This not-so-southern Healthier Tomato Pie capitalizes on fresh tomato flavor with minimal mayo, in a delicious, crispy pie crust.  So long, soggy tomato pie!

Late August and early September is prime tomato season around here.

When the tomatoes first start appearing in early July, you might be humming a few verses of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”  In the beginning, the tomatoes come slowly and each one is savored.

Fast forward a few weeks, and you can’t keep up.  There’s only so many salads and tomato sandwiches you can eat.

While facing a tomato overload from our CSA a few years ago, I stumbled across a recipe for tomato pie. (And I need to clarify here that I mean a tomato pie – as in, tomatoes baked in a pie crust. Not tomato pie as it exists here in Philly, which is essentially foccacia-type dough covered in tomato sauce, kind of like a cheeseless pizza.)

Despite my complete lack of southern roots, tomatoes and mayonnaise are one of my favorite combinations (aforementioned tomato sandwiches).  I thought a tomato pie would be right up my alley.

But then… I tried it.  It was so soggy with so much mayo piled on top, it was completely unappetizing. The tomato juice ran into the crust.  The tomato flavor was lost in the pile of cheesy mayo on top.

So, I set to tweaking, resulting in a healthier, less mayo, less cheese, actually-taste-the-delicious-summer-tomatoes version of tomato pie.

It’s not so Southern anymore, but it IS delicious.  This is a great way to highlight really fresh tomatoes and leave behind all the extra goop.

If you too have ever been frustrated with soggy tomato pies, fret no more, as this recipe maximizes tomato flavor while minimizing the extra mayo and “goop”. Get ready for a crispy pie crust and a burst of fresh tomato flavor in every bite!

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Pie Crust: I always recommend using my homemade crust (more details below!) but you can substitute in a store-bought frozen crust, too. Just be sure to blind bake the crust before adding the filling! Swap out the pie crust for a gluten-free pie crust to keep this tomato pie gluten-free.
• Red Onion: A little red onion adds both a pop of color and flavor. Substitute shallots if preferred.
• Mayonnaise: We’re still going to use just a little mayo here for the classic flavor, but not so much that the tomatoes are swimming in a pool of it! If you’re anti-mayo, a little cream cheese thinned with buttermilk or Greek yogurt can be used as a substitute.
• Mozzarella Cheese: I usually use shredded mozzarella, but you can swap this out for cheddar or half mozzarella/half cheddar.
• Tomatoes: The most important part! Use firm, ripe, flavorful summer tomatoes.
• Fresh Basil: Fresh basil adds a summery herb flavor.

Homemade Pie Crust

I start with my homemade No Fail Pie Crust for this recipe.  I like homemade crusts because they don’t brown as quickly as a store-bought crust.  But if you’re not a crust-from-scratch person, a frozen crust works just fine.

You can use either a regular pie dish or a tart pan with a removable bottom, which makes removing slices of tomato pie even easier.

Once you’ve pressed the crust into your tart pan or pie dish, poke some holes in the dough with a fork.  Cover with a layer of parchment paper and some pie weights (or dried beans).  Blind bake the crust for 15-20 minutes, or until just starting to get a little brown.

Blind baking the crust will help retain a crispy crust, despite all the moisture in this tomato pie.

Just a Little Mayo

We’re making this pie upside-down compared to more “traditional” Southern tomato pies.  Instead of putting the mayo and cheese on the top, we’re putting it on the bottom!  

The heavy topping won’t weigh down the tomatoes, and I think the tomatoes on top are just prettier – this pie is about the tomatoes, not mayo and cheese!

Buuuut since a pie of nothing but crust and tomatoes would admittedly be a little bland, we’ll put a little mayo + cheese + basil layer on the bottom.

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Use Large, Firm Tomatoes

Since this pie focuses on fresh summer tomatoes, let’s talk about what kind to use.

Use medium-to-large tomatoes (not cherry tomatoes) — we want more interior tomato than exterior tomato skin.

You’ll also want to use firmer tomatoes.  Soft, juicy tomatoes release a little too much juice and will make your pie soggier.

I find Roma tomatoes work best because of their lower water content, but I’ve made many a tomato pie with big beautiful heirloom tomatoes, too – just draw out any extra juice first!

To do this, start by salting the tomatoes, which will prevent a soggy tomato pie.  Why?  It’s time for my favorite subject… kitchen chemistry!

Kitchen Chemistry

Salt draws excess moisture out of raw vegetables through a process called osmosis.  Water will always flow through cell walls from an area of more dilute solution to an area with a higher concentrated solution.  By sprinkling salt on the outside of the tomatoes, we create a higher concentration of particles on the surface of the tomato, which draws water out.

Slice your tomatoes, sprinkle with salt, and let them sit for 10 minutes.  Then blot off all the tomato juice with paper towels.

Recommended Tools for Tomato Pie

• 9-Inch Pie Plate: You can use either ceramic or glass, or a tart pan with a removable bottom.
• Pie Weights: Pie weights are essential to keep the crust from puffing up too much while blind baking.
• Serrated Knife: These small serrated knives are my favorite for cutting tomatoes – they’re inexpensive and work so well!
• Chef’s Knife: Use a sharp chef knife to cleaning slice the tomato pie into wedges.
• Cooling Rack: Transfer the freshly-baked pie to a cooling rack and let it rest before slicing.

Tips and Tricks for The Best Tomato Pie

1. Slice tomatoes 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thick.  Tomatoes that are thinner will fall apart and tomatoes that are thicker will retain extra moisture.
2. Salt your tomatoes first to draw out excess moisture.  Letting the tomatoes sit for 10-15 minutes will result in a less-soggy pie.
3. Blind bake the crust to keep the crust crisp, even for a few days.
4. Let the tomato pie sit for at least 20 minutes after baking.  This lets the tomatoes set a bit and re-absorb any juice that may be bubbling along the edges.

More Summer Tomato Recipes:

• Tomato Basil Tortellini Salad
• Italian Herb Tomato Bread
• Tomato and Zucchini Galette
• Corn Crab Tomato Salad

This Healthier Tomato Pie recipe was originally published on 09/08/2014 and was republished with updated pictures, text and recipe tips in July 2023.