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Pumpkin and Ricotta Crostata

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes one 10-inch crostata

Ingredients

1 disk Pasta Frolla (recipe follows)
All-purpose flour, for dusting
Unsalted butter, softened, for pie plate
1 cup ricotta cheese, drained for 30 minutes in a cheesecloth-lined sieve set over a bowl
1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
5 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
Heaping 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons pine nuts
1 large egg white, lightly beaten

Pasta Frolla

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1/2 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
14 tablespoons (1 3/4 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 large egg yolk, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest
(makes enough for two 10-inch crostata)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bring the pasta frolla to room temperature. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thick. Transfer to a lightly buttered 10-inch pie plate. Use your fingertips to press the dough against the bottom and sides of the dish until even. Trim the edges; refrigerate the scraps in plastic wrap until step 4.

    Step 2

    Prick the bottom of the pastry shell all over with a fork. Bake until set and pale golden brown, about 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack. With a small knife, trim the edge of the shell where uneven to leave a 1/4-inch space between the shell and the top of the dish.

    Step 3

    Raise the oven temperature to 375°F. Process the ricotta in a food processor until smooth. Add the mascarpone, pumpkin, sugar, salt, nutmeg, and vanilla; process until well combined, about 30 seconds. Add the yolks; process until combined, about 10 seconds. Pour into the pastry shell.

    Step 4

    Tear the reserved chilled dough scraps into 1-inch pieces. On a lightly floured surface, gently roll pieces with your hands to make 1/4-inch-thick ropes. Gently press 1 long rope around the top edge of the shell (patch 2 ropes together, if necessary). Gently place other pastry ropes on top of the filling to create a lattice pattern (ropes of all lengths can be used). Place 3 pine nuts in each square of lattice. Brush the latticework with egg white.

    Step 5

    Bake the crostata until the crust is golden brown and the filling is set, about 40 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.

  2. Pasta Frolla

    Step 6

    Pulse the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor just until combined. Add the butter; pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal, 6 to 8 times.

    Step 7

    Whisk together the egg, egg yolk, vanilla, and lemon zest. With the processor running, add the egg mixture; process just until the dough begins to come together. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface; lightly knead to form a ball.

    Step 8

    Divide the dough into 2 pieces; gently press into flat disks. Wrap tightly in plastic. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight, or freeze up to 1 month.

The cookbook cover with a blue background and fine typeface.
Reprinted with permission from The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics by Martha Stewart Living Magazine, copyright © 2007. Published by Clarkson Potter, a division of The Crown Publishing Group. Buy the full book from Amazon.
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