Spinach Ricotta Pie
Author Notes: This comes from my mother's collection of Pennsylvania Dutch recipes. From its pristine condition, I doubt she ever made this pie. Like so many home cooks, myself included, she had a large file of must-try-this-sometime recipes. I played with the preparation, added lemon zest and nutmeg, and opted for Gruyere instead of the "sharp cheese" listed in the original ingredients. I baked it in my Mom's pie plate that she had in her kitchen before I was born, many moons ago. - Lizthechef —Lizthechef
Food52 Review: Lizthechef’s Spinach Ricotta Pie is oozing with homespun charm. With just a few wonderful tweaks, she’s churned out some really great flavors. Without overpowering it, the Gruyere lends a nice assertive contrast to the more mellow ricotta and the subtle warmth from the nutmeg is balanced nicely by her clever addition of Meyer lemon zest. I did blind bake the crust for about 10 minutes before pouring the filling in and it turned out nice and flaky. Make sure to use a superior whole-milk ricotta, as an average one might be easily lost here. - TiggyBee —TiggyBee
Serves 6
Crust
-
1
cup unbleached all-purpose flour
-
1/4
cup whole wheat flour
-
1/3
cup cold unsalted butter
-
3
tablespoons cold, low-fat buttermilk
- Combine the white and wholewheat flour. Using 2 knives, cut in the butter. Add the buttermilk.
- Pull the dough into a ball. Chill in fridge for 1 hour.
Filling
-
1
6-ounce package baby spinach, roughly chopped
-
1
small yellow onion, finely chopped
-
3
tablespoons unsalted butter
-
3
tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
-
kosher salt
-
ground white pepper
-
3
large eggs
-
1
pound ricotta
-
1/2
cup Gruyere, grated
-
1/2
cup low-fat sour cream
-
dashes freshly grated nutmeg
-
1
teaspoon Meyer lemon zest
-
Sweet paprika
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until limp, about 5 minutes.
- Add the flour and stir to coat the onions. Cook 2 minutes. Add the spinach and cook, stirring, until the spinach is wilted and bright green.
- Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper.
- In a large bowl, beat the eggs. Add ricotta, cheese, sour cream, nutmeg and lemon zest. Mix well and set aside.
- Roll out chilled dough and place in a 9-inch pie plate.
- Add the spinach-onion mixture to the ricotta filling. Pour the pie filling into the crust. Smooth with spatula or the back of a large spoon. Sprinkle with paprika.
- Bake 45 minutes. Allow pie to rest for 15 minutes before cutting and serving.
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Cheap Feast
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Recipe with Fresh Ricotta
More Great Recipes:
Cheese|Egg|Vegetable|Breakfast|Pie|Make Ahead|Vegetarian
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about 5 years ago Wicko
We loved this. Really nice flavors and fluffy texture. Used a whole wheat pie crust which worked well.
about 5 years ago Phyllis Byrne
I am so pleased to know that somehow this will comfort you . Cooking with love from the heart always make everything taste better. I made this dish for a very special co- worker who is a marathon runner and vegatarian. She always has a kind word for others and we will miss her when she retires next week.
about 5 years ago Lizthechef
What else can I say? Thank you.
about 5 years ago Phyllis Byrne
This is a wonderful recipe. The addition of lemon zest is the perfect touch. I made it for an event at work. Every crumb was eaten and several people asked for the recipe.
about 5 years ago Lizthechef
You have no idea how this comforts me, as we have a dear friend dying and I was wracking my brain for a dish to deliver to the family, of assorted eating issues. I mean it. This weekend it will be delivered, thanks to you.
over 6 years ago Lizthechef
Making this for our supper and just picked up a mistake. In step 7 I neglected to say "Add the spinach-onion mixture to the ricotta filling". The you pour the pie filling into the crust. And I think blind-baking the crust is a good idea as well...
over 6 years ago Lizthechef
It worked fine - thanks to TiggyBee for suggesting to blind bake it - I did 10 minutes covered with foil and pie weights, then 10 minutes "open" at 375 degrees. I threw in fresh dill instead of basil and we liked that.
about 7 years ago Nonnamia
Sounds real good ...I'll do a test on this one!!!!!...
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
Great - please let me know how you like it - or not. Any plain pie crust will work, if you have a favorite...
about 7 years ago pauljoseph
Very good recipe will try
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
This is quite a compliment. Thank you!
about 7 years ago TiggyBee
I love this three (or is it six?) ways till Sunday. What does that mean anyhow? Love it!!
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
Thank you, TB, don't know the origin of the saying but it's sweet.
about 7 years ago Daphne
Pretty picture, looks like spring! Will take up to Napa next month where there are lots of little hungry mouths to feed : ) a great addition anytime of the day, thanks Liz!
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
Thanks, Daphne, and best regards to you and your lovely family!
about 7 years ago Prue Barrett
Gorgeous! I'm making it tomorrow. Thank you.
