Description
Creamy ricotta pie embodies Italian culinary traditions passed down through generations. Delicate pastry and rich cheese blend create a sublime dessert that connects family and flavor in one memorable slice.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (500g) ricotta cheese (drained if watery)
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter (cold & cubed)
- 1 ¼ cups (250g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp cinnamon (optional, for warmth)
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips or candied fruit (optional, for extra flavor)
Instructions
- Dry Mixture Preparation: Whisk flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl, ensuring uniform integration and eliminating potential lumps.
- Butter Incorporation: Cut cold butter into the dry ingredients using a pastry cutter, creating a crumbly texture resembling coarse breadcrumbs with a sandy consistency.
- Dough Formation: Gently fold eggs and vanilla extract into the crumbly mixture, working the ingredients until a cohesive dough forms without excessive manipulation.
- Dough Chilling: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes, allowing gluten relaxation and butter solidification for a more delicate pastry texture.
- Ricotta Filling Creation: Whisk ricotta cheese, eggs, sugar, and vanilla in a separate bowl until the mixture achieves a smooth, homogeneous consistency.
- Crust Preparation: Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface to an even thickness, then carefully transfer to a pie dish, pressing into corners and trimming excess edges.
- Filling and Baking: Pour the ricotta mixture into the prepared crust, spreading evenly. Bake in a preheated oven at the specified temperature until the filling sets and the crust turns golden brown, approximately 45-50 minutes.
- Cooling and Serving: Allow the pie to cool completely, enabling the filling to set and facilitating clean, precise slicing for serving.
Notes
- Prevent Soggy Crust: Pat ricotta cheese dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, ensuring a crisp and flaky pie base.
- Handling Delicate Dough: Work quickly and keep ingredients cold to maintain butter’s integrity, which creates a tender, light pastry texture.
- Customize Flavor Profile: Experiment with lemon zest, almond extract, or cinnamon to add depth and personalize the ricotta filling’s taste.
- Dietary Adaptation: Substitute gluten-free flour blend for traditional flour and use dairy-free ricotta alternative for lactose-intolerant or vegan preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 352
- Sugar: 31g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 93mg