Pizza Rustica (Italian Easter Pie)

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

Filling

• 2 cups cooked, smoked ham, cubed
• 2 cups cooked Italian sausage, sliced
• 1 cup Mozzarella cheese, cubed or shredded
• 1/2 cup chopped parsley
• 4 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup Ricotta cheese
• 3 eggs, uncooked
• Salt and freshly-ground pepper, to taste

Crust

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon granulated yeast
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups hot tap water

Instructions

Filling

1. Mix all chopped ingredients in a large bowl. Place uncooked eggs and Ricotta cheese in a blender container and mix on medium speed for about 1 minute. Add to the chopped ingredients and combine well.
2. Crust: Place flour and salt in a large bowl. Combine hot water, oil and yeast in a measuring cup with a fork. Add to flour and mix well. If dough is dry, add water as necessary. If dough is too sticky, add flour, one tablespoon at a time. Knead until dough forms ball. Leave in the bowl in warm place to rise until double in volume. Punch down before rolling.
3. Divide dough in half and roll to fit a large pie pan or 15 inch pizza pan. Place one circle on bottom of pan. Top with the filling, pressing out all air pockets. The pie will look too full. Top with remaining dough. Trim around pan with knife leaving about 1 inch extra all around. Press edges to seal and tuck sealed edge in all around pan. Prick top with fork several times to make air holes.
4. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake an additional 30 minutes.