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A slice of baked pizza rustica Recipe showing layers of pepperoni, ham, cheese, and herbs inside a golden-brown crust, garnished with a basil leaf.

Pizza Rustica recipe

A traditional Italian Easter pie, Pizza Rustica recipe is a savory deep-dish pastry filled with ricotta, cheeses, cured meats, and eggs. Perfect for Easter, family gatherings, or make-ahead meals, this recipe brings generations of Italian tradition to your table.
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Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Resting Time 2 hours
Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Holiday Dish, Main Course
Cuisine: Easter, Italian, Italian-American
Calories: 480
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Pastry Dough
  • 3 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 cup Cold butter - Cut into cubes
  • 3 Large eggs
  • 4–6 tablespoon Ice water - Add gradually
  • 1 teaspoon Fine sea salt
  • 1 pinch Sugar
Ricotta Base
  • 2 cups Whole milk ricotta - Drained overnight 12+ hours
  • 2 Large eggs - Whisked with ricotta
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese - Grated
  • ½ teaspoon Black pepper - Freshly ground
  • 2 tablespoon Fresh parsley - Chopped
  • 1 pinch Nutmeg - Optional but traditional
Cheese Blend
  • 1 cup Fresh mozzarella - Diced
  • 1 cup Provolone cheese - Diced
  • ½ cup Pecorino Romano - Grated
Meats & Eggs
  • 4 oz Prosciutto di Parma - Diced
  • 4 oz Italian salami - Diced
  • 4 oz Sopressata - Diced
  • 2 Hard-boiled eggs - Sliced
Egg Wash
  • 1 Egg white - Brush on bottom crust prevents sog
  • 1 Whole egg - Beaten for brushing top crust

Equipment

  • 1 9-inch springform pan (Deep enough for layering)
  • 1 Food processor (For making pastry)
  • 2–3 Large mixing bowls (For dough, ricotta, meats)
  • 1 Kitchen scale (For accuracy in measuring)
  • 1 Instant-read thermometer (To check internal temp (160°F))

Method
 

  1. Cut butter into flour, salt, and sugar. Add eggs & water. Chill 2 hrs.
    A bowl of flour on a blue cloth with a wooden spatula, next to a small bowl holding an egg yolk and cracked eggshells.
  2. Drain ricotta 12 hrs. Mix with eggs, Parmesan, parsley, nutmeg.
    A black pan with creamy ricotta mixture topped with chopped cured meat, grated cheese, herbs, and black pepper, being stirred with a wooden spoon.
  3. Dice meats and cheeses. Slice hard-boiled eggs.
    An unbaked savory tart filled with ground meat sauce and topped with ricotta or cottage cheese inside a pastry crust.
  4. Roll crust in pan, brush bottom with egg white. Layer meats, cheeses, ricotta mix, and eggs. Add top crust. Seal edges. Brush with beaten egg.
    A baked pepperoni pizza with melted cheese, mushrooms, and herbs, served on a round plate with one slice removed.
  5. Cool fully. Rest 2 hrs before slicing for clean layers.
    A slice of baked pizza rustica Recipe showing layers of pepperoni, ham, cheese, and herbs inside a golden-brown crust, garnished with a basil leaf.

Nutrition

Serving: 220gCalories: 480kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 24gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 960mgPotassium: 320mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 800IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 290mgIron: 3mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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