Pastiera Napolitana Ricotta Pie

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Pastiera Napoletana is a ricotta pie typically baked for Easter. The filling is made with wheat, ricotta and has a distinctive flavour of the flower orange water and lemon zest.

Pastiera Napoletana: Ricotta Easter Pie

It is a traditional Eastern dessert for many Southern Italian regions, where ricotta is often used in pastries like in Cannoli Siciliani or Sfogliatelle Napoletane.

If you have Southern Italian descendants, I am sure you are familiar with Pastiera and you might be looking for the recipe. So here is the recipe, just in time for Easter.

You can find different versions of Pastiera, this one is my favourite one. This recipe is from my Uncle’s wife Pina, who makes the best desserts I have ever tasted.

She makes a wide variety of desserts, mostly typical from the South of Italy. A fresh homemade flavour but never too sweet.

Often pastries from Southern Italian bakeries tend to be way too sweet for me, like for example the Sicilian Cassata or the Marzapane fruits.

Why this is the best Pastiera Recipe

This Pastiera recipe has the right balance of sweetness, and I even skip the fruit candies, which I like to replace with dark chocolate chips.

The wheat is specially prepared for this type of pie and gives the filling a texture similar to rice pudding.

Where to find the right ingredients for the Pastiera

To make this ricotta pie, you need 2 very specific ingredients that you will find only in specialized Italian food shop or on Amazon (affiliate links).

I was very pleased to found out that you can now find on Amazon many typical Italian cooking ingredients.

Even if I live just 1 hour away from the Italian border, it is always handy to have your food delivered to your door.

1. Wheat for pastiera (Amazon affiliate link) specifically prepared for this pie which is sold in jars or cans
2. Orange flowers water (Amazon affiliate link), which you can use in many other recipes.

Buy a good ricotta cheese and you will have your Southern Italy Easter celebration wherever you are in the world.

How to make the pastry

The ingredients are:

• 1 1/2 cup – 200 gr of flour
• 1/2 cup – 100 gr of butter at room temperature
• 1 egg
• 1 pinch of salt
• 2 tbsp of water

This quantity is enough for an 8 in – 20 cm baking pan.

1. Mix all the ingredients for the short pastry
2. Keep 1/4 of the pastry aside for the top and roll the rest of the pastry to make the base of the pie
3. Lay the base of the pie on the baking pan (8 in – 20 cm), make some holes and leave in the fridge until the filling is ready

How to make the filling for the Pastiera

The ingredients are:

• 1 lb of ricotta
• 3/4 cup of sugar
• 5 egg yolks
• 4 egg whites
• 1 can wheat for pastiera
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1//2 cup of milk
• 2 tbsp of butter
• 1 lemon zest
• 1 tbsp orange water
• 1 tbsp of cinnamon
• 1/4 candied fruit (optional)

This is how to make the filling for the Easter Pie Pastiera:

1. Boil for 10 minutes the wheat with the sugar, the butter and the milk
2. Add all the other ingredients to the filling
3. Beat the egg whites until firm
4. Gently add the egg whites to the filling mixture
5. Pour the filling over the pastry
6. Cover with the crossed stripes of pastry

8. Bake in a hot oven at 320 F – 160C for 1 hour
9. Let it cool down completely before serving it

Tips for making the best Pastiera

• Buy the right ingredients, do not substitute the wheat and do not try to make it yourself, it will not be the same thing
• Get a good fresh ricotta brand
• Keep the pastry cold before you put it into the oven, it will make a nice crunchy crust.
• Let it cool down completely before removing it from the pan and serving it

Savoury Pie Ideas

If you also want to make some savoury pies for Easter, here are some ideas:

• Beef Pie With Marsala Sauce And Mushrooms
• Chicken and Mushroom Pie Recipe
• Chelsea Market Heidi Pie With French Chevre
• Zucchini Mushroom Quiche Recipe
• Caramelized Squash Spinach Bacon Quiche

If you are making this Pastiera Pie for Easter, leave your comment below I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram or sign up to my newsletter.

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5 from 3 votes

Pastiera Ricotta Pie

Pastiera is a ricotta pie with wheat, a classic Easter dessert from the South of Italy. #yourguardianchef #pastiera #italiandessert #ricottapie #yourguardianchef #italianrecipe #easterrecipes #easterdessert #italianfood

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time1 hr 20 mins

Total Time1 hr 35 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: eatercake, italian dessert, ricottapie

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 452kcal

Author: Laura Tobin

Ingredients

Shortcrust pastry

• 1/2 cup butter at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp water
• 1 tsp salt

For the filling

• 1 lb ricotta
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 5 egg yolks
• 4 egg whites
• 1 can wheat for pastiera read the article above
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 lemon zest
• 1 tbsp orange water
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• candied fruits

US Customary - Metric

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Instructions

• Mix all the ingredients for the short pastry  
• Keep 1/4 of the pastry aside for the top and roll the rest of the pastry to make the base of the pie
• Lay the base of the pie on the baking pan (8 in - 20 cm), make some holes and leave in the fridge until the filling is ready

For the filling

• Boil for 10 minutes the wheat with the sugar, the butter and the milk
• Add all the other ingredients to the filling
• Beat the egg whites until firm
• Gently add the egg whites to the filling mixture 
• Pour the filling over the pastry and cover with the crossed stripes of pastry 
• Bake in a hot oven at 320 F - 160C for 1 hour
• Let it cool down completely before serving it

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Notes

Tips for making the best Pastiera

• Buy the right ingredients, do not substitute the wheat and do not try to make it yourself, it will not be the same thing
• Get a good fresh ricotta brand
• Keep the pastry cold before you put it into the oven, it will make a nice crunchy crust.
• Let it cool down completely before removing it from the pan and serving it

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Pastiera Ricotta Pie

Amount Per Serving

Calories 452 Calories from Fat 234

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 26g 40%

Saturated Fat 15g 75%

Cholesterol 211mg 70%

Sodium 510mg 21%

Potassium 149mg 4%

Total Carbohydrates 41g 14%

Sugars 21g

Protein 13g 26%

Vitamin A 18.2%

Vitamin C 1.2%

Calcium 16.2%

Iron 9.6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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