Pizza Rustica
- 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons Crisco, cold
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten, plus 2 large eggs (for the egg wash)
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 1/2 cups ricotta
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- 3 ounces sopressata, cut into 1/8-inch cubes
- 3 ounces prosciutto, cut into 1/8-inch cubes
- 2 ounces capicola, cut into 1/8-inch cubes
- 3 links sweet Italian sausage, broiled, skinned, and chopped
- 8 ounces mozzarella, cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 8 ounces basket cheese, cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 4 large hard-boiled eggs, cut into quarters
- To prepare the dough, in a medium bowl, lightly toss together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.
- Add the Crisco, combining all the ingredients with your fingertips until the dough separates into crumbly, pea-size pieces.
- Add the water and the 3 beaten eggs to the dough, again combining the ingredients with your fingertips.
- As youre mixing, be aware that this dough has a different texture from mostits a little bit sticky and has a very elastic quality to it (if the dough is sticky enough that you cant easily get it off your fingers, add a very light dusting of flour).
- When you are able to form a ball with the dough, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- To prepare the filling, in a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, combine the 3 beaten eggs, pepper, ricotta, and Parmesan.
- Once these ingredients are fully combined, slowly add the sopressata, prosciutto, capicola, sweet sausage, mozzarella, basket cheese, and parsley.
- Continue to mix until the ingredients are spread evenly throughout the mixture.
- To prepare the pie shell, sprinkle flour over your rolling pin and work surface, and divide the chilled ball of dough in half.
- Roll out two circles (using one half of the dough for each circle) that are approximately 12 inches in diameter and 1/4 inch thick.
- Remember, this crust has a lot of elasticity to it, so really press down on the rolling pin, applying a little extra pressure.
- Fold one dough circle in half, place it in a 10-inch pie plate so that the edges of the circle drop over the rim, and unfold the dough to completely cover the pie plate.
- To assemble the pie, spread the filling across the pie shell, distributing it evenly.
- Top it with the quartered hard-boiled eggs.
- Take the remaining dough circle and fold in half.
- Place it over the filling, with the straight line of the half circle running down the middle of the pie.
- Unfold the circle so that the entire pie is covered.
- Using your thumb and index finger, crimp the edges of the pie together to seal in the filling.
- Break the 2 remaining eggs into a small bowl, and beat them to create an egg wash. Brush the top crust of the pie with the egg wash, taking care to cover it thoroughly.
- Use a sharp knife to cut at least five 2-inch slits in the top crust for ventilation (ventilation is essential for pizza rustica).
- To bake, place the pie plate on a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes, or until the crust has browned and the filling has achieved a firm consistency.
- Transfer the pie plate to a wire cooling rack and allow the pie to cool for at least 20 minutes before serving.
- Pizza Rustica can be served warm, at room temperature, or cold.
- It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, cold, water, eggs, eggs, freshly ground black pepper, ricotta, parmesan, sausage, mozzarella, basket cheese, parsley, eggs
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/pizza-rustica-390401 (may not work)