-CRUST-
Your own favorite recipe for
A two crust deep dish pie.
Or two frozen deep dish
Pie shells from grocery
-VEGETABLE MIXTURE-
2 md Red Peppers
2 md Yellow peppers
1 md Onion
2 tb Olive oil
1 ts Dried basil leaves
1/4 ts Ground black pepper
1/4 ts Salt
CHEESE MIXTURE
1 lg Egg
1 cn 15 oz part skim ricotta
Cheese
1 pk 10 oz frozen chopped spinach
Thawed and squeezed dry
1 pk 8 oz shredded mozzarella
Cheese (2 cups)
1/4 ts Salt
-SAUCE-
1 1/4 c Marinara or spag. sauce
-PASTA-
2 c Scant 2 cup dry Rotini pasta
This all can be done on one day, but the directions show a two day schedule
of preparation. The pie should be assembled and baked the same day. It
does not turn out as well if you assemble it, refrigerate the whole pie,
and then bake it the next day.
DAY BEFORE Vegetables: Cut Red and yellow peppers into 1 inch pieces. Chop
onion. In 12 inch skillet over medium heat, in hot olive oil, cook onion
until tender crisp; add red and yellow peppers, basil, black pepper and
salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender. Remove,
and refrigerate until next day.
DAY BEFORE OR THE SAME DAY IF YOU WISH Cheese: In cup, beat egg slightly.
Reserve 1 tablespoon beaten egg (for crust- later) Set aside, cover in
fridge for next day.
In medium bowl, mix remaining egg with ricotta cheese, well drained spinach
and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
PASTA: Prepare day of baking. Prepare pasta as label directs, but do not
use salt in the water; drain. SAUCE: Have ready, and measured out.
ASSEMBLY: Have home made crust ready for rolling, or take frozen crust out
and let defrost for time on package. (Remember – deep dish size)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease 9″ x 2 1/2″ SPRINGFORM PAN. On
lightly floured surface, with floured rolling pin, roll 2/3 of the dough to
15 inch round. For frozen dough, one crust should roll to needed size.
Gently ease crust into springform pan, allowing dough to hang over side of
pan slightly.
Sprinkle bottom crust with half of the mozzarella cheese; top with half of
sauteed pepper mixture, spread half of ricotta cheese mixture over pepper
mixture; top with the pasta, then the marinara sauce. Sprinkle remaining
mozzarella cheese over sauce, top with remaining sauteed pepper mixture,
then remaining ricotta cheese mixture.
Roll remaining crust to 11 inches round; lay dough over filling, allowing
dough to hang over side of pan. Fold overhang in toward center, pinching
dough all around to make a stand up edge; flute. Cut slits in top crust to
allow steam to escape during baking. Brush top and edge with reserved
tablespoon of egg.
Bake pie 55 to 60 minutes until crust is golden and filling is hot. Allow
pie to cool 5 minutes for easier slicing. Remove side of springform pan.
To serve, cut into wedges. Makes 8 servings.
As listed is vegetarian. To add meat, 1/2 pound ground beef or mild
italian sausage, browned and drained my be added to the marinara sauce,
then proceed as above.
I have not made this, but have eaten this dish. It is a show stopper on
presentation and taste.
A nice touch is to cut pastry leaves and place on the top crust before
brushing with egg. Makes it look very professional.
Yields
1 Large pie