Torta Pasqualina {Italian Easter Pie}

Torta Pasqualina is a traditional Italian Easter recipe. This delicious savory pie features a puff pastry crust and it is stuffed with spinach, ricotta, and eggs. Perfect also for a Sunday brunch or even for dinner.

There is a saying in Italy, “Natale con i tuoi. Pasqua con chi vuoi.” It basically means you spend Christmas with you family and Easter with whomever you’d like! Easter is a more relaxed holiday.

Easter in Italy even goes onto the following Monday: La Pasquetta. Typically Italians go to eat outdoors, by the beach, in the mountains, on picnic. I just spoke with my aunt in Sicily and she told me my cousins went to the farm to eat only grilled meats.

Torta Pasqualina- Spinach and Ricotta Pie

The torta Pasqualina is served as an antipasto at an Easter table. La torta Pasqualina is the most famous pie from the Liguria area. This delicious torta is also eaten during Easter outside of Liguria. The original version is one of the most ancient Ligurian recipes, where the dough is rolled into 33 separate layers, symbolizing the age of Christ at the time of his death.

Today the torta is made typically with much less layers of dough. I’ve seen recipes for 12-18 layers and I’ve seen recipes with 4 layers of dough. The number of layers has now been reduced to 12-18–less symbolic but more practical. It?s a vegetable tart made with a very simple dough.

The filling is usually made with ricotta cheese and spinach, Swiss chard, or artichokes, but the filling can be changed to highlight whatever green vegetables are in season.

I found this little tidbit from Saveur: Traditionally, torta pasqualina was made with 33 layers of dough—ten on the bottom and 23 on the top—to symbolize the 33 years of Christ’s life. According to Genoese politician and gastronome Paolo Emilio Taviani, when Nietzsche lived on Genoa’s piazza Portello in the 1880s, he thought it worth devoting an afternoon to learning how to prepare a torta pasqualina from his aged landlady.

Torta Pasqualina Ingredients

• butter
• Swiss chard or spinach
• eggs 
• ricotta cheese
• freshly grated Parmesan cheese
•  bread crumbs
• heavy cream
• chopped fresh marjoram
• puff pastry dough
• all purpose flour for dusting
• olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

How to make this Spinach and Ricotta Pie

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and grease a large pie pan or 10 inch springform pan with the butter.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Remove the tough stems from the chard and add to the boiling water. Cook until tender, 3-5 minutes or shorter for spinach. Rinse in cold water, drain, and chop.
• In a medium bowl, beat together 4 of the eggs. Push the ricotta through a strainer into the bowl, being sure to scrap the underside of the strainer for excess ricotta. Mix in the Parmesan, bread crumbs, heavy cream, salt, pepper, chopped chard, and marjoram.
• On a lightly floured surface, cut the puff pastry into 4 equal pieces. Roll one piece until thin and large enough to cover pan with excess hanging over the edges. Brush with olive oil and roll out another piece. Place over first piece at an angle so the overhanging edges are not together. Cover the other two pieces with a damp cloth.
• Pour half of the chard ricotta mixture into the prepared pan over the puff pastry. Use a spoon to make 6 indentations in the chard mixture in a circle. Break an egg into each indentation. Season with salt and pepper and cover with remaining chard ricotta mixture. Use a wet spatula to smooth the top.
• Roll another piece of puff pastry until thin and place over chard mixture. Brush with oil. Roll the remaining piece of puff pastry and place on top. Carefully crimp all of the edges the seal. Prick the surface a few times with a fork.
• Bake in preheated oven for about 40 minutes, until heated through, and top is golden brown. Allow to sit for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Serve hot or cold.

Variations and substitutions for Italian Easter Pie

1. Swiss chard or spinach: You can use either of these leafy greens in this recipe, depending on your preference or availability. Alternatively, you can also try using other greens like kale or collard greens.
2. Eggs: Eggs are a crucial ingredient in this dish, and it can be difficult to find a suitable substitute. However, you can try using a vegan egg replacer or flaxseed meal mixed with water as an egg substitute.
3. Ricotta cheese: If you don't have ricotta cheese, you can substitute it with cottage cheese, cream cheese, or even mashed tofu.
4. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese: Parmesan cheese adds a delicious nutty flavor to this dish. If you don't have Parmesan, you can substitute it with pecorino Romano, Asiago, or any other hard, salty cheese.
5. Bread crumbs: Bread crumbs help bind the ingredients together and add texture. If you don't have bread crumbs, you can use crushed crackers or even oats.
6. Heavy cream: Heavy cream adds richness and creaminess to this dish. If you don't have heavy cream, you can substitute it with half-and-half or milk.
7. Chopped fresh marjoram: Marjoram adds a sweet, slightly floral flavor to this dish. If you don't have marjoram, you can substitute it with oregano, thyme, or basil.
8. Puff pastry dough: Puff pastry is a flaky, buttery pastry that works well in this recipe. However, if you don't have puff pastry, you can use phyllo dough or pie crust.
9. All-purpose flour for dusting: You can use any type of flour for dusting, such as rice flour, cornmeal, or semolina.
10. Olive oil: Olive oil adds a fruity, slightly bitter flavor to this dish. If you don't have olive oil, you can use any other cooking oil, such as vegetable oil, canola oil, or coconut oil.
11. Salt and pepper to taste: These are essential seasonings that can't be substituted. However, you can try adding other herbs and spices, such as garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika, to enhance the flavor of this dish.

