Page 208 - Pie Squared

6 ounces (170 g) extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated (about 1½ cups)

1 teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 egg yolk

1 tablespoon cool water

½ teaspoon flaky salt, such as Maldon or fleur de sel

For the crust: Grate all but 1 ounce of cheese on the large holes
of a box grater. Chop the remaining cheese into small chunks. In the
food processor, pulse the flour, butter, and salt until the butter is in
small pieces coated with flour, about 15 times. Add the grated and
chopped cheese and water and process until the mixture almost

forms a ball. Form the dough into a 6- by 4-inch rectangle using
plastic wrap and a bench scraper to firmly press the dough into a
cohesive form. Wrap tightly and refrigerate a minimum of 4 hours.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator and allow it to warm
slightly. Divide the dough into two pieces, one slightly larger than the
other. Roll out the larger piece to 11 by 15 inches and place in the
slab pie pan, pressing it into the corners of the pan and allowing the
excess to drape over the sides. Refrigerate. Roll out the second

piece of dough to 10 by 14 inches, place it on a lightly floured sheet
of parchment, and refrigerate at least 20 minutes.
Heat the oven to 400°F; if you have one, place a baking stone,

Baking Steel, or inverted baking sheet on the center rack to heat
(see here).
For the filling: Slather the bottom crust with the mayonnaise.
Place the tomatoes from edge to edge, touching, to fill the crust in
one layer. Scatter the scallions and the cheese over the tomatoes.

Sprinkle the salt and pepper across the filling.
Cut strips from the top crust and twist each one gently two or
three times before draping it diagonally over the filling leaving space

between the strips. Place twisted strips in the opposite direction for a
Lazy Lattice (see here). Crimp all the way around. Stir the egg yolk
and water together and, using a pastry brush, paint the strips with