This is a classic Italian Easter pie made with ricotta, mozzarella, and deli meats. The crust is slightly sweet, something that goes incredibly well with the salty filling. It's a traditional dish that freezes beautifully and a great recipe for leftovers: ham, prosciutto, pepperoni, cheese. Personally, it's one of my favorite things to eat year-round.
Is it a pie or a pizza?
I think that's the first question everyone makes! It's also called pizza chiena which means filled pizza. So even though it's made with the Italian pie crust (pasta frolla) similar, it does resemble a stuffed pizza if made with a double crust instead of a lattice. Sort of. Maybe.
Anyway, pie or pizza, this is a recipe to try as soon as you can! It's truly delicious, and the filling can be adjusted to your palate, or to the leftovers in your refrigerator, whatever comes first lol.
The original ingredient is called basket cheese, which I never had outside Italy, but is sort of a mix of ricotta and mozzarella, two ingredients found in this recipe today. You can buy it online and I will leave the links in the Notes of the recipe card.
Ingredients
- Pie crust: it's slightly sweet and that's one of the most interesting things about this recipe. We use the recipe for pasta frolla with less sugar than the original recipe, the one in the Best Lemon Ricotta Pie. But other pie crusts work, like the Flaky Pie Crust recipe used during the holidays.
- Ricotta: the regular type is recommended, not salty ricotta. If you can find basket cheese, by all means, use it, alone or together with ricotta.
- Cheese: I like to mix mozzarella and a semi-hard one like Fontina or Parmesan. Sometimes I use all 3. But I also recommend this recipe to get rid of leftovers or bits and pieces that are lying around in your fridge. A small amount of provolone instead of some of the mozzarella is another combination I use sometimes.
- Cold meats: Italian deli meats like ham, salami, or pepperoni, and sometimes mortadella (an Italian large pork sausage that sometimes incorporates pistachios) are my favorites. But, as with the cheese, using leftovers is recommended.
- Eggs: large, fresh ones are always the best.
- Salt: I like to use kosher salt when baking. But regular table salt works just fine.
- Black pepper: freshly ground is always the best.
The pie dough
We use this Italian pie crust recipe that is slightly sweet and marries so well with the savory filling. Trust me. It does. I give instructions on how to make it in the food processor and by hand. And it can be made ahead and kept refrigerated for a couple of days or frozen for a month.
Alternatively, other recipes you can use are the perfect flaky pie crust or the basic all-butter shortcrust pastry recipe. Your favorite purchased pie dough will also work but homemade is always better.
The filling
It's as easy as chopping cheeses and cold meats and mixing it all with ricotta and a few other ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
Choose ingredients that complement each other, some soft and some semi-hard cheeses and some spicier and milder cold meats.
Don't overdo it, try to balance the flavors out. Take into account the textures and saltiness of each one when determining which ones to mix. You can use more cheese, less meat, and adjust to your palate.
Lattice or top crust
I like to make a lattice (image below) to top this pizza rustica, but you will find many recipes that use a double crust. Both ways are fine. Choose your favorite.
- Lattice pie: the dough needs to be divided into a larger and a smaller part, and the latter rolled out and cut into strips (I use a pizza cutter) that will be placed over the filling, creating a criss-cross pattern.
- Double crust: you have to roll a larger round (bottom crust) and a smaller one (upper crust). The top round has to cover the whole filling and make sure it's not too thick so you don't have excess dough. We want the filling to shine.
My top tips
- Organization: always read the recipe first and make sure you have all the ingredients, at the right temperatures, and also the rest of the equipment and space to make it. This will make the process so much easier!
- Baking time: keep in mind that all ovens and pans are different, even if they look the same or very similar. The baking time in my recipes is as accurate as it can be, but it might take you more or less time. You can use a thermometer that is placed inside the oven (like the OXO oven thermometer) to check that your oven is at the right temperature. I recommend you keep track of how your oven works and what tiny details you might need to adjust.
- Pie dough: we use a slightly sweet pie crust, but you can also use a savory dough like the basic shortcrust pastry for quiche or the great flaky pie crust recipe we use for holiday pies.
- Make-ahead: you can make the pie crust ahead and freeze or keep it refrigerated for several days before rolling and baking. And you can freeze the whole baked pie, always well wrapped in double plastic and foil.
- Flavorings: you can add some chopped tomato or more herbs to add some freshness to the filling. Basil or thyme go very well with the rest of the ingredients.
