Pizza Rustica is a delectable Easter savory pie originating from Italy, particularly popular in the Campania region. This delightful dish features a flaky, golden-brown crust encasing layers of flavorful ingredients. The filling typically includes a combination of cured meats, such as prosciutto and salami, along with cheeses like mozzarella and ricotta. Colorful hard-boiled eggs add a festive touch and a pop of color to the pie. The result is a savory and satisfying dish that is perfect for sharing with family and friends during Easter celebrations. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore two variations of Pizza Rustica: one made with a traditional yeast-based dough and the other using a convenient store-bought puff pastry dough. Each recipe offers detailed instructions and helpful tips to ensure a perfect Pizza Rustica experience. We will also delve into the history and significance of this traditional Easter dish, making this article the ultimate resource for anyone seeking to create a delicious and authentic Pizza Rustica.
Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!
PIZZA RUSTICA (EASTER PIE)
A deep-dish cousin to quiche that's packed with Italian deli meats and cheeses like prosciutto, pepperoni, soppressata, mozzarella and provolone, this rich pie, also called Easter pie, is traditionally made on Good Friday and served on the holiday to celebrate the end of Lent. This version came to The Times from Carlo's Bakery, in Hoboken, N.J., of "Cake Boss" fame, and it is the only savory item the bakery makes. It's typically eaten at room temperature, but the staff at Carlo's enjoys it warm right out of the oven.
Provided by Alex Witchel
Categories dinner, casseroles, pies and tarts, pizza and calzones, main course
Time 2h30m
Yield One 10-by-15-inch pie
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- For the dough: In a large bowl, whisk together 6 cups flour and the salt. Using a pastry cutter, large fork, or two knives, cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add eggs and knead for 1 minute. Add about 1 1/4 cups ice water, a little at a time, to form a cohesive dough. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until it forms a large smooth ball, about 5 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 30 minutes.
- For the filling: Mix the meats, cheeses, the 10 eggs and pepper in a large bowl.
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Divide the dough into two pieces: two-thirds for the bottom crust and one-third for the top. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the larger portion of the dough into a rectangle to line the bottom and sides of a 10-by-15-inch glass baking dish, with some overhang. Add the filling and smooth it lightly. Moisten the edges of the dough with a little water.
- Roll out the remaining dough to cover the top of the dish with some overhang. Trim off excess dough and crimp the edges to seal. Poke several sets of holes across the top with a fork. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush top and edges with the beaten egg, then return to the oven until golden brown, another 45 minutes. Let pie cool completely before serving.
EASTER SAVORY PIE (PIZZA RUSTICA) RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: warm water, sugar, olive oil, instant yeast, all-purpose flour, salt, large eggs, ricotta cheese, fresh parsley, grated pecorino romano, ham, pepperoni, provolone cheese, salami, prosciutto, bread crumbs, large egg
Provided by Matthew Johnson
Categories Breakfast
Yield 16 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water, sugar, olive oil, and instant yeast.
- Add the flour and salt, and mix the dough together with a wooden spoon until it forms a ball. Then knead the dough for 1 minute, or until it feels smooth and springy.
- Cover the dough in the bowl with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place for 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
- In a large bowl, add 10 eggs, ricotta, parsley, and Pecorino Romano. Whisk the mixture until smooth.
- Add the ham, pepperoni, provolone, hard salami, prosciutto, and bread crumbs. Fold in the cubed meats and cheeses. The texture should be thick and slightly wet.
- Once the dough has doubled in size, dump it onto a floured surface, knead for 2 minutes, and shape it into a ball. Roll the dough out to a rough circle, about ¼-inch (½-cm) thick.
- With a pizza cutter or knife, cut out a large disc that is 2 inches (5-cm) wider than a 9-inch (23-cm) springform pan or round baking dish. With the rest of the dough, cut thick strips about 9 inches (23-cm) long and 1 inch (2 cm) thick.
- Transfer the dough disc into the springform pan or baking dish. Gently press the dough against the bottom and sides of the pan, allowing the excess to hang over the sides.
- Pour the egg, cheese, and meat mixture into the pan. Pack the filling down and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Weave the strips of dough on top to create a decorative pattern. Trim any excess dough, then fold and crimp the edges. Brush the top with egg wash.
- Bake the pizza rustica for 2 hours, or until the filling is cooked through and the pizza dough has browned.
- Let the the pizza rustica cool completely. Remove from the pan. Chill in the refrigerator overnight on a wire rack.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 625 calories, Carbohydrate 44 grams, Fat 34 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 31 grams, Sugar 2 grams
ITALIAN EASTER PIE / PIZZA RUSTICA (AKA "HAM PIE") RECIPE - (4.4/5)
Provided by janriff924
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Make the yeast dough crust: In a cup, mix yeast and warm water together. Place flour on a pastry board, add leaf lard (or butter), salt, pepper and yeast/water mixture. Work together well until dough forms, continue working the dough until it is elastic and smooth. Place dough in a deep dish, cover and allow it to rise in a warm place for 2 hours, or until doubled in volume. When dough has risen, cut into 2 pieces. Stretch one piece to fit into a greased 9 x 2 1/2-inch round cake pan. Preheat oven to 375°F. Prepare filling as described below. After filling the dough lined pan, stretch second piece of dough and place over the filling, pressing the edges closed. If there is a lot of excess dough left on the edge, carefully trim some, but leave enough to flute the sealed edge. (I like to brush the crust with a bit of beaten egg before baking, to give it a gloss.) If you use a regular pie crust dough: Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare pastry and line a 10 inch pie pan. Prick dough with a fork, and sprinkle with a bit of flour. Prepare filling as described below. Pour mixture into pastry lined pie tin and cover with top crust. Leave about a 1/2 to 3/4-inch overhang. Fold dough under and back, and flute edge. Cut slits in top crust to allow steam to escape. Making the Filling: Cut sausage into small pieces (or remove from casings and crumble), place in frying pan and brown lightly in 2 tablespoons of water. In a large bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, salt and pepper; add eggs one at a time, beating with a wooden spoon after each addition. Add cooked sausage, prosciutto, ham, parsley and grated cheese to ricotta mixture. Blend well. Fill dough lined pan with mixture. For Regular Pie Crust: Bake the pie for 15 minutes in preheated (400°) oven, lower oven temperature to 325°F and continue baking for 45-50 minutes more. For Yeast Dough Crust: Bake the pie in a preheated 375°F oven for 45-50 minutes. Remove from oven and let pie "settle" for about 10 minutes before slicing if you are going to serve it warm; otherwise let pie cool and refrigerate when cooled. Pie can be served either warm or cold. Slices can be reheated in the microwave. **Please note the different pan sizes, pan preparations, baking temperatures and baking times depending on which type of crust you choose to use. The "Prep Time" does not include the 2 hour rising time for the yeast dough crust.
Tips:
- For the best results, use high-quality ingredients. Fresh vegetables, flavorful cheeses, and a good quality olive oil will make a big difference in the taste of your pizza rustica.
- Don't overwork the dough. Overworking the dough will make it tough. Mix it just until it comes together, then let it rest for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out.
- Be careful not to overfill the pie. If you put too much filling in the pie, it will be difficult to seal and the filling may spill out during baking.
- Bake the pie until the crust is golden brown and the filling is hot and bubbly. This will take about 30-35 minutes.
- Let the pie cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving. This will give the filling time to set.
Conclusion:
Pizza rustica is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It's also a great way to use up leftover vegetables and cheese. With its simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, this recipe is sure to become a family favorite.
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