When I was asked to try out one of John Torode’s recipes from his new cookbook, My Kind Of Food, I jumped at the chance. But then it hit me that this recipe is going to be complicated, its John, he’s a fantastic “master” chef! But I was pleasantly surprised that despite my lack of experience in the kitchen, I was able to produce the pie and it was scrumptious.

You can watch my online recipe video on the MummyConstant YouTube channel, or see it below:

The recipe is easy to follow and the ingredients are easy to find in your supermarkets too. Have fun!

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Chocolate and Coconut Pie

This is an amazing chocolate torte kind of pie, with an italian meringue sat on top. It is really scrumptious!

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 2

Total Time 2 30

Servings 12

Author John Torode

Ingredients

Base

350 g digestive biscuits
120 g melted butter
55 g desiccated coconut

Filling

200 g milk chocolate
200 g plain chocolate
250 ml double cream
180 ml milk
100 g soft brown sugar
4 egg yolks keep the whites for the meringue
150 ml coconut liqueur
40 g cornflour

Meringue

220 g caster sugar
60 ml water
4 egg whites from earlier
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Instructions

Make the base

Place biscuits, butter and half the coconut in a food processor. Blend until combined.
Press the crumbs into cake tin, or tart tin, until smooth.
Chill in the fridge whilst making filling.

Make the filling

Slowly heat chocolates, cream, milk and sugar in a large pan. Low heat. Stir constantly. Stir until the chocolate and cream has combined and it is a thick mixture.
In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks, coconut liqueur and cornflour.
Place the bowl over a pan gently simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water).
Stir in the chocolate mixture and stir until the mixture looks like a chocolate custard.
Take off the heat and leave to cool for 10 minutes, stirring continuously.
Pour the custard filling on to the base and cover with remaining desiccated coconut.
Chill in the fridge for a good hour. I left it over night.

Make the meringue

Put the sugar and water in a pan, bring to the boil and boil for about 5 minutes. DO NOT STIR. The mixture will turn a golden caramel colour.
Whilst that is boiling, mix the egg whites with the cream of tartar in a electric mixer (if you have one). Whisk for about 5 minutes, or until they form stiff peaks.
Now to make Italian meringue, when the caramel has its tan colour, take it off the heat and cool for 3 minutes.
While beating the egg whites, pour the caramel into the egg whites, remember to keep beating.
Stop beating when the sugar mixture combines with the egg whites and it has a shiny/glossy look.

Pie time

Take the custard out of the fridge, spoon the meringue on top and back in the oven at 220C for 3 minutes. I did the meringue separately in the oven as I was worried the chocolate would melt.
Use a blow torch if you have one.
There you have it, your chocolate and coconut pie.

Notes

Although cook time suggests 2 hours, I left the chocolate chilling over night in the fridge to get a better set.

Adapted from Sonia Constant

This is also my submission into the fun competition that John Torode is running where one winner will get a meal cooked by John, in their own home. Squeal! Take a look at the entries on Twitter: #MyKindOfFood.

#MyKindOfFood Chocolate and Coconut Pie