Yes, you can make Pizza Rustica or Pizza Chiena (Italian Easter Pie) using Pillsbury pre-made dough. While traditional recipes call for making the dough from scratch, using pre-made dough can save you time and effort while still yielding a delicious result.
Here's a general guideline on how to make Pizza Rustica/Pizza Chiena using Pillsbury pre-made dough:
Ingredients:
- 2 packages of Pillsbury pre-made pizza dough (or enough to cover the bottom and top of your baking dish)
- 1/2 pound of whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1/2 pound of shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 pound of diced cooked ham
- 1/4 pound of diced salami or pepperoni (or a combination of both)
- 1/4 pound of diced cooked sausage
- 6 large eggs
- 1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Egg wash (1 egg beaten with a little water)
- Optional: cooked and cooled spinach or escarole, chopped
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to the temperature specified on the Pillsbury pizza dough packaging.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, mozzarella, diced ham, salami/pepperoni, cooked sausage, Pecorino Romano cheese, Parmesan cheese, and a few grinds of black pepper. If you choose to include cooked spinach or escarole, add it now. Mix everything together until well combined.
In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and then add them to the cheese and meat mixture. Stir well to ensure the eggs are evenly distributed.
Roll out one of the Pillsbury pizza doughs to fit the bottom of your baking dish. Press it gently into the bottom and sides of the dish.
Pour the cheese and meat mixture onto the dough in the baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
Roll out the second Pillsbury pizza dough and place it on top of the cheese and meat mixture, sealing the edges by pressing them together with the bottom dough.
Brush the top of the pie with the egg wash to give it a nice golden color when baked.
Make a few small slits on the top of the pie to allow steam to escape while baking.
Bake the Pizza Rustica/Pizza Chiena in the preheated oven according to the Pillsbury dough package instructions or until the crust turns golden brown and the filling is set (usually around 30-40 minutes).
Once baked, remove the pie from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Enjoy your delicious Pizza Rustica/Pizza Chiena made with Pillsbury pre-made dough! It's a fantastic dish to serve during Easter or any other special occasion.