. I also know one thing for sure, the best Key Lime Pie I've ever tasted is made by my dear friend Chieu...read through to the bottom of the post for her recipe!
My search started in Miami where I hit up 2 places, Joe's Stone Crab & Prime One Twelve.
Joe's: It was served ice cold or as my friend Beth said "frozen out of a box, like it wasn't made there" so that's a NO...
Prime One Twelve: A favorite of the Miami Heat and Miami Dolphins and just in general...rappers. But I get it because their key lime pie was by far way more creamy and delicious than Joe's...right down to the last bite! The ceviche here was the best we had all weekend though I think this place is all about the people watching...if you like watching rappers eat.
Down in Key West, we dined at Blackfin Bistro on Duval...before you indulge in their oh so yummo key lime tart (just do it, everyone at the table couldn't get enough) be sure to order their tomato gazpacho, it was packed with flavor, a bit complex and I just loved the texture. Here's what the fam had to say about the Key Lime Tart...
Mom: It was subtle and just melted in your mouth. So divine. :)
Sister: Delightful tart with a hint of lime!
Fiancé: I liked the crust, which is my favorite part of key lime pie!
If you've made it this far...congrats! Or if you've skipped to this part, that's cool too! Here’s my friend Chieu's recipe, a twist on Paula Deen's Key Lime Pie recipe. What's different? Chieu uses 2 whole eggs (not just the whites) and she bakes the crust for 8 minutes and the pie between 15-18 minutes. I made it with her once and it was actually pretty easy! Shopping tip: Look for bright green limes with thin skin. Give them the good ole squeeze test to make sure they’re not too hard. Happy pie making…hope your savor every bite :)
INGREDIENTS:
Crust:
5 tablespoons butter, melted
1 -1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup slivered almonds
Filling:
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup Key lime juice
1 teaspoon grated lime zest
2 whole eggs
Meringue:
2 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon grated lime zest
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
For the crust: Combine ingredients and pat down into a 9-inch pie pan. Bake for 8 minutes.
For the filling: In a medium bowl, combine the milk, lime juice, and 1 teaspoon zest; blend in 2 whole eggs. Pour the filling into the crust.
For the meringue: Beat 2 egg whites with the cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the sugar and zest until the mixture is stiff. Spread the meringue over the filling; spread it to touch the edge of the crust all around. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the meringue is golden brown.
Chieu and her AMAZEBALLS Key Lime Pie!!!