Rustic Dinner Pie Recipes

RUSTIC TOMATO PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim crust to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate. , Place half of the tomatoes and half of the onions in crust. Combine mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, basil, salt and pepper; spread over tomatoes. Top with remaining onions and tomatoes. Fold crust edge over filling, pleating as you go and leaving an 8-in. opening in the center. Sprinkle with bacon and Parmesan cheese. Bake on a lower oven rack until until crust is golden and filling is bubbly, 30-35 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting. If desired, sprinkle with additional basil.

ITALIAN SAVORY RUSTIC PIE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 350° (180° celsius). Lightly grease a 7 or 8 inch (18 - 20 centimeter) pie/cake pan.
• ** If you want to make your own dough you can use this recipe, the pinch of sugar may be eliminated. Easy Homemade Pie Dough or Savory Pie Dough

RUSTIC MEAT AND POTATO PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F. Prepare pie crusts as directed on box for two-crust pie, using 9-inch glass pie plate.
• In 12-inch skillet, cook beef and garlic over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain. Transfer beef mixture to large bowl. In same skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add carrots; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender. Add carrots, potatoes, bacon, thyme and pepper to beef mixture.
• In small bowl, mix broth and cornstarch with whisk; pour into skillet. Heat to boiling over medium heat. Cook about 2 minutes or until thickened. Pour over beef and vegetables; stir to combine. Spoon mixture into crust-lined pie plate.
• Top with second crust; seal edge and flute. Cut slits in several places in top crust. In small bowl, beat egg and water. Brush over top crust.
• Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F; bake 40 to 45 minutes longer or until crust is browned, placing sheet of foil over entire crust for last 20 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

TORTA RUSTICA

Steps:

• Mix flour, cornmeal, and salt in a bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Beat 2 eggs with 3 tablespoons cold water; stir into flour mixture until dough holds together. Add another tablespoon water if needed. Shape 2/3 of the dough into flattened round; repeat with remaining 1/3. Wrap. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes, or until firm enough to roll.
• In another bowl, combine ricotta cheese, crumbled feta, Parmesan cheese, 1 egg, parsley, basil, and oregano until well blended.
• Have an 8 or 9 inch springform pan ready. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the larger portion of dough into a 15 inch diameter circle. Carefully place in ungreased pan; press lightly against bottom and sides. Trim overhanging dough to 1 inch from pan rim.
• Scatter half of the mozzarella over the bottom of the crust. Next arrange half the ham slices in an even layer. Spread with ricotta cheese mixture, then sprinkle with spinach. Cover with the remaining ham slices. Press down gently to pack layers. Add red peppers in a single layer, and top with the remaining mozzarella. Press down again.
• Roll out remaining dough to 8 or 9 inch circle. Place over filling to cover. Moisten edges, and seal crusts together. Crimp or flute edges. Crust should not extend above pan rim. Beat remaining egg, and brush over the crust. Cut several small vents in top crust for steam to escape.
• Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 1 hour, or until crust is deep golden brown and pulls away from sides. Cool in pan on wire rack 45 minutes. Remove pan sides; cool completely. Cut into 12 wedges. Serve at room temperature.

RUSTIC GREEK PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to moderately hot 200oC (400oF).
• Squeeze the excess liquid from the spinach.
• Place the pastry sheet on a baking tray and spread the spinach in the middle, leaving a 3cm (1 1/4 inch) border.
• Sprinkle the garlic over the spinach and pile the haloumi and feta on top.
• Sprinkle with oregano and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Cut a short slit into each corner of the pastry sheet, then tuck each side of the pastry over to form a border around the filling.
• Lightly beat the eggs with the cream and carefully pour the egg mixture over the spinach filling.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and the filling is set.
• Cut into four portions and serve with lemon wedges and a green salad.
• Note: If haloumi cheese is not available use all feta instead.

TORTA RUSTICA WITH RICOTTA AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Make the dough: In a food processor, pulse together the flour, sugar and salt. Add butter and pulse until the mixture forms lima bean-size pieces. Alternatively, mix together flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl, then add butter, working the pieces into the flour with your hands, squeezing and pinching them until the mixture looks like oatmeal.
• Add egg, egg white and lemon zest, and pulse after each addition. If working by hand, whisk together egg, egg white and lemon zest in a separate bowl, then mix into the butter mixture. Slowly add iced wine, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse or mix by hand until the dough just comes together. You may not need all the liquid. The dough should be moist, but not wet.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and gather and press it into a ball. Divide into 2 portions, one slightly larger than the other, and shape into disks. Wrap the disks tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 5 days.
• When ready to bake, heat oven to 375 degrees.
• Make the filling: If your ricotta seems watery, put it in a sieve and let it drain while you cook the spinach.
• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic and a large pinch of salt, and continue to cook until spinach is very dry, about 2 minutes longer. Transfer to a large bowl to cool. If any liquid accumulates as the spinach sits, pour it out of the bowl (you don't want it to water down the ricotta).
• In a food processor, purée drained ricotta and eggs until just combined and smooth. Add to the bowl with the spinach and fold in mozzarella, pecorino, ham (if using), parsley, black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt, red-pepper flakes and nutmeg. Set aside when rolling out dough (or chill for up to 4 hours).
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the larger pastry dough disk to a 14-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. Fit dough into a 9-inch springform pan, pressing the dough up the sides of the pan. Scrape filling into crust and spread evenly. Roll out second pastry disk to a 12-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. Cut 1/2-inch-wide strips and weave into a lattice on top of the filling. Seal, trim and crimp the edges. Brush the top of the torta with the egg wash.
• Place torta on sheet pan and bake until crust is crisp and brown, and filling is firm, 50 to 60 minutes. Cool on a rack for at least 45 minutes before serving.

RUSTIC SAVORY MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Prepare dough, using bread machine.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Saute onion, celery and garlic in olive oil for about 5 minutes, or until onion starts to soften.
• Add sliced mushrooms and continue cooking until mushrooms are tender.
• Add cooked beef and spices.
• Stir to blend well, then add the wine and cooked vegetables.
• Allow mixture to simmer while you prepare the brown sauce.
• Melt butter in a small saucepan.
• Gradually add the flour, stirring so as to avoid lumps.
• Stir in beef broth and blend well.
• When this is thoroughly blended, bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer.
• Add balsamic vinegar and stir.
• Add up to 2 c bread crumbs to thicken filling as desired, then remove from heat.
• Roll out dough so that it is 1 1/2 times the size of your pie pan.
• Carefully place crust into pie pan.
• Crust will hang over the edges.
• Pour the filling into the prepared pan, cover with brown sauce.
• Bring outer edges of crust toward the center and pinch dough to close.
• Do not seal too tightly.
• You want to allow space for steam to escape.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until crust is nicely browned.