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    Home » Desserts

    Pastiera Napoletana

    5 from 1 vote

    By Pina Bresciani ⁠— March 9, 2019 (updated May 21, 2025) — 9 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    Pinterest image for Pastiera Napoletana

    This Pastiera Napoletana is a modern take on the classic Italian Easter pie. Filled with cooked wheat and ricotta, its flavours are unique and scrumptious, perfect for celebrating Easter in the most delicious way possible!

    Pastiera napoletana decorated with fresh oranges, lemon and white flowers

    Pastiera Napoletana. From the name, one can tell that it has origins in Naples. My mom makes this recipe every year at Easter, but it's funny, because she's not from Naples. No one from my family is.

    She learned to make Pastiera Napoletana here in Vancouver, and now it's part of the Easter festivities and it wouldn't be Easter without it.

    As with many recipes that are handed down and made over time, my mom's pastiera recipe has evolved to fit the ingredients that are easily found in Canada. Some ingredients that a very traditional Pastiera Napoletana uses are hard to find in Canada (like fior d'arancio), so this particular recipe is adapted slightly, but still has the essence of a traditional pastiera.

    If you're looking for a more traditional pastierna napoletana recipe, I have one here.

    What is Pastiera Napoletana?

    Quite simply it's a traditional Italian Easter pie. It traditionally uses a shortcrust pastry, and is filled with ricotta, cooked wheat (grano cotto), orange and lemon flavors, and sugar.

    As the name suggests, the pastiera originates in Naples, and is common in that area. Different variations of the pastiera exist too - (pastiera with rice instead of wheat, pastiera filled with cream instead of ricotta).

    As I mentioned - this is my mom's recipe, and it has been adapted to fit Western Canadian ingredients and practices.

    How is this pastiera different from a traditional pastiera?

    A few things:

    1. The crust - A traditional pastiera uses a shortcrust dough (pasta frolla) made with flour, eggs, and sugar. This recipe uses a pie dough made with shortening, flour, one egg and vinegar.
    2. The filling - A traditional pastiera is filled with cooked wheat, ricotta, candied oranges, fior d'arancio (orange blossom water), the seeds of a vanilla bean, and cinnamon. This version is filled with cooked wheat and ricotta, but since candied oranges and fior d'arancio are hard to find here, orange zest is added instead.
    3. The appearance - A traditional pastiera is decorated with a lattice, but this pastiera is topped with fresh fruit and flowers.

    Side shot of slice of pastiera napoletana

    How to Make Pastiera Napoletana - Step by Step

    Prepare the dough:

    In a large mixing bowl, mix the lard, flour, salt and baking powder with a hand pastry blender until small crumbs form.

    Prepare your wet ingredients by beating the egg, adding the vinegar to it, then pouring this mixture into a measuring cup. Add water until wet ingredients equals a half cup (photo 1)

    Step by step photos (1-3) on how to make pastiera napoletana

    Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and work with your hands until a ball of dough forms (photos 3 & 4)

    Wrap the dough in saran wrap and set aside (photo 5)

    Step by step photos (4-5) on how to make pastiera napoletana

    Prepare the filling: 

    In a saucepan, add the grano cotto, butter and milk (photo 6)

    Bring the ingredients to a gentle boil, and stir continuously until a cream-like consistency is reached, about 20 minutes. Let the grano cotto mixture cool (photo 7)

    Step by step photos (6-8) on how to make pastiera napoletana

    In a bowl, mix ricotta, sugar and eggs, vanilla extract, and orange zest with a wooden spoon until ingredients are fully incorporated (photos 8 & 9)

    Mix the grano cotto and ricotta mixtures together (photo 10)

    Step by step photos (9-10) on how to make pastiera napoletana

    Finish the pastiera: 

    On a flat, floured surface, use a rolling pin to roll dough out. Add more flour if the dough is feeling a little moist. The thickness of the dough should be about 0.2 inches (photo 11)

    Transfer the dough to a pie dish and cut off any edges that hang off the pie dish (photo 12)

    Spoon in the filling (photo 13) , and close the edges of the pastiera (photo 14)

    Step by step photos (11-13) on how to make pastiera napoletana

    Bake for 80 minutes at 350 degrees fahrenheit (photo 15) Sprinkle with icing sugar

    Step by step photos (14-15) on how to make pastiera napoletana

    Top Tips for Making Pastiera Napoletana:

    • A traditional pastiera is topped with a lattice. You can for certain top this pastiera with a lattice, or if you want a less traditional look/feel, you can omit the lattice and top it with fresh fruit as shown instead.
    • When mixing the ricotta mixture together,  instead of mixing manually, you can use a hand mixer or stand mixer. Just be sure to fold in the grano cotto mixture by hand (with a wooden spoon).
    • You may have extra pie dough left, especially if you omit the lattice on the top of the pastiera
    • This recipe was made in a 9.5 inch Pyrex glass pie dish, so the filling amounts are suited to a dish of this size.

    Overhead shot of slice of pastiera napoletana

    More Italian Holiday Recipes You Might Like:

    • Zeppole di San Giuseppe
    • Strawberry Crostata
    • The Best Struffoli Recipe

    If you’ve tried making this Pastiera Napoletana, or any other recipe on the blog please let me know what you thought of it in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’ve been up to.

