Best Deep Dish Italian Cheese Pie Recipes

ITALIAN CHEESE PIE

Steps:

• In a very large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except crusts.
• Mix well, making sure that all ingredients are distributed through the ricotta mixture evenly.
• Spoon the ingredients equally into the pie crusts.
• For a more decorative look, apply strips of pie crust to the top of the pie in a basketweave pattern.
• Bake at 350 degrees until the top of the pie is a dark golden brown and the center is set, approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes.
• Allow pies to cool for about 45 minutes before slicing.
• Serve warm or cold.

DEEP DISH CHEESE PIE

Steps:

• For the crust: Place the flour, sugar, salt and butter in a food processor and pulse until the butter is evenly distributed but still visible in chunks. While pulsing, add the ice water 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough is just wet enough to hold together when pinched between your fingers.
• Turn the dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap, form into a disk and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Roll the dough out into a circle about 1/8-inch thick, and then fit into a 9-inch pie dish. Dock the crust all over using a fork. Cover the crust with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Line the crust with foil and fill with dried beans or baking marbles. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, and then remove the foil and beans and bake until the crust just begins to brown, another 15 minutes.
• For the filling: While the crust is baking, combine the farmer cheese, sugar and cardamom in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment and whip together until well incorporated. Add 1 egg at a time on medium speed, waiting until fully incorporated and smooth before each new addition. Stir in the heavy cream.
• Fill the crust with the cheese filling and bake until the top is browned and the filling is just slightly jiggly, 45 minutes. Let cool, and then eat the pie. Serve with orange marmalade.

RICOTTA PIE (OLD ITALIAN RECIPE)

Steps:

• Beat the 12 eggs, 2 cups sugar and vanilla extract together in a large bowl. Stir in the ricotta cheese and the chocolate chips, if using (see Cook's Note). Set aside.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, and 1 cup sugar together. Cut in 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Mix in 4 beaten eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Divide dough into 4 balls, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease two deep-dish pie plates.
• Roll out 2 of the balls to fit into the pie pans. Do not make the crust too thick, as it will expand during cooking. Do not flute the edges of the dough. Roll out the other 2 balls of dough and cut each into 8 narrow strips for the top of the crust. (Alternately, you can use cookie cutters and place the cutouts on the top of the pies.)
• Pour the ricotta filling evenly into the pie crusts. Top each pie with 8 narrow strips of dough or cookie cut-outs. Brush top of pie with milk for shine, if desired. Place foil on the edge of crust.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes; remove foil. Rotate pies on the rack so they will bake evenly. Continue to bake until a knife inserted in the center of each pie comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes more. Cool completely on wire racks. Refrigerate until serving.

DEEP DISH ITALIAN MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Brown beef in large skillet.
• Drain, add green pepper and cook 2 minutes.
• Dissolve cornstarch in water and add to skillet along with tomatoes and all seasonings.
• Cover and simmer 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle half of Parmesan cheese over bottom of pie crust.
• Cover with half of meat mixture, then half of Mozzarella, followed by the remaining meat mixture.
• Bake pie on cookie sheet 15 minutes.
• Sprinkle with remaining Mozzarella cheese and return to oven 5 more minutes or until cheese melts.

ITALIAN SPINACH CHEESE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9 inch deep-dish pie plate.
• In a large bowl, stir together the spinach, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, eggs and bell pepper. Spread in the prepared pie dish so that it is a little thinner in the middle.
• Bake for 40 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until the center is set, and the edges are lightly browned.