Torta Pasqualina, my nonna's Italian Easter pie recipe

 

Ciao Everyone, Buona Pasqua!

In Genova and Cinque Terre, part of the beautiful Liguria region of Italy, ‘Torta Pasqualina’(literally ‘Easter Pie’) is a savoury pie that’s prepared for the Easter Weekend. My nonna was from Genova, therefore every year she would make a whole lot of these delicious ‘torte’ not only for the family but also as a gift for friends.  

I would love to share this very traditional recipe with you. Easter Monday, for most Italians, is picnic day out in parks or in the countryside or even in your own garden. Torta Pasqualina is therefore perfect for this celebration with family and friends. For this pie, you can make your own puff pastry or buy it ready made. Here is the recipe, enjoy!

Torta Pasqualina

Ingredients: 600g (21.1 oz) or two ready made puff pastry round sheets, 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 5 eggs, 300g (10.5 oz) fresh spinach, 1 swirl of butter, 50g (1.7 oz) grated parmesan, 300g (10.5 oz) fresh ricotta, fresh or dry marjoram and salt to taste.

Method: Boil spinach for only 2 minutes. Drain and cool. Once cool, squeeze out as much water as you can from the spinach, then place it into a large bowl. Mix with the ricotta and add the olive oil, 1 tbsp at a time. Add marjoram and salt to your taste. Line the bottom and the sides of a cake pan (measuring about 23 cm or 9.0 inches) with the first puff pastry sheet. Put the spinach and ricotta mixture on top of the pastry in the pan. Create 5 little indentations in the mixture, using your hands or a tablespoon, to accommodate for the eggs. Brake the eggs and pour them into the 5 spaces you’ve created. Sprinkle with grated parmigiano cheese. Then top with the second puff pastry sheet, making sure it seals together with the first one. Bake at 160º C (320º F) for 45 minutes or until golden.

Buona Pasqua a tutti, Happy Easter e A Presto!

Sally and Chef Guido
Founders of Convivio Rome Italian Cooking Holidays, Virtual Cooking Classes and Guido’s Cook Club Monthly Membership

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How to choose a virtual online Italian cooking class on Zoom

 

A virtual Italian cooking class is a great way to get together with friends and family who live far away from you and you don't get to see very often. A Zoom Italian cooking party is also a wonderful way to celebrate a special occasion, such as birthdays, anniversaries and other significant life events. 

Over this past year, the number of live virtual cooking classes has multiplied and it seems the market it's flooded with seemingly good offers. Choosing a live, virtual Italian cooking class that's right for you is not easy. So, how do you choose a virtual online Italian Cooking Class on Zoom?

1) Experience. First of all, it's good to look for a cooking school with many years of experience in giving cooking classes in person. This will make your Zoom Italian cooking class online a smooth and relaxed experience that will make you feel like you are cooking together with your teacher/chef, interacting and engaging in a friendly and comfortable manner.

2) Is the Teacher/Chef Italian, and living in Italy? When choosing a virtual online Italian cooking class on Zoom, it's important to select a native Italian teacher/chef that was born and grew up in Italy and speaks clear English. There is no substitute for the authenticity that only comes with being born and living in Italy, surrounded by its culinary traditions and cultural experiences everyday. 

3) Professionalism, awards and reviews. Another great way to choose a virtual online Italian cooking class on Zoom is noticing the care that's taken in responding to your enquiry quickly, thoroughly and professionally, as your first impressions count. Checking a cooking school's awards and reviews on Google, Trip Advisor and Social Media helps you understand the experience that previous guests have had. It is also a good idea to read how the cooking school responded to the reviews.

At Convivio Rome, we have been running Italian cooking classes in central Italy near Rome for 16 years. We started offering virtual online Italian cooking classes on Zoom since March 2020. As soon as we started, we transferred all our in person experience online. Our aim is to quickly make our guests feel comfortable and feel like they are part of a real-life cooking experience and welcomed into our Italian family home. 

Here is what a recent cooking class guests wrote about her virtual online Italian cooking class experience:

"Hi Sally and Chef Guido, Thank you again for such a wonderful cooking experience. We had "chefs" of all different experience levels in our party and each one had a great time following along with Chef Guido! Those who were nervous to tackle such a traditional italian dish quickly became comfortable due to how welcoming you two are. You have mastered the "art of zoom" and love that you all go the extra mile to ensure everyone is at the right step and nobody is left behind. I know the ladies appreciated how comfortable it was to ask questions throughout. I am certainly looking forward to making this again in the future! 

See us again soon! 
All my best, Taylor"

(Thanks to Taylor and her friends for giving us permission to share her comments and photos here)

Learn more about Convivio Rome's Virtual Online Italian Cooking Classes, Live on Zoom and coming to you directly from Italy!

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Convivio Rome Italian Cooking Holidays

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My reflections on Stanley Tucci's 'Searching for Italy'

Last night, we've enjoyed watching Stanley Tucci's 'Searching for Italy'. So far, we could only watch the first 'Naples' episode as the others apparently are not released in Italy yet. However, I think the show is clever and fun, it's never stereotypical and it shows you an 'off the beaten track' side of Italy and its food and culture.

Tucci really takes you through the backstreets of Italy and his show is miles away from the usual 'postcard' approach to my home country. He talks to real people with a passion for cooking and to those producing the best ingredients for their regional cuisine. Simplicity of the Italian dishes and the importance of the quality (rather than the quantity) of ingredients is well demonstrated, a main aspect of Italian cuisine I also like to highlight in my Italian Cooking Classes. 'Searching for Italy' really shows you the true diversity of the Italian regions and their traditions: this was a pleasant surprise for me.

Tucci speaks good Italian and I was very impressed by the way he interacts and engages with the locals in their own language. As an 8th generation Roman, I am really looking forward to seeing the Rome episode!

- Guido

Convivio Rome Italian Cooking Holidays

One Day Italian Cooking Classes

Half Day Rome Olive Tours

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Corporate Virtual Cooking Events

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Fun Corporate Team Building Events - Virtual Cooking Classes with Chef Guido in Italy

 Virtual Italian Cooking Class Events, directly from Italy!

At our Convivio Rome Italian Cooking school, in the Rome countryside, we specialise in fun, corporate cookery events that are perfect for team building and client entertainment.

Chef Guido will lead your event. He is an 8th generation Roman who was born and still lives in Italy, where he has been running an Italian cooking school for the past 15 years.

Our Italian cooking school's corporate events are a fun-filled, interactive activity for everyone! Whether you’re looking for an exciting team-building activity or an idea for client entertaining, we will make your event memorable!

You and your team can spend the time creating wonderful Italian dishes with Chef Guido at our award-winning cookery school in Rome, Italy.

Convivio Rome offers a wide range of hands on, interactive, fun-filled cooking activities for all level cooks. Just ask!

Don’t know what you are looking for? Get in touch for a free taster session and zoom consultation & see how we can tailor an event specific to your needs.

Find out more Today: Follow this link

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Convivio Rome Italian Cooking Holidays

One Day Italian Cooking Classes

Half Day Rome Olive Tours

Half Day Rome Winery and Wine Tasting Tours

Virtual Italian Cooking Parties

Online Cooking Classes with Chef Guido

Corporate Virtual Cooking Events

Online Video Italian Cooking Package