    Recipe

    Pastiera napoletana decorated with fresh oranges, lemon and white flowers
    Print Pin
    5 from 1 vote

    Pastiera Napoletana

    Pastiera Napoletana is a traditional Italian Easter pie filled with ricotta, cooked wheat berries, and beautiful citrus flavors. It's bound to be a hit on your Easter table! 
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine Italian
    Prep Time 45 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 1 hour hour
    Total Time 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes
    Servings 12 people
    Calories 467kcal
    Author Pina Bresciani

    Ingredients

    For the dough

    • 1 ⅓ cup Tenderflake lard
    • 2 ½ + 3 tbsp cups all purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 egg
    • ½ tablespoon white vinegar
    • water

    For the filling

    • 1 cup grano cotto (cooked wheat berries)
    • ½ cup + 2 tbsp milk
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 2 cups ricotta
    • ¾ cup sugar
    • 4 eggs
    • zest of one orange
    • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions

    Prepare the dough

    • In a large mixing bowl, mix the dry ingredients with a hand pastry blender until small crumbs form.
    • Prepare your wet ingredients by beating the egg, adding the vinegar to it, then pouring this mixture into a measuring cup. Add water until wet ingredients equals a half cup.
    • Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and work with your hands until a ball of dough forms. Set the dough aside.

    Prepare the filling

    • In a saucepan, add the grano cotto, butter and milk. Bring the ingredients to a gentle boil, and stir continuously until a cream-like consistency is reached, about 20 minutes. Let the grano cotto mixture cool.
    • In a bowl, mix ricotta, sugar and eggs, vanilla extract, and orange zest with a wooden spoon until ingredients are fully incorporated.
    • Mix the grano cotto and ricotta mixtures together.

    To finish the Pastiera

    • Place dough on a flat, floured surface, use a rolling pin to roll dough out. Add more flour if the dough is feeling a little moist. The thickness of the dough should be about ½ cm. 
    • Transfer the dough to a pie dish and cut off any edges that hang off the pie dish. 
    • Spoon in the filling. Feel free to make a lattice design with the extra dough or leave plain and decorate with fruit after baked.
    • Bake for 80 minutes at 350 degrees fahrenheit, or until pastiera is golden on the edges. 
    • Sprinkle with icing sugar

    Recipe Notes

    • A traditional pastiera is topped with a lattice. You can for certain top this pastiera with a lattice, or if you want a less traditional look/feel, you can omit the lattice and top it with fresh fruit as shown instead. 
    • When mixing the ricotta mixture together,  instead of mixing manually, you can use a hand mixer or stand mixer. Just be sure to fold in the grano cotto mixture by hand (with a wooden spoon). 
    • You may have extra pie dough left, especially if you omit the lattice on the top of the pastiera
    • This recipe was made in a 9.5 inch Pyrex glass pie dish, so the filling amounts are suited to a dish of this size. 
    Nutrition Facts
    Pastiera Napoletana
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 467 Calories from Fat 261
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 29g45%
    Saturated Fat 17g106%
    Cholesterol 147mg49%
    Sodium 449mg20%
    Potassium 139mg4%
    Carbohydrates 40g13%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 13g14%
    Protein 11g22%
    Vitamin A 960IU19%
    Calcium 132mg13%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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    Comments

      5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Maria says

      April 13, 2017 at 4:15 pm

      Absolutely beautiful!!! You have captured the essence of this pie... light and refreshing. In my humble opinion, this has to be one of the best pies ever. This is one of the foods of my childhood and I just love all the variations available. I never get tired of tasting pastiera 😉 At the end of the day, it is as you say, you try different things ... and that is such a privilege. Buona Pasqua to you and your family 🙂

      Reply
      • coffee.campari.cannoli says

        April 15, 2017 at 5:57 pm

        Grazie tanto Maria! I'm glad you like it - it's so important to maintain those traditions. Especially when you're living in a different country!
        Buona Pasqua to you and your family too!

        Reply
    2. Linda says

      April 15, 2017 at 3:20 pm

      Troppo bella!!
      Ho linkato a questa ricetta nel mio articolo pasquale perché mi piace davvero tantissimo!Prima o poi toccherà provare a farla...
      Buona Pasqua!

      Reply
      • coffee.campari.cannoli says

        April 15, 2017 at 6:02 pm

        Grazie tanto Linda! Non vedo l'ora di vedere l'articolo! Mi puoi mandare un link?

        Reply
    3. Jayme says

      March 04, 2021 at 6:14 pm

      Have you tried combining your two recipes? Traditional shortcrust with modern filling? How might you change things? ie. Cook time/temps

      Reply
      • Pina says

        March 06, 2021 at 5:17 pm

        Hi Jayme! I haven't tried combining the 2 recipes, but I don't see why you couldn't. If you're using the pasta frolla dough with the modern/adapted filling, I would still stick to the cook time and temperature of the traditional recipe (325F for about 80 minutes). Let me know how it turns out!
        -Pina

        Reply
    4. Anna says

      April 04, 2021 at 1:33 am

      So I made this today. Unfortunately I was not able to find wheat berries, so I substituted Kamut khorasan wheat. The pie came out beautifully, but the grain definitely has a chewy bite to it. I’m wondering if the texture is the same with wheat berries?

      Reply
      • Pina says

        April 04, 2021 at 5:44 pm

        Hi Anna! Glad you liked the pie. The wheat berries that I buy in the jar are cooked already, so they are already quite tender. I don't know what the texture of Kamut khorasan wheat is like, but I assume if you cook it down, it would have a similar texture to the jarred one. Happy Easter!
        -Pina

        Reply
    5. Rosa says

      April 17, 2022 at 4:03 am

      I can't wait to try this. I am wondering where you can purchase the wheat berries, at any store or do I have to go to a specialty store?
      Thank you for sharing this!

      Reply

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    My name is Pina and I love Italian food and culture! Here you'll find delicious Italian-inspired recipes with a fresh west coast spin. Buon Appetito! About Me

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