Italian cake in the US can refer to a layered soft cheese spread with pesto and sun-dried tomatoes, or a savory pie with meat and cheese filling resembling a quiche. The crust can be made with pizza dough or traditional egg-based pastry. Ingredients vary, but typically include ricotta, parmesan, parsley, and onion. It can be served warm or cold and is a delicious dish to offer guests.
Italian cake can have several definitions in the United States. One definition is that the pie is a combination of layered soft cheeses, usually combining layers of pesto and sun-dried tomatoes. This is served in a loaf shape and spread over bread or crackers. It may also be called Italian cake or simply cake, but this is not the traditional cake seen by Italians.
Instead, true Italian pie is a pie or tart of meat and cheese, usually double crust, that slightly resembles a quiche. The main difference between quiche and pie other than the double crust is that the slightly eggy custard in pie is much more cheesy than egg-based. Usually the egg is only used to bind the ingredients together, instead of making up the bulk of this savory pie, as quiche does.
Eggs are used to prepare the crust, which should be pale yellow to bright yellow. For a more yellow coloring of the crust, some recipes suggest using only egg yolks. Crust recipes also differ. Some chefs suggest using pizza dough for the Italian pie, while others suggest a more traditional egg-based pie crust. Either type of dough can make a delicious dish, but pastry crust is more traditional than bread dough. When using pastry dough, the pie can be made in a large springform pan rather than a pie pan.
Italian cake can have numerous ingredients depending on the region. Some are completely vegetarian and are seasoned only with vegetables such as artichoke and spices. Other recipes introduce ham or sausage. The main filling is usually a combination of ricotta, parmesan, parsley and onion. From then on, you can get creative and use many different varieties to augment the Italian pie. Some recipes even suggest coating the underside of the pepper with coarsely ground black pepper for extra flavoring.
You can serve the pie while it’s still slightly warm and the cheese is still semi-melted, or you can serve it cold. The second suggestion is not uncommon at all. The inside of the pie, when fresh, is a relatively firm cream cheese. Use caution when storing the cake if you plan to serve it fresh. It should be refrigerated due to its high cheese content until about ten minutes before serving.
As mentioned, ingredients can vary significantly. Consider adding spinach and green onion, artichokes, or make a dry tomato basil pie. Anyone can create a delicious yet unusual dish to offer guests. Italian pie recipes abound in classic Italian cookbooks and on the Internet. Some specialty food markets may serve pie, where you can purchase it by the slice. Authentic Italian delicatessens can also sell sliced cake. If you’ve never tried it before and you love ricotta cheese, you’re in for a wonderful culinary adventure when you try this cheesecake.
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