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
Thank you, Prue, I am too, trying it with Greek yogurt instead of the low-fat sour cream. Please let us all know how it worked - or not - for you.
about 7 years ago monkeymom
Beautiful Liz! Your photo is so gorgeous with the spinach leaves swirling around on top...did you save some whole spinach leaves for the top? or does is still look that way even when roughly chopped? I'd just love for mine to turn out as beautifully....
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
Um, you caught me, mm...I forgot to chop them at all! Maybe just as well?
about 7 years ago monkeymom
I'm sure it is just as lovely and tasty either way :) I look forward to trying it!
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
A big thank you to whoever fixed my photos so that one doesn't view my mother's empty pie pan instead of the pie.
about 7 years ago lapadia
Beautiful, love it! :)
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
Thanks. You remind me, perhaps because your recipes are so precise, to edit that the baby spinach should be roughly chopped. Hope I'm not too late.
about 7 years ago lapadia
Yea...you got in your "rough chopped"! :)
about 7 years ago TasteFood
Beautiful photo and recipe Liz! Spinach + Gruyere is a winner for me!
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
Thanks so very much, dear TasteFood.
about 7 years ago fiveandspice
Emily is a trusted source on Scandinavian Cuisine.
Yum! This looks awesome! Something sort of similar was one of my favorite things to make in college. Love the addition of the Meyer lemon zest.
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
Thanks so much - I tend to use Meyer lemons and/or their zest in just about anything I can.
about 7 years ago TheWimpyVegetarian
I love love love this, Liz!! I'm defnitely making it! It looks great! And I really LOVE the photos.
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
Hey thanks, Susan, we finished it up for lunch today. I might try Greek yogurt instead of the low-fat sour cream next round. I also made it without any salt and thought the lemon gave enough "spark" to the dish.
about 7 years ago TheWimpyVegetarian
Using the lemon is a great idea. It's such a challenge to find ways to get around salt, but I'm convined it can be done and still have food taste great.
about 7 years ago cookerT
I've got this pegged for Easter! Thanks!
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
Thanks everybody, for your photo tips and supportive comments!
about 7 years ago Oui, Chef
This one sounds absolutely perfect! Love the picture of the empty pie plate....how could it be any other way with a recipe this good? - S
about 7 years ago lastnightsdinner
You're certainly going to help me get my recommended intake of spinach with your great recipes, Liz - this sounds fabulous!
about 7 years ago gingerroot
What a lovely pie to celebrate spring!
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
Sorry re photo's - I meant my Mom's plate as a back-up. I really did make a ricotta pie ;)
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
how to make this the fall-back photo?
about 7 years ago Sagegreen
Great photo! Sometimes using the thumbs up icon, if you click it voting for one photo and then vote again for the other photo with the thumbs up icon, you can get both photos alternating, one will show with the recipe listing and the other might appear when someone clicks on the recipe....sometimes this works! Hope that is what you meant!
about 7 years ago lapadia
Re: choosing the actual pie picture for the front photo on your recipe: In this case, I would remove the “Mom’s plate” photo, then “thumbs up” your ricotta pie picture. Then, go back and add “mom plate” back. Instructions for that: Login, scroll down…click on photos…click on the highest numbered picture (I am thinking that your ricotta pie pictures are the latest)…click backwards (if needed) to find the picture to remove…click on “remove” after you find it…then click back to your ricotta pie recipe and “thumbs up” the picture you want…add back in the removed picture for your fall back, if you still want it there. OH…and btw – nice recipe, great flavors!!
about 7 years ago drbabs
Barbara is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Sounds GREAT!
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
Oh, but I want your newly posted dessert. I thought you were going to bypass ricotta - glad you didn't.
about 7 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
This would be awesome for brunch. Nicely done, Liz!
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
Lighter than a quiche, I was pleased. Thanks so much for your comment,
about 7 years ago Sagegreen
Just wonderful! Such great combinations here.
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
Thanks, dear Sagegreen! I need to post a photo of my mother's pie plate, so sentimental for me. I hate to use it, fearing I will drop it...
about 7 years ago MyCommunalTable
I love the addition of buttermilk in the crust. This sounds great and would great about anytime, but I love guryere and spinach anytime.
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
thanks so much, Elizabeth!
about 7 years ago mrslarkin
Liz, looks lovely and sounds very tasty!
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
Thanks, Liz, awaiting your recipe ;) Or did I miss it in this flurry of ricotta entries?
about 7 years ago mrslarkin
No, still playing around in the kitchen! Although I'm not sure if I should submit my Ricotta Layers that was a runner up a while ago. I guess if I don't come up with anything else, that will have to do. :)
about 7 years ago dymnyno
Very tasty sounding recipe...perfect for a almost Spring dinner! The flavors all sound tangy but probably settle down nicely into their crust.
about 7 years ago Lizthechef
I took a taste and it works for me - trying out on Larry for supper...What sounds tangy? Too much Meyer lemon zest? I thought it brightened the flavor of the pie.
about 7 years ago dymnyno
No , I meant tangy good! Opposite of bland.
Showing 54 out of 54 comments