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Italian Easter Pie Torta Pasqualina Placinta de Paste cu Spanac reteta

Easter Pie (Pasqualina)

Are you looking for a traditional Easter recipe to impress your family? Try the Italian Easter pie or Pasqualina. Find out how to make it.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Choose Serving Size 6 -8 servings

Ingredients 

For the crust:

  • 250 g 2 ⅛ cup flour
  • 100 g 3.5 oz of cold butter
  • 90 ml 3 fl oz cold water
  • pinch of salt

For the filling:

  • 500 g 17.6 oz spinach (fresh then boiled in salted water)
  • 250 g 8.8 oz ricotta
  • 1 egg lightly beaten
  • 35 g ½ cup grated Parmesan
  • 4 eggs for decorating the filling

Instructions

  • Add all the ingredients for the dough in a food processor and mix until a rough and crumbly dough is formed.
  • Transfer the mixture to a clean surface and gather it into a sphere, to form a firm dough.
  • Wrap the obtained dough in a plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator.
  • Drain the spinach of excess water and chop it.
  • Heat a pan on medium heat with a little bit of oil, add the chopped spinach and ricotta. Cook, stirring on medium heat, until the excess liquid evaporates and the mixture becomes creamier. Add salt, mix and remove from heat.
  • Add the Parmesan cheese and let the mixture cool to room temperature, then add the beaten egg and mix.
  • Leave the filling aside and roll out the dough.
  • Heat the oven to 180C (360 ºF).
  • Divide the dough in two and spread it with a rolling pin until you get two round disks. Transfer one onto the pie form, add the filling.
  • With the help of a spoon, make indentations in the filling and crack an egg into each of the indentations.
  • Cover with the remaining top, catch the edges of the pie and with a knife, cut a few lines in the top layer, so that the dough does not swell when baked.
  • Put the pie in the oven and leave it to bake for 35 minutes, or until it turns brown.