Italian Easter Pizza Recipes

SPECIAL ITALIAN EASTER PIZZA

Steps:

• Cook and stir Italian sausage in a skillet over medium heat, breaking the sausage into crumbles as it cooks, until well browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Drain excess grease; set sausage aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Oil the bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan with olive oil.
• Cut 1/3 of the dough off the loaf and set aside under a cloth. Form the remaining 2/3 dough into a ball and roll into a 14-inch circle on a floured work surface.
• Line the springform pan with rolled dough, allowing dough to hang over the edge by 2 inches all around.
• Layer half the cooked Italian sausage, half the mozzarella cheese, half the ham, half the provolone cheese, half the salami, and half the pepperoni into the pie crust.
• Spoon and spread half the ricotta cheese over the layers of meat and cheeses.
• Sprinkle half the Parmesan cheese over the ricotta.
• Pour half the 8 beaten eggs over the layers; continue layering the remaining meats, sliced cheeses, ricotta cheese, and then Parmesan cheese.
• Pour remaining beaten eggs over the last layer of Parmesan cheese.
• Roll out remaining piece of bread dough to a circle about 12 inches in diameter; lay the piece over the pie to form the top crust. Roll and pinch the bottom crust overhang over the top crust to seal in the filling.
• Beat 1 egg with water in a small bowl; brush the top of the pie with egg wash.
• Bake pie in the preheated oven until the crust is golden brown and the filling is set, 50 to 60 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the middle of the crust should come out without raw egg.
• Allow pie to cool in the pan for at least 25 minutes before releasing the spring and removing pie from the pan. Transfer to a serving platter and cut into wedges for serving.

ITALIAN EASTER PIE (PIZZA CHENA)

Steps:

• 1. For the dough... In a large bowl, dissolve in two cups of water, yeast, sugar, and salt and gently blend.
• 2. After the yeast has dissolved, add 5 cups of flour and 2 Tbsp olive oil. Blend with a spoon until the dough starts to form.
• 3. Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead for about 5 to 10 minutes. (Add additional flour if the dough is too sticky.)
• 4. Place dough in a large bowl and coat with a little olive oil. Cover and let rise for 2 hours.
• 5. While the dough is rising, start to prep your ingredients by cutting meats and grating cheese. Brown the sausage breaking it up into small pieces with a wooden spoon.
• 6. In a large bowl, add the three beaten eggs, ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, chopped eggs, meats, and seasonings. Mix well and set aside.
• 7. After the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into two pieces.
• 8. Roll out one piece of the dough.
• 9. Place the rolled out dough in a 10-inch springform pan sprayed with Pam. The dough should hang about an inch over the sides.
• 10. Pour the filling into the pastry crust - mine filled to about an inch from the top.
• 11. Roll the second piece of the dough and place the round crust on top of the filling. Cutaway any excess dough.
• 12. Crimp around the edges - I used a fork. Cut two strips of leftover dough to make a cross. Place the dough cross on top of the Pizza Chena. Cut slits in dough to vent.
• 13. Beat the egg yolk and brush on top of the Pizza Chena.
• 14. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 - 75 minutes.
• 15. Bake until golden brown and let cool. NOTE: Pizza Chena is best when made a day or two ahead of time. Let it cool and then store in the fridge. Bring to room temp before serving!

ITALIAN EASTER PIE | PIZZA RUSTICA

Steps:

• In a food processor fitted with the blade attachment, combine the flour, cold cubed butter, olive oil, egg, and salt. Pulse just until the mixture is combined; it should resemble coarse sand. With the food processor running, pour 4 tablespoons of cold water in and mix until the dough comes together and forms a ball.
• Lay out a piece of plastic wrap. Dump the dough on to the plastic wrap and press together into a disk shape. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight.
• In a large bowl, combine all of the filling ingredients, and mix until combined. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Divide the dough into two pieces: two-thirds for the bottom crust and one-third for the top crust. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the larger piece of dough into a circular shape. Carefully place the dough in a greased springform pan and line the insides and bottom with it. You can use any scrap pieces to fill in the gaps in the pan.
• Pour the ricotta filling into the crust. Use a spatula to smooth and even it out.
• Roll out the remaining pie crust into a circle. Place it over top of the ricotta filling. Trim any excess overhang and use the side crust to roll over the top crust of the pie. Brush the pie with a beaten egg and make a small "x" shape in the middle of the pie to allow steam to escape.
• Place the pie on the middle rack of the preheated oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 350 degrees. Bake for about 75 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Let cool for five minutes before removing the collar; let sit for another 10 minutes before slicing and serving.