Italian Holiday Pie Recipes

ITALIAN EASTER PIE

Steps:

• For the dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and water; set aside. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour and salt and pulse a couple of times. Add the chilled butter and pulse about 10 times until pea-size pieces remain. Add the egg mixture and pulse 15 to 20 times until a dough ball forms. Place the dough ball on a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 1 minute. Divide into 2 balls, wrap each ball with plastic wrap and rest in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
• For the filling: While the dough is resting, whisk together the ricotta cheese, salt, some pepper and 6 of the eggs in a medium bowl and set aside. In a 10-inch skillet over medium heat, add the oil and brown the sausage, breaking up the pieces while it's cooking, 5 to 8 minutes. Drain the sausage on a paper towel-lined plate, leaving behind any fat. Add the asparagus and cook until beginning to soften, 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch cake pan with butter.
• On a well-floured counter, roll out each dough ball into a thin 14-inch circle. Cover one circle with plastic wrap until ready to use. Loosely roll the other dough circle around a rolling pin and unroll over the prepared cake pan, letting the excess hang over the side. Press the dough gently into the sides of the pan so there is no gap between the pan and the dough. Shingle the salami over the bottom of the dough, creating an even layer. Then, add the asparagus in an even layer on top of the salami. Next, add half of the egg mixture and spread it out evenly, then top with the capicola in an even layer. Layer in the sausage and top with the remaining egg mixture, then finally the provolone cheese.
• Whisk the remaining egg with 1 tablespoon water and brush the outside rim of the dough with the egg wash. Add the remaining dough circle to the top of the pie and cut off the excess dough. Press both circles together to create a seal. Brush the remaining egg wash over the entire top and slice a couple slits in the top of the pie. Bake until golden brown, 45 to 55 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

ITALIAN RICOTTA PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, beat eggs until light and fluffy. Add rice, ricotta, sugar, orange rind, lemon rind, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Mix until thoroughly combined.
• Roll out half of pastry to fit 10 inch deep-dish pie pan. Place pastry in pan, and fill with ricotta mixture. Roll out remaining pastry and cut 12 1-inch wide strips. Lay strips in a lattice pattern on top of filling. Brush pastry with milk.
• Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, until toothpick inserted in filling comes out clean.

ITALIAN HOLIDAY PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Beat the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, and vanilla together in a mixing bowl until light colored and fluffy, about 10 minutes. Pour in the milk and cream; continue beating to make a smooth mixture. Stir in the ricotta cheese and cherries until evenly blended. Pour into the pie shells.
• Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C), and bake until set, about 50 minutes more. Cool on racks. When pies are completely cool, dust with confectioners' sugar, and decorate by placing 1 whole cherry in the center of each pie.

MOMMA'S ITALIAN PASTIERRA OR HOLIDAY PIE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream together sugar and softened butter.
• To this, add egg yolks one at a time alternating between flour also added a bit at a time.
• Add 1 Tbsp.
• water at a time, until all is incorporated and dough is smooth.
• Set aside; and keep in a cool place to rest until ready to roll out while you prepare the filling.
• FILLING: I do all this is a food processor but it can be done with an electric mixer easily.
• Add the cheese, eggs, sugar,*orange water, zest of lemon, zest of orange and mix well until smooth.
• Set aside.
• Mix in cherries and citron by hand.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough 1/4-inch thick and fit into the bottom and up the sides of a 15" round, 4" high cake pan.
• This dough is very forgiving and can be manipulated easily to fit the pan and to patch torn areas.
• If you have extra dough, roll and cutout thin strips to place on top of filling in a lattice pattern.
• On top of dough, cut and place 1/2-inch slices of sponge cake to fit around the bottom of the pan.
• Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top of sponge cake.
• Pour batter into pan.
• Top with lattice strips.
• Preheat oven temperature to 375 degrees.
• Bake for 1-1/4 hours.
• Turn off oven and leave the pie in the oven with door open to cool slowly.
• After completely cooled, dust the top of the pie with confectionery sugar.