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Pasta Cake

17/11/2023

The pasta cake or “Torta Pasqualina” is a traditional Ligurian dish, typical of the Easter period, although it is prepared all year round. Here’s the recipe for a pasta cake:

Ingredients

  • 500 g of flour
  • 250 ml of water
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (plus some for brushing)
  • 300 g of ricotta (or prescinseua if available)
  • 100 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 8 eggs
  • 600 g of Swiss chard or spinach
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • A grating of nutmeg

Preparation

  1. Start by preparing the dough: arrange the flour in a mound and add the salt, olive oil, and gradually the water, beginning to knead until you obtain a smooth and uniform mixture. Form a ball, wrap it in plastic and let it rest for an hour.

  2. In the meantime, cook the Swiss chard or spinach in slightly salted water, then squeeze it well and chop it.

  3. In a large bowl, mix the ricotta with the Parmesan, add the chopped vegetables, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Blend everything very well.

  4. Take the filling and incorporate two eggs, trying not to completely absorb them into the mixture.

  5. Take the dough and divide it into about 10 equal-sized balls. Roll out each ball as thinly as possible to form layers.

  6. Oil the bottom of a springform pan and start to layer some sheets, each of which you will need to brush with a bit of oil.

  7. Pour half of the filling onto the pastry, create 4 hollows and crack an egg into each, being careful to keep the yolk intact.

  8. Cover with the remaining filling and repeat the operation with the hollows and eggs. Finish with a final layer of dough sheets, remembering to seal the edges well.

  9. Brush the surface with oil and make small cuts to allow the steam to escape during cooking.

  10. Bake at 180°C for about 45 minutes or until the surface is golden brown.

A curiosity: the traditional Torta Pasqualina has 33 layers of dough, representing the years of Christ, but in the homemade version, it’s preferred to simplify using fewer layers. Moreover, spinach can be replaced with other green leafy vegetables depending on the season and the region.