Author Notes
This is a cherished recipe passed down from my sister Nicolette. She used to make this fluffy ricotta pie in a pre-prepared pie shell that you can buy in any supermarket, but the delectable filling was always made fresh. I've "tarted" it up a bit by using a homemade crust, which makes her recipe even more delicious. "Pizza di Ricotta is a classic Italian dessert, and this is the best one you will ever taste. —Federico_
Test Kitchen Notes
The final product was very nice. I served it for my husband’s birthday and we had a “group” input on it. Everyone loved it. In making it, I had a little problem with the crust, in that it would not roll out –- very very crumbly, maybe needed a little ice water? Not enough liquid in the dough? (I know ice water is usually an ingredient in pie crusts, but not listed here...) Not sure, but ended up just pressing the crust into the pan and it worked just fine. I put fresh blueberries on top. - coffeefoodwritergirl —The Editors
Ingredients
- For the crust
-
1 1/2 cups
all-purpose flour
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1/4 pound
butter, room temperature
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1 cup
superfine granulated sugar
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1
large egg yolk
-
1 teaspoon
lemon peel, chopped fine
-
1/2
vanilla bean, split lengthwise
-
2-3 teaspoons
ice water as needed
- For the filling
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4
large eggs
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1 teaspoon
vanilla extract
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1/4 teaspoon
cinnamon
-
1/2 cup
superfine granulated sugar
-
1 1/2 pounds
WHOLE MILK ricotta cheese
-
1/2 cup
almonds, toasted and finely ground in food processor
Directions
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To prepare the crust: Mound flour on work surface. Make a well in the center and combine butter, sugar, egg yolk, and lemon peel in the well. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean. Gradually mix flour into butter mixture, blending until coarse meal forms. Knead adding ice water if necessary until just smooth. Flatten into disk and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate until firm, about an our.
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Grease and lightly flour 10 inch tart pan with removable bottom. Roll dough out to about 12 inches and carefully transfer to prepared pan. You can slide the removable bottom of the pan under the rolled out dough and then lift and place it in the pan's rim.
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Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Refrigerate crust for 15 minutes. Cut a circle of parchment or foil to cover crust and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake until crust is set, about 15 minutes. Remove beans and parchment. Bake crust until golden brown, about 25 minutes more. Transfer to rack and cool. Maintain oven temperature. (Crust can also be prepared 1 day ahead--just cover with plastic wrap and store at room temperature.)
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To prepare the filling: Beat eggs and mix vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar in a small bowl. Add egg mixture to ricotta in a medium bowl and mist thoroughly until well blended and relatively smooth. Pour filling into prebaked crust. Bake in the 325 degree oven for about 45 minutes (line exposed crust edge with foil if it seems to be browning too much.) During the last 10 minutes, sprinkle toasted almonds on top (if using). Cool on wire rack, remove outer rim from tart pan and serve.
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Cooks note: there are lots of ingredients you can add to the finished tart as with any cheesecake: raspberries or strawberries around the edge, half pecans instead of almonds, pitted cherries in season, and so on.
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