Serves: 12
Total Calories: 972

CRUST
4 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into pieces
2 large eggs, beaten
3 to 4 tablespoons ice water

FILLING
8 ounces sweet Italian sausages, casings removed
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano
2 pounds whole or part-skim ricotta cheese, drained overnight (page 577)
8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into small dice
4 ounces prosciutto, cut into small dice
4 ounces cooked ham, cut into small dice
4 ounces sopressata, cut into small dice

GLAZE
1 egg, lightly beaten

1 Prepare the crust: Combine the flour and salt in a bowl. Cut in the shortening and butter with a pastry blender or fork until the mixture resembles large crumbs. Add the eggs and stir until a soft dough forms. Scoop up some of the mixture with your hand and rapidly squeeze it until it holds together. Repeat with the rest of the dough until the ingredients hold together and can be formed into a smooth ball. If the mixture seems too dry and crumbly, add a little ice water. Gather the dough into two disks, one three times as large as the other. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour up to overnight.

2 To make the filling, cook the sausage meat in a small skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Remove the meat with a slotted spoon. Chop the meat on a board.

3 In a large bowl, beat the eggs and Parmigiano until well blended. Stir in the ricotta, sausage meat, mozzarella, and diced meats.

4 Place the oven rack in the lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375°F. On a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin, roll out the large piece of dough to form a 14-inch circle. Drape the dough over the rolling pin. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch springform pan, pressing it smoothly against the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Scrape the filling into the pan.

5 Roll out the remaining piece of dough into a 9-inch circle. With a fluted pastry wheel, cut the dough into 1/2-inch strips. Place half the strips 1 inch apart over the filling. Turn the pan a quarter of the way around and place the remaining strips on top, forming a lattice pattern. Pinch the edges of the top and bottom layers of dough together to seal. Brush the dough with the egg glaze.

6 Bake the pie 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until the crust is golden and the filling is puffed. Cool the pie in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove the sides of the pan and let cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature. Cover tightly and store in the refrigerator up to 3 days.

From "1,000 Italian Recipes." Copyright 2004 by Michele Scicolone. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 12
Total Calories: 972
Calories from Fat: 187

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