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Torta Pasqualina

5.0

(5)

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Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Andy Baraghani, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski

This double-crusted stunner of a savory tart is a traditional Italian Easter dish, but it makes for an impressive vegetarian main no matter what you're celebrating. Just don’t expect your first pasqualina to look perfect. But it will taste absolutely amazing if you remember three key steps: Don’t sweat the crust, squeeze every drop of liquid out of the greens, and save your chard stems! Make breakfast an occasion by serving it alongside a savory peach and shaved fennel salad, marinated beans with ricotta salata, and breakfast calzones.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    8 servings

Ingredients

Dough

cups all-purpose flour

2

Tbsp. sugar

tsp. kosher salt

cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, chilled in freezer

Filling and Assembly

lb. Swiss chard (about 5 bunches), ribs and stems removed

3

Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

2

medium onions, finely chopped

10

large eggs

cups whole-milk fresh ricotta, preferably box-drained, patted dry

4

oz. Parmesan, coarsely grated

1

large garlic clove, finely grated

2

tsp. finely grated lemon zest

¼

tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

2

tsp. kosher salt, plus more

tsp. freshly ground black pepper, plus more

All-purpose flour (for surface)

2

tsp. sugar

Special Equipment

Preparation

  1. Dough

    Step 1

    Pulse flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor to combine. Add butter and process until largest pieces of butter are pea-size. Drizzle in ½ cup ice water and pulse until a few shaggy pieces of dough form.

    Step 2

    Transfer dough (get all the dry bits) to a work surface. Drizzle 1 Tbsp. ice water over; knead to just barely bring dough together. Divide in half. Place a half on a piece of plastic wrap. Using plastic and your hands, form dough into a ¾"-thick disk and tightly wrap. Repeat with remaining dough. Chill at least 2 hours.

    Step 3

    Do Ahead: Dough can be made 5 days ahead. Keep chilled, or freeze up to 1 month.

  2. Filling and Assembly

    Step 4

    Working in batches, cook Swiss chard in a large pot of boiling water until bright green and slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Using tongs, transfer to an ice bath to stop the cooking. Swish to cool, then remove greens and squeeze out as much excess liquid as possible. Transfer greens to a cutting board and finely chop (you should have about 4 cups).

    Step 5

    Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium. Cook onions, stirring occasionally, until very soft and golden but not browned, 8–10 minutes. Remove from heat and mix in greens. Let cool.

    Step 6

    Using a fork, whisk 4 eggs in a large bowl to blend. Add ricotta, Parmesan, and Swiss chard mixture and mix to combine. Add garlic, lemon zest, nutmeg, 2 tsp. salt, and 1½ tsp. pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning, if needed.

    Step 7

    Let dough sit at room temperature 5 minutes to soften. Roll out 1 disk of dough on a lightly floured surface to a 12" round about ⅛" thick. Transfer to a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Roll out remaining disk of dough and carefully transfer to tart pan. Lift up edges and allow dough to slump down into pan. Press dough firmly into sides and bottom of pan. Trim, leaving about a ½" overhang. Beat 1 egg in a small bowl to blend and brush edges of dough.

    Step 8

    Scrape filling into pan, creating a mound in the center. Using an offset spatula, evenly spread filling over bottom, smoothing surface.

    Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Andy Baraghani, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski

    Step 9

    Use a spoon to create 5 divots in filling and crack an egg into each. Season eggs with a bit of salt. Arrange remaining round of dough over filling. Trim edges of top round, leaving ½" overhang. Fold edge of bottom crust up and over top, then press edges together to seal.

    Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Andy Baraghani, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski

    Step 10

    Crimp and brush top of dough with remaining beaten egg; sprinkle with sugar. Transfer pie to a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and chill in freezer 10 minutes.

    Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Andy Baraghani, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski

    Step 11

    Preheat oven to 375°. Bake pie until crust is deep golden brown, 65–75 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let pie cool in pan at least 30 minutes before serving.

    Step 12

    Do Ahead: Pie can be baked 1 day ahead. Let cool; cover and chill.

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Reviews (5)

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  • I haven't made it yet, because (a) the recipe says crack five whole eggs into divots in the chard mixture, but (b) the pictures show 10 divots, each containing only a yolk. Which one is it? Keen to try the recipe, but not until this gets clarified for me!

    • rpickard709931

    • Canada

    • 7/14/2018

  • I used a combination of spinach, kale and chard for this and a different pastry recipe. Fit in a deep 9" pie pan. Made it to have a quick, delicious breakfast during the week. Definitely recommend. (I actually did 6 whole eggs so I could split the pie into easy portions)

    • Anonymous

    • Maryland

    • 7/30/2018

  • I thought this dish traditionally contains hard boiled egg?

    • JJ

    • Chicago

    • 4/13/2022