Strawberry Pie with Chamomile and Currant Glaze

Preparation

1. Glaze

   Step 1

   Stir sugar and 1/4 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Attach a candy thermometer to side of pan. Boil mixture over medium-high heat, occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides with a wet pastry brush, until thermometer registers 295°, about 10 minutes. Add red currants and chamomile (mixture will tighten up). Reduce heat to low. Once the mixture can be stirred, raise heat to medium-high; cook, stirring constantly, until syrub is reduced to 1/2 cup, 12-15 minutes.

   Step 2

   Pour syrup through a fine mesh strainer set over a small bowl (do not press on solids). DO AHEAD Can be made up to 3 days ahead, cover and refrigerate. Melt over low heat before using.

2. Pastry Cream

   Step 3

   Set a medium bowl over a large bowl of ice. Place a strainer in bowl; set aside.

   Step 4

   Using an electric mixer, beat egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar in a medium bowl at high speed until ribbons form, about 2 minutes. Add flour; beat on low speed to blend.

   Step 5

   Combine milk and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a medium saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar; remove bean. With mixer running, slowly add hot milk mixture to egg mixture; beat to blend. Scrape back into pan and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until custard comes to a boil. Continue to cook, whisking constantly, until custard thickens, 1-2 minutes. Remove pan from heat; continue whisking for 1 minute.

   Step 6

   Strain pastry cream into prepared bowl. Stir until slightly cooled, about 3 minutes. Press plastic wrap directly onto surgace of pastry cream. Let stand in bowl over ice for about 30 minutes or until chilled. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep Chilled.

3. Assembly

   Step 7

   Spoon pastry cream into the Blind-Baked Pie Crust; smooth top. Place berries in a large bowl. Drizzle melted glaze over. Spoon berries over pastry cream, mounding in center. Serve immediately.