Saskatoon Berry (Serviceberry) Pie

Ingredients

• Pastry:
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup lard
• 3/4 cup cold water, divided
• Pie Filling:
• 4 cups saskatoon berries, or as needed
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon butter, cut into small pieces

Directions

Whisk 2 cups flour and salt together in a large bowl; cut in lard with a knife or pastry blender until the mixture resembles peas. Add 1/4 cup cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork, until mixture is moistened just enough to form a ball when squeezed. Divide dough into two pieces, form each into a ball, and refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.

Place berries and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer berries until tender, about 10 minutes.

Whisk sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoons flour, and cornstarch together in a small bowl. Stir sugar mixture into berries, return to a boil, and cook, stirring constantly, until filling is clear, about 2 minutes; stir in lemon juice. Cool filling to room temperature, about 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

Roll one ball of pastry out on a lightly floured surface to fit an 8-inch pie plate; line pie plate with crust. Pour berry mixture into pie crust; dot with butter. Roll remaining pastry out for top crust, place over filled pie, and crimp edges tightly together.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes; reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly, about 35 minutes.