Tricolor Savory Pie

The Tricolor Savory Pie is a dish that offers a visual tribute to the colors of the Italian flag, using ingredients that represent green, white, and red. The base of a savory pie can be made with puff pastry or shortcrust pastry, and then filled with a variety of ingredients. Here is a classic recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 roll of puff pastry or shortcrust pastry
• 200g ricotta
• 200g fresh or frozen spinach
• 150g cherry tomatoes
• 2 eggs
• 100g mozzarella
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. If using fresh spinach, wash and cook it in a pan with a drizzle of oil until wilted. If using frozen spinach, thaw and squeeze well to remove excess water.
3. Roll out the puff pastry or shortcrust pastry into a previously oiled or parchment-lined cake pan.
4. In a bowl, mix the ricotta with the eggs, season with salt and pepper, then spread half of this cream over the base of the pie.
5. Distribute the spinach over the ricotta cream, forming a first green layer.
6. Cut the mozzarella into cubes and distribute half of it over the spinach.
7. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and create a second layer, this time red.
8. Add the remaining mozzarella cubes.
9. Cover with the rest of the ricotta cream.
10. Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until the surface is golden and the pastry is fully cooked.
11. Let the pie cool slightly before serving.

This recipe presents a beautiful contrast of flavors and colors that well represent the Italian tricolor. It can be an excellent dish to serve as an appetizer or as a main course for a light meal accompanied by a fresh salad.

Trivia

The Tricolor Savory Pie is often prepared on the occasion of Italian Republic Day or during sporting events such as the soccer world championships or the Olympics to strengthen the sense of patriotism and national unity at the table.