This ricotta cheese pie is the perfect base recipe that can be easily adapted to whatever ingredients you have on hand. Ricotta cheese teams marvelously with many cold cuts, such as Culatello di Zibello PDO, cooked ham, salami, bacon or mortadella, but it is also possible to add vegetables such as spinach, radicchio or mushrooms. There is a savory ricotta pie for every taste or occasion.  

This is a quick and easy recipe taking just 40 minutes for preparation including baking time, thanks to the use of store-bought puff pastry – always a convenient item to whip out for unexpected occasions. 

The Recipe:

Pre-heat the oven to 400° F. Turn the ricotta onto a fine sieve to eliminate any excess liquid. This ensures the puff pastry turns out nice and crisp.  

When the ricotta looks dry enough, place it in a bowl and season lightly with salt and pepper, combining thoroughly, before adding the egg and parmesan cheese. Continue to blend well until the mixture is smooth and even. Add the Culatello di Zibello PDO and give the mixture another good stir. You may also use cooked ham, cut up into small pieces, for this recipe, or alternatively, mortadella or salami. 

Place the store-bought puff pastry on your work surface and distribute the ricotta mixture in the center of the pastry, spreading it in such a way as to leave no more than a few centimeters around the edge of the pastry. If you wish, you may also top with a few basil leaves. Fold the edges of the pastry over the filling like a parcel to cover the pie ingredients completely. Brush the outer surface with a little milk mixed with a small amount of parmesan and salt.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes until the pie surface is golden brown. Remove from the oven and serve after a few minutes, allowing the filling to cool slightly. 

What to drink with a ricotta filled savory pie. A ricotta cheese pie, no matter what the occasion, will pair up marvelously with a red “Abbey beer” which, with its rich flavor and bitter finale, is a perfect match for this sweet flavored recipe.