Italian ricotta pie

Ingredients

• 1 2/3 cup (250g) all purpose flour
• 5 1/2 oz (150g) butter (cold, cut in cubes)
• 1/2 cup (100g) white sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 medium egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
• 2 cups (500g) ricotta cheese
• 1 medium egg
• 1/2 cup (100g) white sugar
• 1/3 cup (50g) chocolate chips
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 small egg
• 1 Tbsp milk

Instructions

1. 1

   --- Make the dough ---

2. 2

   In a food processor add flour, butter, sugar, baking powder and a pinch of salt. Process until you’ll have a sandy mixture.

3. 3

   Add a whole egg, an egg yolk and vanilla extract. Pulse a couple of times until you’ll have all ingredients combined.

4. 4

   Dust with flour a working surface, place the dough and very gently form a ball. Wrap in cling film and place in the fridge for one hour.

5. 5

   --- MAKE THE FILLING ---

6. 6

   In a medium bowl place ricotta with sugar, egg and vanilla extract. Mix until everything is combined and there are no lumps.

7. 7

   Add chocolate chips and gently fold in.

8. 8

   --- MAKE THE PIE ---

9. 9

   Take out the dough from the fridge and divide it in two portions. Leave one of the portions in fridge until needed.

10. 10

    Place dough between two sheets of parchment paper and roll the dough with until is about 11 inches (28-30 cm) wide.

11. 11

    Grease and flour a 10″ /24cm pie dish. Transfer the dough to the pie dish taking care that it fits nicely into the bottom and sides.

12. 12

    Cut off the excess of dough with a knife and then add inside the ricotta mixture. Use a spatula to spread evenly.

13. 13

    Place the pie in the fridge while continuing with the recipe.

14. 14

    Roll the other portion of dough and, using a flower shaped cooking cutter, cut some flowers in the dough.

15. 15

    Remove the pie from the fridge and place over the dough with flowers to cover it. Cut the excess of dough from the borders and use it to make more flowers.

16. 16

    Whisk egg with milk to make the eggwash. Carefully, brush the pie. Decor with the remaining dough flowers and brush them too.

17. 17

    Place the pie in the fridge while oven heats up.

18. 18

    --- BAKE ---

19. 19

    Heat the oven to 340°F/175°C. Bake for about 50 min to 1 hour in the middle rack.

20. 20

    Remove the pie from oven and allow to cool down on a cooling rack for 30 minutes before slicing.