Rustic Minestrone Pie

The rustic minestrone pie is a creative dish to tastefully reuse leftover minestrone by turning it into a savory pie. It is a versatile recipe, which can vary depending on the ingredients available in the original minestrone. Below I provide you with a basic version that you can adapt as you like.

Ingredients

• 500 g of puff pastry or shortcrust pastry
• 500 g of already cooked minestrone
• 100 g of grated cheese (parmesan, pecorino, or a mix of the two)
• 3 eggs
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Aromatic herbs to taste (basil, thyme, rosemary)
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. In a large bowl, mix the minestrone with the eggs, grated cheese, a pinch of salt, pepper, and chopped aromatic herbs.
3. Roll out the puff pastry or shortcrust pastry in a baking pan previously greased with a little oil or lined with parchment paper.
4. Pour the minestrone mixture on the pastry base.
5. Fold the edges of the pastry inward to contain the filling.
6. Brush the edges of the pastry with a little extra virgin olive oil to obtain a golden finish.
7. Bake the rustic pie for about 30-40 minutes or until the pastry is golden and the filling is well cooked.
8. Allow to cool before serving.

The rustic minestrone pie can be served either hot or cold and is perfect for a picnic lunch or for a buffet. Each rustic pie becomes a unique culinary work of art, depending on the mix of vegetables in your minestrone. You can also add some cooked ham or diced bacon if you desire an extra touch of flavor.

Curiosity

The rustic minestrone pie is a perfect example of “recovery cooking,” where dishes from the previous day are reinvented to reduce waste and to offer new flavors to diners.