Gramma Pie

Gramma Pie really is an absolute slice of nostalgia – and so darn delicious. If you know what it is, it's likely you have lived in NSW or Queensland and your nan or mum made it every year when she could get her hands on a gramma.

This Gramma Pie recipe is based on what I've pieced together about my Nan's Gramma Pies and some research on recipes shared among Aussie home cooks in the early to mid 1900s.

What is gramma?

First, if you weren't lucky enough to grow up on Gramma Pie, you might be wondering what a gramma is.

When I recently shared a photo of a chunk of gramma on my Facebook page, asking people if they knew what it was, I sparked an interesting discussion about whether gramma is a pumpkin or something else.

Some people were absolutely convinced I was completely bonkers and was calling a Kent Pumpkin a gramma.

I've always been told that gramma is not a pumpkin – even though it looks like one – but is rather a squash.

A pretty special squash, too.

Because where I live, in the Hunter Valley, gramma is... gramma. It's in a category all of its own.

And when it's in a pie, it's something quite magical.

Here are some Facebook Marketplace ads for grammas for sale locally.

The gramma is similar to a pumpkin, I admit.

But when you cook with it, you realise it is quite distinct.

It's far less dense and so much easier to chop.

The colour is a brighter orange and the fibrous insides are also less dense.

The Australian Food Timeline website also tackles the gramma debate, saying:

"Although references to gramma squash can be found in Newcastle market reports from the 1850s, the vegetable had almost certainly been grown in Australia decades earlier. The earliest published recipe I can find for gramma pie appeared in the Australian Town and Country Journal, Sydney, in 1885. Although it gets a mention in Mrs Beeton’s section on Australian cookery in the 1891 edition, the dish seems to have remained unknown to many beyond the north coast of New South Wales."

Recipe for Old fashioned Gramma Pie

The Australian Food timeline also notes that my local paper, the Maitland Daily Mercury, recorded the regional nature of gramma pie in 1936: “The best kind of pie in the world…but it takes the people of the North Coast to make them.”

My Nan Mac was definitely one of those North Coasters who could make a Gramma Pie!

So, after I was given a lovely chunk of gramma from my Aunty Judy, I did a little asking around to find out how Nan Mac made her gramma pies before attempting to recreate this much-loved dessert.

Ingredients for Gramma Pie

To make the gramma filling, you'll need:

• 1 kg gramma (peeled, seeded and chopped) (I'm told Aussie sunset pumpkin and Butternut pumpkin are the closest substitutes but have never tried this myself)
• caster sugar
• lemon
• currants (optional, and sultanas can also be substituted – but my mum loves currants in gramma pie and I also think it makes the pie look that extra bit delicious)
• cloves and cinnamon (optional, mum said Nan Mac didn't add any spices but I couldn't help but add just a little something, and I found these spices were often mentioned in the very early recipes for gramma pie)
• a little milk and extra sugar (to brush and sprinkle on top of pastry).

You'll also need sweet shortcrust pastry. You can opt for frozen store-bought sheets or make my Sweet Shortcrust Pastry recipe.

All ingredients and quantities can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

How to make Gramma Pie

Okay, let's do it!

I won't go through the steps for the pastry, as you can buy the packaged pastry or find out how to make a lovely shortcrust for this pie over here.

Gramma Pie filling

Once you've found yourself a gramma (or decided to experiment with an Aussie sunset or Butternut pumpkin), peel it, seed it and chop into small-ish chunks.

Cover the gramma with water and bring to the boil.

Simmer for about 30 minutes or until very tender.

The cooking time will really depend on the gramma and the size of the chunks you've cut.

Once cooked and tender, place in a large sieve and allow to drain until the gramma has cooled completely.

This is an important step, as you want to remove as much water as possible from the cooked gramma.

Place drained gramma into a bowl and mash well. Add the currants, lemon juice and a little zest, before adding sugar and stirring until combined.

Let's make pie!

Start by pre-heating the oven to 180 degrees celsius (fan-forced).

Next, grease a pie dish (approx 25cm) with butter.

Fill the bottom of the pie dish with pastry, trimming sides to fit.

Fill with the gramma filling mixture.

Place pastry top onto pie and form a crust by pressing with a fork or pushing your thumb into pastry to create a ripple pattern (see picture below).

Brush the top of the pie with milk and sprinkle with additional sugar.

Use a sharp knife to insert two small slits into the middle of the pie.

Bake for 45–60 minutes or until golden.

Serving Gramma Pie

Allow to cool a little before serving the pie warm with ice cream, cream or custard.