Ingredients
For the filling:
- 1/2 pound farro
- 1 pound fresh ricotta
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup orange flower water
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 cups skim milk
- 1 lemon, zested
- 4 large eggs, separated
- 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
For the dough:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 egg yolks
Directions
For the filling: Place the farro in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Let the faro soak for 3 days, changing the water daily. On the third day, drain the grain and place them in a medium-sized pot. Cover with cold water. Bring the water to a boil over a high flame, reduce to a simmer and let simmer for 15 minutes. Drain the faro.
In a medium-sized saucepan, heat the milk over a medium flame until hot but not smoking. Add the faro, 1/2 the lemon zest, 1 pinch cinnamon, 1 tablespoon sugar, and let cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the milk is completely absorbed.
Place the ricotta in a large mixing bowl. Using a wooden spoon, mix the ricotta until the texture becomes creamy. Add the remaining cinnamon, sugar, egg yolks, the remaining lemon zest, orange flower water, and the cooked faro. Use a spatula to mix until well combined then set aside.
To make the dough: Sift the flour and sugar together then mound on a wooden cutting board or clean surface. Dig a hole in the center to form a well. Mix together the butter and egg yolks in the center of the well. Being careful not to break the outer walls of the well, incorporate the flour, eventually bringing all the flour into the dough. Keep mixing and kneading until the dough forms a homogenous mass. Knead 5 minutes more then wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Cut the dough into 2 pieces, 1 piece 3 times as large as the other. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the larger dough piece until it forms a large circle, about 11 inches in diameter and about 1/8-inch thick.
Lightly butter and flour a 9-inch round baking pan. Place the larger dough round into the baking pan, using your thumb and forefinger to tuck the dough into the bottom of the pan. The dough should come up the sides of the pan.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whisk the egg whites until they form medium-hard, glossy peaks. Using a spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the ricotta mixture. Gently place the filling into the baking pan, on top of the bottom crust.
Using the lightly floured rolling pin, roll the remaining dough into a circle 1/8-inch thick. Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into strips 1-inch wide. Use these dough strips to decorate the top of the ricotta pie, forming a lattice across the top, just as you would an apple pie.
Place the pie in the oven and bake until the dough on top is golden brown, about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let cool to room temperature. Dust with confectioners' flour before serving.
Photo: Pastiera Napoletana Recipe













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By Italiano Vero
on March 22, 2013
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Batali obviously has never seen a Pastiera! The Farro is too chewy
For this thing and with a spoon of cinnamon his creation
Should be called just .... CINNAMON! Why bother putting
All the other ingredients!
By Berkshire12
on October 26, 2011
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I didn't try the recipe, so it's possible that it's tasty in its own right, but true pastiera Napoletana doesn't use lemon zest--which is why I'm giving this 2 stars for calling itself something it's not. The authentic recipe uses *candied* citron or lemon peel, and sometimes will include candied orange peel. The candied fruit can be bought at some specialty shops, but I don't recommend getting the waxy, artificially colored stuff you find in supermarkets. To candy the fruit yourself is labor-intensive and time consuming, but well worth it for those who want to really experience this traditional dessert at it's best. The candied fruit has a quite different character from zest. Also, the highly concentrated vials of Fior d'Arancio (paneangeli brand is excellent are wonderful and you only need one vial, which doesn't add so much moisture to the cake as 1/4 C of flower water. The traditional crust is largely flavorless and rolled extremely thin. Not so easy to work with, I find.
By vturturro
on April 24, 2011
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My mom and I made this for Easter this year. We used her Italian recipe for the filling but tried this recipe for the crust. I wish I had read the other reviews, which suggested adding some cold water to the dough. Otherwise, it's a crumbly mess that doesn't stick together easily. It also wasn't enough for both the bottom and lattice on top. I ended up using a recipe from La Cucina Italiana to make the lattice and sides of the crust. It was an easier crust recipe, stuck together nicely and rolled out easily.
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