Layered Pasta Ricotta Pie Recipes

Steps:

• Break vermicelli into thirds and cook,& drain.
• Saute onion and garlic in oil until tender. Mix with vermicelli, 1/2 Cup Romano and 1 egg.
• Press into bottom of well greased 9" springform pan.
• Mix 2 egg yolks, ricotta, spinach, and 1/2 cup romano.
• Spread over pasta layer.
• Beat 2 egg whites till stiff. Fold in 1 1/2 cups pasta sauce.Pour on top.
• Bake at 350º 50-60 minute till set.
• Let stand at least 10 minutes before cutting.
• Garnish with heated leftover sauce and parsley sprigs.

Steps:

• 1. While pasta is cooking, saute onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until tender, about 5 minutes.
• 2. Drain pasta and place in a small mixing bowl. Add onion and garlic mixture and mix well. Set aside to cool for a few minutes.
• 3. Thaw spinach and drain well. (place in a strainer and press liquid out using a spoon)
• 4. When pasta mixture is warm, not hot, add 1 slightly beaten egg, and 1/2 cup grated romano. Mix well.
• 5. Press pasta mixture into a 9", well greased, spring form pan.
• 6. Separate the yolks of 2 eggs from the whites. Reserve the egg whites. Combine the 2 egg yolks, ricotta cheese, spinach, salt and pepper and rest of the romano cheese.
• 7. Spread the ricotta mixture over the pasta layer.
• 8. In a small mixing bowl, beat the egg whites just until stiff, not dry.
• 9. Fold egg whites into 1 1/2 cups pasta sauce. Spoon over spinach layer.
• 10. Bake at 350 degrees, for 50-60 minutes or until set. Let stand 10 minutes.
• 11. Heat remaining pasta sauce and serve with the pie.

Steps:

• For the meat sauce: Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the ground meat, a large pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring and breaking up the meat into smaller pieces, until browned, about 5 minutes. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until soft and lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the tomato paste, oregano, red pepper flakes and garlic and cook, stirring, until the tomato paste darkens to a brick red, about 1 minute. Add the tomato puree, 3/4 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Bring to a high simmer, then adjust to a low simmer. Cover the pan and cook for 30 minutes. (You can make and cool the sauce the day before. Reheat before using the next day.)
• For the pasta: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Grease a 9-inch springform pan with 1 tablespoon oil. Cook the pasta until slightly less than al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and toss with the remaining tablespoon oil, then spread out in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Spread 1/4 cup of the meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared pan. Stand the rigatoni on their ends in the pan until it is completely filled.
• For the ricotta filling: Stir together the ricotta, Parmesan, egg, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Transfer the filling to a pastry bag or resealable plastic bag, snip off just enough of the tip to make a small opening and pipe into each rigatoni tube. Pipe small mounds of any leftover ricotta mixture on top of the pasta and spread out into a thin layer. (You can cook and fill the pasta the day before.)
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Put the filled springform pan on a foil-lined baking sheet to catch drips. Pour 2 cups of the meat sauce over the pasta, spreading it with the back of a spoon so that it drips in between the noodles. Top with the mozzarella and Parmesan.
• Cover the pan with foil, doming it slightly to avoid touching the cheese. Bake for 20 minutes. Uncover the pan and continue cooking until the top is golden brown and bubbly, about 30 minutes more. Let the pasta cool for 45 minutes (do not skip this part or your noodles will fall apart when serving!). Sprinkle with parsley, if using, then carefully remove the sides of the pan. Cut the pie into wedges and serve with the reserved meat sauce on the side.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Add the salt to the egg whites and beat until stiff peaks form.
• Store beaten egg whites in the refrigerator.
• In a large bowl, add the ricotta cheese, sugar, vanilla, orange rind and lemon rind. Mix well.
• In another bowl, beat heavy cream until slightly thick.
• Add it to the ricotta mixture.
• Add the egg whites and gently fold them into the mixture.
• Arrange the pie crust into a deep dish glass pie plate.
• Pour the filling into the dishand bake 15 minutes.
• Turn heat down to 350 and bake for 1 hour, turning the plate around occasionally.
• Remove from oven, let it cool.
• Cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight (or at least 4 hours).
• Cut into 10 slices and serve.

Steps:

• To make crust, mix flour and salt in medium bowl.
• Cut in butter until mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
• Stir in egg yolk and water.
• Roll out, place crust in 10" glass pie plate and flute the edges.
• For filling, combine ricotta cheese, flour, salt, lemon and orange rinds and vanilla.
• Beat in eggs and add sugar gradually.
• Pour filling into crust and bake at 350° until firm and light brown (approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes).