Quandong Pie – courtesy of Robbie Robinson (@themarketcat)

Stewed, dried or raw the quandong is one of Australia’s most versatile bush foods — so versatile in fact that it can also be used to aid with foot massages or cure toothache. The native fruit, a member of the sandalwood family, grows throughout arid and semi-arid areas of Australia.The fruit trees are sought out and cultivated enthusiastically, being one of the few drought-tolerant fruit trees around. In season from October – March, try this pie for a warming dessert to share with friends!

Prep time: 25 mins – Cook time: 45 mins – Serves 4

Note: you could add a star anise to the stewed fruit too for a twist.Preheat oven to 180 C (or 160 fan-forced).

Rehydrate and stew Quandongs in a small amount of water (adding more when necessary) on low heat, in a medium saucepan. Add cornflour, apple puree and sugar. Personal taste to determine how much sugar, add more or less than 3 tablespoons if you like.

Meanwhile: Grease (butter) inside of small pie dish (no larger than a 24cm) and line with 1 sheet of pastry, with overhang. Fully line with baking paper and weigh down with lots of rice (that can be reused) Pre cook base at 180 degrees C for 10-15 minutes, until hard.

Add cooled quandong stew to dish – do not overfill – and after brushing edges of base with milk, cover with the second sheet of pastry. Cut a small “X” at the top to allow air out. Brush top with milk. Cook for 30-45 minutes (depends on how hot quandong stew was when added to the pie dish) at 180 degrees C until Quandong stew is just about to break out of top. Put pie dish on a tray in oven in case of a blow out.