Goumi berries are one of those underrated fruits that really deserve a place in your kitchen. Small in size, bright red in color, highly nutritious, and having a peculiar sweet-sour taste that bakes well, these berries are too good for words. If you want to make a pie that is not only delicious but a bit different, then you might want to try your hand at making a goumi berry pie. In this article, we will be discussing several great recipes for goumi berry pie that are sure to amaze your family and friends, as well as your taste buds.

What Are Goumi Berries?

Before I give you the recipes, let me inform you about goumi berries. Goumi berries are small, oval-shaped fruits that grow on the shrub named goumi, which is native to Asia but cultivated in different parts of the world. These have a tart taste with a bit of sweetness, somewhat similar to cranberries or tart cherries. They are packed with vitamins A and C, antioxidants, and fiber.

Their bright red color and nutritional properties make them a great ingredient for pies, jams, and desserts. Every time they are used in pie recipes, goumi berries make that nice tartness, combined well with sweeteners and crusts.

Goumi Berry Pie Ingredients

The key ingredients you’d need to prepare a delicious goumi berry pie are:

• Fresh or Frozen Goumi Berries: If you can get fresh, that is great, but frozen works just as well.
• Sugar or Sweetener: You may use white sugar, brown sugar, or a natural sweetener such as honey or maple syrup to your liking.
• Lemon juice: A little lemon juice enhances the tartness in goumis and adds brightness to the filling.
• Cornstarch or Flour: It serves as a thickening agent for the filling to prevent it from being too liquid.
• Pie Crust: A great pie has a great crust. For convenience, you can buy store-bought crust or make your own homemade crust.
• Butter: Adding butter to the filling or dotting some on top of the crust adds to the richness of the pie.

Basic Goumi Berry Pie Recipe

Well, to get us going, here is a basic traditional recipe for a goumi berry pie. The recipe is all about the flavor of the berries, and it really couldn’t be any simpler.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups goumi berries, fresh or frozen
• 1 cup sugar, to taste
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 3 tbsp cornstarch, or 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp butter
• Store-bought or homemade pie crust
• 1 egg (for egg wash, if desired)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Berries:
   Wash fresh goumi berries clean, discarding stems and leaves. If using frozen, let them thaw and drain excess water.
2. Make the Filling:
   Place the goumi berries, sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch or flour in a large mixing bowl. Stir until all of the berries are coated. The cornstarch or flour will help the filling thicken as it bakes.
3. Prepare Pie Crust:
   Preheat oven to 375°F or 190°C. Roll out the pie crust and place it in a 9-inch pie dish. Fill the pie crust with the berry mix and spread evenly.
4. Adding Butter:
   Dot the top of the berry filling with small pieces of butter for added richness.
5. Top with Second Crust (Optional):
   If making a double-crust pie, roll out the second crust and place it over the filling. Trim excess dough, then crimp to seal. Cut a few slits in the top crust to let steam escape. For a beautiful golden finish, brush the top crust with a beaten egg.
6. Bake the Pie:
   Place the pie on the middle rack of your preheated oven. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. If the edges of the crust brown too quickly, cover them with foil.
7. Cool and Serve:
   Let the pie cool on a wire rack for at least 2 hours before slicing. This will allow filling to set. Serve this with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for a delightful treat.

Variations on Goumi Berry Pie Recipes

While the basic recipe for goumi berry pie is brilliant in itself, there is enough scope for variation and enhancement of flavor. Here are some suggestions for variations:

1. Goumi Berry and Apple Pie

You can even combine both berries and apples. Such a combination gives your pie a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. The apples will add a nice texture, but adding goumi berries provides a nice sour taste.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of goumi berries
• 2 cups thinly sliced apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work well)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch or 1/4 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 pie crusts (top and bottom)

Instructions:

• Repeat the same basic recipe steps, mixing together for the filling of the goumi berries, apples, sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The rest of the process remains the same.

2. Goumi Berry Crumble Pie

This goumi berry crumble pie is the perfect pie if you like a crumbly topping versus a bottom crust. The buttery crumble gives a wonderful texture to the tart berries.

Crumb Topping Ingredients

• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 cup cold butter, cut into small pieces

Instructions
Prepare the goumi berry filling as the basic recipe. Omit the top crust and sprinkle crumble topping over the berry filling. To make crumble combine flour, oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Bake as directed.

3. Goumi Berry and Rhubarb Pie

Goumi Berry and Rhubarb Pie addition of rhubarb give the goumi berry pie a tanginess; that is why this will be a good choice for people who prefer their desserts tangy.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups goumi berries
• 2 cups chopped rhubarb
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch or 1/4 cup flour
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 pie crusts, top and bottom

Instructions:
Mix the goumi berries, rhubarb, sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch in a large bowl. Fill the pie crust and bake according to the basic recipe.

Tips for Perfect Recipes for Goumi Berry Pie

1. Adjust Sweetness to Taste: Goumi berries can be really sour; thus, you are free to adjust the sugar according to your taste preference.
2. Use a Thickening Agent: This is necessary, otherwise, the berry filling would be thin and would run across. It thickens the juices released by the berries as they cook.
3. Pre-Bake the Crust: If you’re a bit concerned about the dreaded soggy bottom crust, you can absolutely blind-bake the pie crust for 10 minutes prior to adding the filling.
4. Serving Warm or Cold: Goumi berry pie can be served both warm and cold. Have it warm with a scoop of ice cream as a comforting dessert, or have its refreshing taste during summer when it is chilled.

Less well-known fruits are the goumi berries, which make an outstanding pie filling with their unique tart-sweet flavor. Whether you stick with the classic pie of goumi berry filling, a variation with ingredients like apple, or a crumble topping, these recipes are sure to be enlargements in your dessert repertoire.

Try these recipes for goumi berry pie and indulge in the richness and vibrancy a goumi berry has to offer. Your next pie could be the showstopper at any gathering, offering a refreshing twist on a classic dessert!