Italian Easter Pie /Pizza Rustica (Aka "ham Pie") Recipe #59847
There are as many variations of this traditional dish as there are names for it (Pizza Rustica, Carnival Pie, Easter Pie and Ham Pie are just a few.) Some versions include hard boiled eggs in the filling along with the meat and cheeses, this one does not. Here is my family's version which I still make every Easter. The pastry we've always used for the crust is more like a bread dough (yeast risen), however your favorite pie crust recipe may be used as well. **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.
Note: The 2nd ingredient for the yeast dough crust should be leaf lard (or butter). Recipezaar will not accept the correction and insists on listing it as "leaves lard".
by Dee514
1¾ hours | 35 min prep
SERVES 8 -10
- 1 pastry for double-crust pie, 10 inch (or you can make the "yeast dough pie crust ")
Yeast Dough Crust
- 3 1/4 cups flour
- 1 1/2 tablespoons leaf lard or butter
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1 (1/4 ounce) envelope yeast
- 1 cup water
Filling
- 2 lbs sweet Italian sausage links
- 1/4 lb prosciutto, chopped
- 1/2 lb cooked ham, diced
- 2 lbs ricotta cheese
- 12 ounces mozzarella cheese, diced
- 5 eggs
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley (flat leaf)
- 1/4 cup freshly grated romano cheese or parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Directions for making and using 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 (steps#19 to#22).
- 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.) Directions for using 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 (steps#19 to #22).
- 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.
- Directions for 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.
- Directions for Baking: 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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5 stars