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Libby Wiersema lived in California and Alabama before settling in South Carolina 35 years ago,
where she's covered the state's best culinary offerings and tells the stories behind the food.
Fresh South Carolina strawberries are in season April through the end of May.
Lovers gift it to one another on Valentine’s Day. Children present it on Mother’s Day in a show of gratitude. It graces Southern tables to usher in springtime. And it was over a glistening slice of it that Nashville newcomer Dolly Parton had her first business meeting with country music star Chet Atkins.
What dish could be special enough to mark such momentous occasions? Fresh strawberry pie, of course.
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t fall for this gorgeous slice of deliciousness. A deconstruction of the pie, made famous in these parts by the Shoney’s restaurant chain, reveals three ingredients that play off one another to achieve a pinnacle of cool, fruity, creamy flavor: strawberry slurry, whipped cream and strawberries—lots and lots of strawberries.
And those strawberries must be fresh. In South Carolina, peak strawberry pie time is April and May when berry-laden runners pop with ruby red color.
Visiting U-pick farms - like Cottle, which has operations in Florence and other areas - to pluck the juicy, sweet fruit by hand or buying fresh-picked berries by the crate from commercial farms - like Strawberry Hill USA in Chesnee - are springtime rituals for those eager to shake off the winter doldrums and celebrate the return of locally grown, fresh produce.
The thickened filling poured over the fruit makes the berries glisten and enhances the strawberry flavor.
The components of fresh strawberry pie are pretty straightforward: a flaky, baked pie crust stuffed with fresh berries, then generously drizzled with a strawberry slurry of water, sugar and cornstarch. A couple of hours in the refrigerator to bind everything, then it’s ready to serve with a generous dollop of whipped cream. That’s it, folks.
There are variations, of course. Some make preparation a breeze and some add subtle citrusy notes. You can cut a few steps, add a little punch of flavor or make some substitutions and still end up with a classic strawberry pie. Instead of making a slurry with pureed strawberries, you can substitute a package of strawberry gelatin.
Some recipes call for substituting some of the sugar and water with a can of lemon-lime soda. A few teaspoons of lemon juice are another common flavor booster. Not inclined to make pie crust? Go ahead and buy your favorite pre-made variety. Don’t want to whip your own cream? Pick up ready-to-use whipped topping instead.
The one ingredient you don’t mess with: fresh strawberries, which Clemson Extension says are successfully grown in all regions of South Carolina.
Here’s an easy recipe for making fresh strawberry pie, followed by a list of growers and markets offering sweet, juicy, South Carolina-grown berries. Call ahead to check availability.
South Carolina Strawberry Pie
Homemade or ready-made pie crust can be used for strawberry pie.
Ingredients 1 baked 9-inch pie crust ¾ cup sugar 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 cup water 1 3-ounce package strawberry gelatin 4 cups fresh SC strawberries, washed, dried and sliced Whipped cream or topping Fresh mint to garnish
Method In a small saucepan, whisk sugar, cornstarch and water until smooth. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and sprinkle gelatin on top. Stir until dissolved. Refrigerate the mixture for 20 minutes.
In the meantime, arrange strawberries in the cooled pie crust. Pour gelatin mixture evenly over the fruit. Refrigerate the pie for at least two hours before serving. To get a clean cut, warm the blade of your knife with hot water, dry off and slice.
Top pie with whipped cream and a sprig of mint.
A dollop of whipped cream is the finishing touch for fresh strawberry pie.
Libby Wiersema lived in California and Alabama before settling in South Carolina 35 years ago,
where she's covered the state's best culinary offerings and tells the stories behind the food.
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