Rich Vegan Pizza Rustica (Italian Easter Pie)

a veganized version of a classic Italian dish. this vegan pizza rustica has all the flavor and decadence without any of the animal products.

the inspiration

Pizza Rustica is a very special recipe to me. I grew up eating it and every year I tell myself I will make it…but I don’t. However, now I finally did!

I had a few phone calls with my grandma, Zucchi, as I call her. Learning all about how she makes it, how my great grandmas and great great grandmas made it. So, this vegan Pizza Rustica is very special to me.

While Pizza Rustica is typically a very heavy and fatty dish this vegan version is much lighter in comparison. Don’t get me wrong it is still decadent and indulgent but definitely feels much lighter in your stomach!

what is pizza rustica?

Pizza Rustica can go by a few names. You may know it as pizza di Pasqua or torta di Pasqua. I also know some people call it Easter Pie. However, no matter what you call it, it is a delicious dish!

Typically, made with a buttery crust and filled with ricotta, egg, meats like ham, salami, prosciutto, mortadella, and cheese. As you can see it is a RICH dish. It is also a dish that one may think, how can I make this vegan? Well, luckily we have so many products now and with some homemade recipe help we totally can.

Pizza Rustica is typically eaten around Easter Sunday. It is usually prepared on Good Friday, so it is ready to be eaten in the following days once Lent is over. It is also enjoyed on Easter Monday as well. Zucchi also told me “remember to say it is picnic food as well.” Pizza Rustica can be enjoyed cold or at room temperature, so it is great for transporting!

One important thing to remember every family may make this slightly differently. I am using my family’s way of making it which is pretty typical. Some families may use Italian sausage, provolone, fontina, parmesan cheese or scamorza. So, if my family’s recipe looks a bit different from yours that is totally okay! You can substitute in whatever you like to this recipe to customize it to more of what you are used to or what you can find.

making the pie crust

The first thing you will do is make the pie crust. It is a very typical pie crust recipe. I like to use a food processor to make my crust but you can also make it by hand.

All you need to do is mix the flour, salt, and sugar. Then, add in cold, cubed vegan butter and stream in cold water while you pulse. After a few times of pressing the button it will come together to form a dough.

Then, I divide it into 2 balls not of equal size. One ball should be about ⅔ of the dough and the other ⅓. Put it in the fridge to chill for 15 minutes.

You can also use a store-bought crust instead. However, most of the ones I have seen in store do unfortunately use butter. So, always be sure to check the ingredients. Be sure to account for any time to thaw as well if it is frozen.

making the filling

The filling for Pizza Rustica is very simple. You will need to make a vegan tofu ricotta. All you have to do is put tofu, salt, non-dairy milk, and nutritional yeast in the food processor. Pulse it for about 30 to 45 seconds until it turns into a texture that resembles ricotta. Cut up the vegan meats into little pieces with a sharp knife.

In a large bowl you will combine the vegan ricotta, chopped vegan meats, vegan mozzarella, vegan Just Egg, salt, pepper, and sugar. Mix it all together until well incorporated.

Some recipes you may see use sugar and others maybe don’t. Our family always throws in a little bit of sugar. It adds a slight sweetness. It also counteracts all of the salt in the dish.

making pizza rustica

You can decide if you would rather this be a deeper pie like I did or a more shallow one. If you would like your Pizza Rustica to look similar to mine I used a 6-inch springform pan. Personally, I prefer when the Pizza Rustica is high. Otherwise, you can just a 9-inch pie plate for this recipe.

So, just roll the dough out into a large circle on a lightly floured surface. Then, place that at the bottom of a greased pan. Press it down to ensure there are no air gaps. Pour in the Pizza Rustica mixture. I take the excess dough, fold it up and over. Finally, I then use the other pie crust to cover the top of the Pizza Rustica and make it look pretty.

I like to try to make it pretty with a bit of a fluted edge but you can just crimp it with a fork or press with your hands. Then, just brush a little bit of the vegan Just Egg or you can also use non-dairy milk over top. You will bake it in the oven for 40 minutes to an hour.

let it cool

While you may be tempted to instantly rip the springform pan mold off and start eating the Pizza Rustica it has to cool. I let it cool for a half hour before removing the mold.

Then, you will let it cool for another 1.5 hours to 2 hours. This is very important so everything inside sets and isn’t wet.

You will be so happy you gave it the proper time to cool. Once you cut into it you will have a beautiful slice of Pizza Rustica.

time to enjoy

Now, you can finally dig in and enjoy your Pizza Rustica! Even though this dish is vegan is still is very rich and indulgent. I personally prefer to pair this with either a light salad or some roasted veggies.

You are getting so much flavor from all the vegan meats and vegan cheese. You get a creaminess from the vegan ricotta. And I love the little hint of sweetness in the background.

You don’t need to do anything fancy to serve this. No need for a garnish. Just cut it up and enjoy.