Bacon, Goat Brie, Leek & Pear Pie in a Roesti Crust

Ingredients

• Potato Crust1 pound potatoes, peeled and coarsely grated (I used russets)
• 3 tablespoons butter
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Filling4 ounces bacon, chopped
• Butter
• 3 ounces Woolwich Dairy Goat Brie (half the 6.5-ounce wheel)
• 3 leeks, chopped (save the dark green part for stock)
• 1 tablespoon celery leaves, finely chopped
• 4 ounces dried pears, diced
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
• 3 eggs
• 1-1/2 cups of milk or a mixture of milk and heavy cream
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 quarts of water and 2 teaspoons of kosher salt to a boil.
3. Add potatoes and bring them back to a boil and boil for 3 minutes. The potatoes should be soft, but hold their shape. Drain.
4. Mix potatoes with butter and season them with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Press the potatoes into a 9” pie pan, firmly. Make sure you get all the way up to the lip of the pan and there are no holes in the crust.
6. Bake potato crust for 20-30 minutes until fork tender.
7. In a large skillet, over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp and remove bacon pieces. Add enough butter to the leftover bacon fat to make a 1/4 cup.
8. Sauté the leeks, celery leaves and pears until soft, season with salt and pepper, adding more butter if necessary. Add thyme and parsley and continue cooking for 3 minutes. Adjust seasoning.
9. Put 3/4 of the leek mixture in the pie crust.
10. Beat eggs with milk and pour over the leek mixture.
11. Sprinkle bacon pieces on top.
12. Bake pie until almost done, about 30 minutes. You want to be able to place the brie on top without it sinking into the filling.
13. Slice brie in small 1/2” wedges and place cut sides down in a circle on top of the pie. Top with the remaining leek mixture in the center, up to the edges of the brie (you don’t want to cover the cheese).
14. Bake until the pie is done, about 10-15 minutes. You may have to cover the edges of the pie, including the brie, with foil, if the crust gets too brown before the center of the pie sets.
15. Cool slightly and serve.