This spinach ricotta pie or pascualina is perfect for Easter or a vegetarian entree. Delicious spinach pie filling with flavorful ricotta and parmesan cheese, in a crispy and flaky crust. The wonderful surprise is the beautiful egg inside!
Preheat oven to 375ºF using top and bottom heat. Butter an 8-inch springform pan.
Preparing the spinach
Microwave the spinach for 3 minutes using max power, until it's wilted. Leave to cool for a few minutes and squeeze out the liquid as much as possible.
Roughly chop it and place it in a large bowl. Set aside.
Pie filling
Saute the onion and garlic in a pan, on medium heat with some oil and a pinch of salt until the onion is translucent. It'll take more or less 10 minutes.
Mix in chicken bouillon powder, and black pepper. Pour into the spinach bowl and leave to cool before adding in ricotta cheese, nutmeg, parsley, walnuts, and parmesan cheese.
Season with salt and black pepper and mix everything well.
In another bowl, beat 3 eggs and then pour them into the spinach ricotta mixture. Give everything one last mix. Set aside.
Assemble
Place 1 pastry sheet in the springform pan. Press it to the bottom and the sides of the pan. Spoon in the pie filling, spread evenly, and then make 4 holes with the back of a spoon in the pie filling.
Place 4 boiled eggs in the holes. Cover the pie with another puff pastry sheet, lightly pressing it on the pie filling. Cut off the excess puff pastries, pinch to seal, and crimp them together.
Brush the puff pastry with some egg wash. Prick some holes on top using a fork.
Bake
Bake on the lower ⅔ rack for 45-50 minutes or until the puff pastry is golden brown. Remove from the oven and leave for 30 minutes before removing it from the springform pan. Slice and enjoy!
Notes
If you don't use/own a microwave, you can steam the spinach instead.
Microwaved/steamed spinach holds lots of heat. Make sure to cool them first before squeezing out the liquid.
Leaving the pie to set longer after it's baked prevents the pie juice from oozing out, thus avoiding a soggy-bottomed pie.