Torta Pasqualina

” Natale con i tuoi. Pasqua con chi vuoi.”

“Christmas with family. Easter with whoever you want to be with.”

Italian saying

Torta Pasqualina is an Italian savory pie filled with chard or spinach, eggs and ricotta. This is one of Liguria’s iconic dishes but is prepared throughout the country during the Easter celebrations. The original Pasqualina pie calls for 33 layers of thin dough to represent the 33 years of Jesus. This savory pie is traditionally enjoyed on Paquetta, the Monday after Easter Sunday, when Italians like to go on a picnic.

Follow my step-by-step recipe and learn how to prepare this simple and delicious Easter pie. Enjoy the Pasqualina slightly warmed up or at room temperature.

Buona Pasqua – Happy Easter!

 

Yields : 8 servings

Difficulty : easy

Prep Time : 20 min.

Cook Time : 30 min.

 

INGREDIENTS

1 garlic clove

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 lb spinach, cooked and chopped

1 egg

10 oz ricotta cheese

½ cup Parmigiano Reggiano

salt and pepper, to taste

2 puff pastry frozen sheets, thawed

3 eggs

1 egg yolk, to brush

 

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven at 350 F degrees.

In a large skillet, sauté the garlic clove with butter until golden, then add the spinach and cook for a couple of minutes. Allow to cool.

In a medium bowl, mix together ricotta, Parmigiano Reggiano, the spinach and 1 egg until well blended. Adjust the taste with salt and pepper if necessary.

Line a 9 inch pie pan with parchment paper.

Roll the thawed puff pastry on a slightly floured work surface then move the puff pastry into the pie pan, trim the excess of puff pastry from the edges with a knife, pinch the pastry with a fork.

Spread evenly the filling into the puff pastry.

With the back of a dinner spoon, make 3 marks into the filling then fill the marks with the eggs.

Lay over the other puff pastry sheet, pinch the edges to seal the pie.

Brush the puff pastry with one beaten egg yolk.

Bake for 35 minutes.

Allow to cool a bit in its pan before serving.