Every holiday in Italy is celebrated with food. Easter is no exception. One of the most delicious Easter foods is Pizza Rustica- pie filled with all kinds of goodness, perfect to break the Lenten fast. Diana from Perillo Tours shares her family recipe:
Dough:
Purchase ready-made pizza dough at the supermarket or use your favorite dough recipe.
Ingredients for Filling:
1⁄4 lb prosciutto, chopped
1⁄2 lb cooked ham, diced
2 lb ricotta cheese & 1 small basket cheese
12 ounces mozzarella cheese, diced
3 eggs
6 hard boiled eggs chopped
1⁄2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions to Prepare:
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 here: In a large bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, chopped hard boiled eggs, prosciutto, ham, grated cheese, salt pepper and 3 raw eggs.
Blend well.
Fill dough lined pan with mixture.
After filling the dough lined pan, stretch second piece of dough and place over the filling, pressing the edges closed.
Brush the crust with a small amount of beaten egg before baking, to give it a gloss.
Happy Easter! Buona Pasqua!
