Pastiera Napoletana
- 1/2 pound farro
- 1 pound fresh ricotta
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup orange flower water
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 cups skim milk
- 1 lemon, zested
- 4 large eggs, separated
- 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 egg yolks
- For the filling: Place the farro in a large bowl and cover with cold water.
- Let the faro soak for 3 days, changing the water daily.
- On the third day, drain the grain and place them in a medium-sized pot.
- Cover with cold water.
- Bring the water to a boil over a high flame, reduce to a simmer and let simmer for 15 minutes.
- Drain the faro.
- In a medium-sized saucepan, heat the milk over a medium flame until hot but not smoking.
- Add the faro, 1/2 the lemon zest, 1 pinch cinnamon, 1 tablespoon sugar, and let cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the milk is completely absorbed.
- Place the ricotta in a large mixing bowl.
- Using a wooden spoon, mix the ricotta until the texture becomes creamy.
- Add the remaining cinnamon, sugar, egg yolks, the remaining lemon zest, orange flower water, and the cooked faro.
- Use a spatula to mix until well combined then set aside.
- To make the dough: Sift the flour and sugar together then mound on a wooden cutting board or clean surface.
- Dig a hole in the center to form a well.
- Mix together the butter and egg yolks in the center of the well.
- Being careful not to break the outer walls of the well, incorporate the flour, eventually bringing all the flour into the dough.
- Keep mixing and kneading until the dough forms a homogenous mass.
- Knead 5 minutes more then wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cut the dough into 2 pieces, 1 piece 3 times as large as the other.
- Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the larger dough piece until it forms a large circle, about 11 inches in diameter and about 1/8-inch thick.
- Lightly butter and flour a 9-inch round baking pan.
- Place the larger dough round into the baking pan, using your thumb and forefinger to tuck the dough into the bottom of the pan.
- The dough should come up the sides of the pan.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whisk the egg whites until they form medium-hard, glossy peaks.
- Using a spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the ricotta mixture.
- Gently place the filling into the baking pan, on top of the bottom crust.
- Using the lightly floured rolling pin, roll the remaining dough into a circle 1/8-inch thick.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into strips 1-inch wide.
- Use these dough strips to decorate the top of the ricotta pie, forming a lattice across the top, just as you would an apple pie.
- Place the pie in the oven and bake until the dough on top is golden brown, about 1 hour.
- Remove from the oven and let cool to room temperature.
- Dust with confectioners' flour before serving.
farro, ricotta, sugar, orange flower water, ground cinnamon, milk, lemon, eggs, sugar, flour, unsalted butter, sugar, egg yolks
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mario-batali/pastiera-napoletana-recipe.html (may not work)