Here are some expert tips to make the perfect Torta Pasqualina:

1. Use fresh, high-quality ingredients: The flavor of this dish largely depends on the quality of the ingredients used. Make sure to use fresh, high-quality Swiss chard or spinach, eggs, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, and herbs to get the best results.
2. Drain the greens properly: Make sure to drain the greens properly after cooking to remove any excess moisture. Squeeze out as much water as possible to prevent the torta from becoming soggy.
3. Use a food processor: Use a food processor to chop the greens and mix the filling. This will ensure that the filling is evenly mixed and has a smooth texture.
4. Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to the correct temperature before baking the torta. This will ensure that the pastry cooks evenly and has a crispy texture.
5. Chill the pastry dough: Chill the puff pastry dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out. This will make the dough easier to work with and prevent it from shrinking during baking.
6. Use a springform pan: Use a springform pan to make the torta. This will make it easier to remove the torta from the pan and ensure that it retains its shape.
7. Let the torta cool before serving: Let the torta cool for at least 15-20 minutes before serving. This will allow the filling to set and make it easier to cut into slices.
8. Serve with a side salad: Torta Pasqualina is traditionally served with a side salad of mixed greens, tomatoes, and cucumbers dressed with olive oil and lemon juice. This adds a refreshing contrast to the rich and savory torta.
9. Experiment with fillings: While Swiss chard or spinach is the most common filling for Torta Pasqualina, you can also experiment with other fillings like artichokes, mushrooms, or caramelized onions for a delicious twist.

For this Easter, I baked the guti (Italian wreaths with eggs)and braided breads. The kids just love them and argue over who gets which egg. I baked some ricotta crostate and I also made this torta Pasqualina. It is a typical Italian Easter pie that is from the Liguria region. It's a flaky crusted pie that is filled with a wonderful ricotta and spinach filling (or Swiss chard or really whatever seasonal green/spring vegetable you like).

The dough for the crust is quite simple to make (just flour, olive oil and a little salt). I was busy baking crostate and Easter breads so decided to use puff pastry. It resulted in a very flaky crust.

The filling can be Swiss chard or spinach sauteed with onion in olive oil. Fresh marjoram and parsley accent the delicious ricotta. A few eggs are nestled in the filling before the second layer of dough is placed on top.

A quick egg wash gives it a lovely golden color. So easy to bake and a hit any time of year! Torta Pasqualina is wonderful at room temperature and perfect to take on your Pasquetta picnic.

I followed along the recipe I found from the Academia Barilla.

Some other recipes with puff pastry to enjoy:

• Baked Brie in Puff Pastry
• Pastelitos de Guayaba
• Easy Mini Plum Brie Tarts
• Casatiello
• Crescia al Formaggio-Italian Easter Cheese Bread

Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below:)

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Torta Pasqualina

Torta Pasqualina is a traditional Italian Easter recipe. This delicious pie features a puff pastry crust and it is stuffed with spinach, ricotta, and eggs. Perfect also for a Sunday brunch or even for dinner.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time39 minutes mins

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: eggs, vegetarian

Servings: 6

Calories: 654kcal

Author: Lora

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 21 ounces Swiss chard or spinach
• 10 eggs divided
• 1 ⅓ cups ricotta cheese
• 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons bread crumbs
• scant 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh marjoram
• 14 ounces puff pastry dough
• all purpose flour for dusting
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and grease a large pie pan or 10 inch springform pan with the butter.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Remove the tough stems from the chard and add to the boiling water. Cook until tender, 3-5 minutes or shorter for spinach. Rinse in cold water, drain, and chop.
• In a medium bowl, beat together 4 of the eggs. Push the ricotta through a strainer into the bowl, being sure to scrap the underside of the strainer for excess ricotta. Mix in the Parmesan, bread crumbs, heavy cream, salt, pepper, chopped chard, and marjoram.
• On a lightly floured surface, cut the puff pastry into 4 equal pieces. Roll one piece until thin and large enough to cover pan with excess hanging over the edges. Brush with olive oil and roll out another piece. Place over first piece at an angle so the overhanging edges are not together. Cover the other two pieces with a damp cloth.
• Pour half of the chard ricotta mixture into the prepared pan over the puff pastry. Use a spoon to make 6 indentations in the chard mixture in a circle. Break an egg into each indentation. Season with salt and pepper and cover with remaining chard ricotta mixture. Use a wet spatula to smooth the top.
• Roll another piece of puff pastry until thin and place over chard mixture. Brush with oil. Roll the remaining piece of puff pastry and place on top. Carefully crimp all of the edges the seal. Prick the surface a few times with a fork.
• Bake in preheated oven for about 40 minutes, until heated through, and top is golden brown. Allow to sit for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Serve hot or cold.

Nutrition Disclaimer

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.

Nutrition

Serving: 6g | Calories: 654kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 23g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 306mg | Sodium: 566mg | Potassium: 582mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 6767IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 218mg | Iron: 5mg

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