Related recipes you might like:
Let me know in the comments below if you made this recipe and loved it and if you had issues so we can troubleshoot together. I love to hear what you think, always. Thanks for being here. It's much appreciated.
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Pizza Rustica (Savory Ricotta Pie)
This is a classic Italian savory pie made with ricotta, cheese, and cold meats. It might be one of my favorite things to eat, ever. The crust is amazing and slightly sweet, something that goes incredibly well with the salty filling. It's a traditional dish for Easter and a great recipe for leftovers.
- Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 1 recipe for Italian Pie Crust (pasta frolla) using 3 tablespoons of sugar
For the filling:
- 1 pound (450g) ricotta cheese
- 3 eggs, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese (or pecorino romano or asiago cheese)
- ½ cup chopped salami or pepperoni or soppressata (or a mix)
- ½ cup chopped mortadella or ham (or a mix of both)
- ½ cup diced mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped basil or parsley, optional
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Have ready a 9-inch pie plate or pie dish with a removable bottom, about 3-inches tall. Or a round springform pan.
For the dough:
- Divide the dough into two parts, one larger (about ⅔ of the amount) and one smaller (about ⅓).
- Roll out the larger piece of dough on a lightly floured surface with a rolling pin. Meanwhile, keep the remaining dough (small part) wrapped in the refrigerator.
- Line the pie pan making sure you don’t stretch the crust, pierce the bottom with a fork, and put it in the freezer or refrigerator while you make the filling.
For the filling:
- Mix eggs with the ricotta cheese and olive oil to mix in a large bowl.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Take into account how salty the cheeses and cold meats you use already are.
To assemble:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C.
- Roll out the remaining ⅓ of the dough using a rolling pin until it's at least the diameter of the pie pan you're using.
- Cut strips of dough (I use a pizza cutter or pizza wheel but you can use a large knife). Make sure the dough is cold so it'll be easier to lift the strips.
- Put the filling in the cold pan lined with the bottom dough and smooth the surface.
- Place the strips on top of the filling, starting in the middle with the long strips and pressing on the edges of the dough where it meets the bottom dough. Remove excess dough.
- Make a criss-cross pattern, patching together strips that might break or are not long enough.
- Brush with a mixture of beaten egg and a tablespoon of milk or water if you want a shinier, deeper-colored crust. I personally don't do it but it looks nice and shiny.
- Bake for about 60 minutes, until the dough is dry and lightly golden and the filling is puffed. It might take even longer than that.
- Let cool on a cooling rack (wire rack).
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
- Keep leftovers refrigerated, covered with plastic wrap, or in an airtight container.
Notes
Organization: always read the recipe first and make sure you have all the ingredients, at the right temperatures, and also the rest of the equipment and space to make it. This will make the process so much easier!
Baking time: keep in mind that all ovens and pans are different, even if they look the same or very similar. The baking time in my recipes is as accurate as it can be, but it might take you more or less time. You can use a thermometer that is placed inside the oven (like the OXO oven thermometer) to check that your oven is at the right temperature. I recommend you keep track of how your oven works and what tiny details you might need to adjust.
Pie dough: we use a slightly sweet pie crust, but you can also use a savory dough like the basic shortcrust pastry for quiche or the great flaky pie crust recipe we use for holiday pies.
Make-ahead: you can make the pie crust ahead and freeze or keep it refrigerated for several days before rolling and baking. And you can freeze the whole baked pie, always well wrapped in double plastic and foil.
Flavorings: you can add some chopped tomato or more herbs to add some freshness to the filling. Basil or thyme go very well with the rest of the ingredients.
- Prep Time: 30
- Cook Time: 60
- Category: Pies & Tarts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ⅛
- Calories: 446
- Sugar: 6.7 g
- Sodium: 520.7 mg
- Fat: 26.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 32.9 g
- Protein: 18.5 g
- Cholesterol: 184.9 mg
Keywords: pizza rustica
Debora says
Hi Paula,
I made a mistake while making this dough in the processor, and it turned into a ball. Is there any way that I can repair the mistake?
I mean, can the dough still be used?
★★★★
Paula Montenegro says
Hi Debora! Yes, the dough can be used! Don't overwork it when you roll it out and line the pan, or work it as little as possible. The reason why it's not recommended it turns into a ball is that the more it's worked or kneaded the more the gluten in the flour develops and it toughens the dough. But you can use it, by all means. Just keep that in mind for the next time you make homemade dough. Happy baking!
angiesrecipes says
Pizza in a pie form :-)) I love it!