This document provides a recipe for Italian Easter pie, which is a traditional Easter food in Italian households. It is a double-crust pie filled with ham, eggs, cheese, and a specialty cheese called "basket cheese". Basket cheese is only available around Easter time and has a mild flavor similar to ricotta or mozzarella. The pie is made on the day before Easter to signify the end of Lent and break the fast, using meats, cheeses, and eggs. Detailed instructions and ingredients are provided for the crust, filling, and glaze.

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Easter pie, a double-crust “stuffed pizza” filled with ham, eggs, and cheese, is
traditional Easter food in Italian households the day before Easter.
This pie is an Italian-Catholic recipe and is traditionally made the day before Easter
and served at noon to signify the end of Lent and to break the fast. Nothing says breaking a
fast like pie crust and the biggest collection of Italian meats and cheese.
Speaking of cheese, Italian Easter Pie contains one special ingredient: basket
cheese. It’s a specialty item that most stores only carry around the Easter holiday. The
cheese is made and then formed inside of a plastic basket, which is how it gets its name.

2. It’s a soft cheese and very mild in flavor, tasting like a cross between ricotta and
mozzarella. I bought mine at a local Italian grocery, however the next day, I saw an entire
display of basket cheese in the cheese counter section of my local grocery store. If your
supermarket is on the large size, you will probably be able to find it there, otherwise you can
substitute any other soft, mild cheese of your liking.
Ingredients
Crust:
 5 cups Italian-Style Flour or 4 ¾ cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
 2 teaspoons salt
 2 teaspoons instant yeast
 2 tablespoons sugar
 6 tablespoons King Arthur Easy-Roll Dough Improver (optional, but very helpful); or
nonfat dry milk
 ¼ cup olive oil
 1 cup + 2 tablespoons lukewarm water
 *If you use all-purpose flour, increase the water to 1½ cups (12 ounces)
Filling:
 1 dozen large eggs
 1 pound good-quality, full-flavored ham
 2 cups ricotta cheese, part-skim preferred
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, lightly packed
 salt, coarsely ground black pepper, and chopped fresh parsley, to taste
Glaze:
 1 large egg
 2 tablespoons sugar

3. Directions