Raw Strawberry Pie

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Summer brings with it the promise of fresh, ripe, juicy berries, and many an opportunity to create fabulous berry themed recipes. If you’re craving a berry pie but don’t want to sweat over an oven (or degrade those lovely antioxidants with heat!) this recipe by Dreena Burton of Plant Powered Kitchen is perfect for you.

Ingredients

Crust:

• 1 cup raw pecans
• 3/4 cup raw walnuts
• 1 cup (packed) pitted dates
• ¼ tsp (scant) sea salt
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Filling:

• 3 cups fresh strawberries (measured whole if small, or cut in half if large; these are for filling, you will need extra for garnishing if desired)
• 3/4 cup raw cashews, unsoaked (see note)
• 3-4 tbsp raw agave nectar (can substitute pure maple syrup if preferred; start with 3, adjust to taste)
• 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Couple pinches sea salt
• 1 tsp lemon zest (stir in after pureeing)
• Extra strawberries for garnishing, optional

Instructions

1) Lightly oil a pie plate with coconut or another oil.

2) Prepare the crust: Place all the crust ingredients in a food processor and pulse briefly until crumbly and the mixture will hold together when pressed with your fingers.

3) Transfer the mixture to the prepared pie plate, pressing it evenly into the pan.

4) Prepare the filling: Place all the filling ingredients, except the lemon zest (and starting with 3 tablespoons of the agave nec- tar), in a high-powered blender (see note). Puree for a minute or so at medium-high speed until completely smooth and no texture of the cashews remains.

5) Taste, and add the remaining tablespoon of agave, if needed, to sweeten, and puree again.

6) Once smooth, stir in the lemon zest.

7) Pour the filling into the crust, then cover with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and place the pie in the freezer for at least 5 to 6 hours to set. After this time, the pie will be partially set, but can be sliced. You can freeze it longer, and remove the pie about 20 minutes before serving, to slice easily. Serves 6-8.

Ingredients 411: It is preferable to use unsoaked cashews because they have less moisture, and then can absorb some of the moisture from the strawberries as the pie sets. If using local seasonal berries, they tend to be softer and juicier than imported. Opt for another 2 tablespoons of cashews to help absorb the extra juices.