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Savory Pie with Tropea Onions and Silano Cheese

17/11/2023

I can provide you with a recipe for a Savory Pie that celebrates the flavors of Southern Italy using two characteristic ingredients: Tropea onions and Silano cheese, a Calabrian delight. Remember that, if you can’t find Silano, it can be substituted with another string cheese such as provola.

Ingredients

  • Pâte brisée (you can use ready-made or make it at home):
    • 250 g of flour
    • 125 g of cold butter, cubed
    • 1 egg
    • A pinch of salt
    • Cold water as needed
  • 3 medium Tropea onions, thinly sliced
  • 200 g of Silano cheese, cut into cubes
  • 3 eggs
  • 100 ml of cooking cream
  • Salt and black pepper as needed
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Fresh thyme as needed (optional)

Preparation

  1. If you are making the pâte brisée at home, arrange the flour in a well on the work surface, add the cold, cubed butter, the egg, and a pinch of salt. Work quickly the ingredients with the tips of your fingers until you have a sandy mixture. Add cold water a little at a time until you obtain a smooth dough ball. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

  2. In the meantime, fry the Tropea onions in a pan with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil until they become transparent and caramelized. Add chopped fresh thyme to flavor if you wish. Let them cool down.

  3. Roll out the pâte brisée into a thin layer and line a previously buttered and floured pan. Prick the bottom with a fork.

  4. In a bowl, beat the eggs and mix with the cooking cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  5. Spread the caramelized Tropea onions and cubes of Silano cheese over the brisée dough base.

  6. Pour the egg and cream mixture over the onions and cheese in the pie dish.

  7. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 30-40 minutes, or until the surface of the savory pie is golden and well cooked.

  8. Allow to cool slightly before cutting into slices and serving.

Trivia

Tropea onions are famous for their sweet and delicate taste, making them perfect for both sweet and savory dishes. Their particular flavor is due to the unique soil and climate of the Tropea area in Calabria. Silano cheese, on the other hand, is a string cheese from the same region, and for its taste and consistency characteristics, it pairs very well with the sweetness of the onions. This savory pie is a tribute to these ingredients and to the Calabrian culinary tradition.

Savory Pie with Tropea Onions and Silano Cheese