Italian Wheat Pie Recipes

MARIA'S EASTER (WHEAT) PIE/"PASTIERA DI GRANO"

Steps:

• ***PreparingThe Wheat: If"soaked" or"precooked" wheat is not available, dry wheat may be used.
• Cover the dry wheat with cold water (water should be about 2 inches over the wheat) and boil it for 15 minutes or until the wheat berries crack open.
• Remove pan from heat and allow wheat to soak for a full 24 hours.
• After soaking, drain well before using in steps#17-19.
• If"soaked"/"precooked" wheat is used, add the wheat to a pan of boiling water and cook it for about 5-10 minutes (most of the wheat berries should be open and they should be chewy but tender).
• Drain well, let cool and use for steps#17-19.
• Crust: Mix flour, sugar and lemon peel together in a bowl.
• Work butter into flour using your fingers (until it is the size of peas).
• Add eggs one at a time, mixing with a wooden spoon.
• Knead the dough lightly until it holds together well and clears the bowl.
• Form dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and chill it for about 1/2- 1 hour before using.
• Cream: Fill the bottom of a double boiler with enough water so that its insert doesn't quite touch the water; bring the water to a boil.
• Mix the whole milk, egg yolks, sugar, flour, lemon peel and citron together in the insert of the double boiler which has been set in to the bottom pan.
• Cook the"cream," stirring constantly until it has thickened and is the consistency of a thick pudding (about 20-30 minutes).
• Remove the insert from the boiling water and set aside to allow the"cream" to cool, stir occasionally to keep a skin from forming.
• Note: I sometimes put the insert pan with the"cream" mixture into a bowl of very cold water, to help it cool down faster, don't forget to stir it.
• Wheat: Add the (cooked, soaked, well drained) wheat to a saucepan with the milk and butter.
• Cook the wheat mixture, stirring occasionally until the butter melts, and mixture starts to boil; boil for 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and let cool.
• Prepare Pans: On a lightly floured board, roll out the chilled dough to about 1/8 inch thick and line the bottom and sides of two lightly buttered 9-inch glass cake pans.
• Leave a 1/2 inch overhang of dough if you are going to use the lattice top.
• If not using the lattice, trim the overhang to 1/4 inch.
• Re-roll scraps and cut into 1/2 inch wide strips to use as a lattice top for the pie.
• (If you prefer, the lattice can be omitted.) Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Ricotta Filling: Mix ricotta, eggs, sugar and lemon peel together in a large bowl.
• Beat mixture by hand, with a wooden spoon, until smooth and creamy.
• Add the"cream" mixture and the wheat mixture to the ricotta filling, stirring until all is well blended.
• Pour or ladle the filling into prepared pans (to within 1/4 inch of the top of the pan).
• For The Lattice: place the strips of dough across the filling, spaced about 1 inch apart (at right angles) forming a lattice top.
• Fold the 1/2 inch overhang over the edges of the lattice and flute well.
• If not making the lattice top, fold the 1/4 inch overhang on to itself, and lightly flute.
• Bake pies in a preheated 350°F oven for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the bottom of the crust is light brown, the center is set, and the top of the pies are golden.
• Turn off oven and let the pies cool for an hour in the oven with the oven door slightly (about 2 inches) ajar.
• Remove pies from oven and place on a wire rack.
• When completely cooled, cover loosely with plastic wrap and chill until serving.
• If you like, you can give the pie tops a light sprinkle of powdered sugar before serving.
• Note: Its best to served this pie directly from the pan, as trying to plate the whole pie is more trouble than its worth, and causes breakage.

WHEAT PIE

Steps:

• Crust: Cream butter and sugar. Add flour, baking powder and vanilla. Blend with a fork. Add eggs and water. Work with hands until dough is manageable. Turn onto a lightly floured board and knead until smooth. Form into a ball, put in a bowl, cover and chill overnight. The next day, divide dough into 4 parts, 2 larger than the others. Roll the large pieces between floured waxed paper into large discs about 1/8-inch thick. Line 2 (10-inch) pie pans with dough. Roll out smaller pieces of dough about 1/3-inch thick and cut into 3/4-inch strips for lattice toppings. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Filling: Prepare wheat. Cover with fresh water, add 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil uncovered (stir frequently to prevent sticking). Drain water and add 1/2 cup scalded milk, 1 teaspoon sugar, and boil for 5 minutes. Add orange peel, mix and allow to cool.
• Put ricotta in large bowl, put sugar on top and let stand for 5 minutes. Do not mix with an electric appliance, mix well with a wooden spoon. Beat eggs and add to ricotta mixture. Add orange marmalade, and orange blossom water. Add cooked wheat. Set aside and make custard.
• Heat 1 cup milk and butter in a saucepan. Add 1/2 cup cold milk to dry ingredients, stir until smooth and then add this to hot milk and butter in saucepan. Stir constantly until thick. Take 2 slightly beaten eggs and add 1/4 cup of hot mixture to eggs. Cook on low for 2 minutes. Let cool and add a teaspoon of vanilla. Add this back to ingredients in saucepan. You will have a thick custard, fold custard into the ricotta mixture gently.
• Pour filling into the piecrust. Then put a lattice piecrust on top. Brush with milk and put in oven at 350 degree for 1 hour or until the middle is firm. Put in refrigerator overnight and serve cold.
• The recipes for this program, which were provided by contributors and guests who may not be professional chefs, have not been tested in Food Networks kitchens. Therefore, Food Network cannot attest to the accuracy of any of the recipes.