The Country Pie is an egg based pie which can have all the fillings you like! From a meaty one to a veggie one!

The saltiness of the filling and the sweetness of the shortcrust merge in an amazing marriage of flavours!

Prepare it, eat it, enjoy it! And let me know which version you did!

Supplies

For the dough:

200 gr of Flour
75 gr of butter
60 gr of sugar
2 eggs
2 tbsp of milk

For the filling:

5 eggs
150 gr of Ricotta cheese
250 gr of mozzarella (or your preferred cheese)
75 gr of Ham
74 gr of Salami
Grated parmesan (as you prefer)
Black pepper (as you prefer)

If you like the veggie option you can substitute the ham and salami with your preferred veggies. Although, bare in mind that you have to cook them first and make sure that all the water has come out. If you are going for this option 10 gr of salt need to be add to the filling!

If you decide to go for the mozzarella option, you can either buy a really dry mozzarella or you can open the mozzarella the day before, chop it and leave it open in the fridge to make sure that it dries out. The day after drain the water that has come out.

Step 1: Prepare the Shortcrust Pastry

Add on egg and one yolk to the flour, the sugar and the butter (from the fridge) and mix all together. Knead the dough up until the surface is really smooth.

Step 2: Leave It Rest

Add 2 tbsp of milk, knead the dough. Once the dough absorbed the milk wrap it in cling film and let it rest in the fridge for at least 30 min.

If you prefer, you can prepare the dough the night before and leave it to rest for the entire night.

Step 3: Prepare the Stuffing

Cut the cheese, the ham and the salami.

If you like the veggie option cook the veggies and make sure that all the water in excess is taken out. Let them cool. Chop them up.

Step 4: Prepare the Stuffing Pt2

Mix the 5 eggs with a mixer and when they start to look foamy add a spoon of ricotta at a time and continue to mix. Once the ricotta is finished add the parmesan and the grinded black pepper (how much you like! I like it with a loooot of parmesan and black pepper). Continue to mix for one minute.

Add the filling from Step 3 and mix using a spoon. The movement should be slow and from the bottom to the top.

Step 5: Prepare the Pie

Take the dough out of the fridge.

With the butter, spread a thin layer in the baking tray and pour some flour in and spread it.

Once the dough is at room temperature, take 2/3 of the dough and roll it. Place it on the baking tray. Make sure that there are no holes in the dough. Add the filling.

Take the remaining dough, roll it and cover the pie.

Take out the dough in excess and using a fork close the pie.

Step 6: Decorate!

Using the left over dough decorate the pie as you prefer! Make sure, with a toothpick to do a small hole on the top, in the middle of the pie (where the flower is in the picture).

Spread a thin layer of milk on the top of the pie.

Place in the oven at 180C for 1 hr.

If the pie is burning the edges you can cover it with an aluminium foil layer.