Summer Savory Pie

Name: Summer Savory Pie
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Puff pastry (1 rectangular roll) 8 oz; Stracciatella cheese 0.8 cup; Tomato salads 0.4 cup; Whole milk 0.7 tbsp; Extra virgin olive oil 1 ½ tbsp; Basil to taste; Basil leaves 2 cups; Extra virgin olive oil ½ cup; Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheese 2.1 oz; Pecorino cheese 0.75 oz; Pine nuts 3 ½ tbsp; Garlic 2 cloves; Coarse salt 1 pinch

it de fr es br

Vegetarian

Difficulty: Very easy
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Serving: 4
Cost: Low

PRESENTATION

Recipe by
Luisa Orizio

Summer savory pie is, well, the heart of Italian summer. And look, it brings a tender and crispy delight to your table. People in Liguria—really love it—cherish making a summer savory pie (or torta salata estiva) during those warm days. You know, when simplicity is key.

The puff pastry base turns golden and flaky, which is great. It’s like the perfect foundation for fresh toppings. You’ve got Pesto alla Genovese, a true Ligurian classic, quickly prepared. That unmistakable basil aroma? Fills the kitchen. Once you’ve got that ready, the rest is pretty simple: thick slices of juicy tomatoes and a layer of soft stracciatella cheese. I mean, this stuff melts slightly over the warm pastry.

This tomato pie recipe just bursts with color. Seriously, it looks impressive even though it's straightforward to make.

And in different towns across Liguria, there are variations of this savory summer pie, but it’s always about local ingredients and fresh flavors. Really, it's perfect for outdoor lunches, buffets, or even as a quick appetizer. The dish feels light and satisfying, ideal for hot days when you want something not too heavy. The combination of puff pastry, basil pesto, and sweet tomatoes is just so so tasty. Plus, it holds up well at room temperature—super practical for gatherings.

Some folks mix in whatever veggies they have on hand, making a true summer vegetable pie. And it adapts to whatever's available at the market. Whether you call it a savory pie crust or a fresh tomato tart, the result is always moist, easy, and showcases the season's best.

Here's the deal: it's quick, colorful and totally inviting. Feels just like summer meals in Italy are meant to be. This pie is a testament to the Italian way of making food: simple, delicious, and using the freshest ingredients. For real, every bite feels like a mini-vacation to the beautiful Italian coast.

INGREDIENTS

Puff pastry 8 oz (230 g) - (1 rectangular roll)

Stracciatella cheese 0.8 cup (200 g)

Tomato salads 0.4 cup (100 g)

Whole milk 0.7 tbsp (10 g)

Extra virgin olive oil 1 ½ tbsp (20 g)

Basil to taste

For the Pesto: Basil 2 cups (60 g) - leaves; Extra virgin olive oil ½ cup (100 g); Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheese 2.1 oz (60 g); Pecorino cheese 0.75 oz (20 g); Pine nuts 3 ½ tbsp (30 g); Garlic 2 cloves; Coarse salt 1 pinch

Preparation

How to prepare Summer Savory Pie

To prepare the summer savory pie, start by unrolling the puff pastry directly onto the baking tray. Fold the edges of the pastry about half an inch inward 1. Prick the base with a fork 2 and brush with milk 3.

Bake the base in a preheated fan oven at 400°F for about 10 minutes. When it is golden on the edges, remove it from the oven and let it cool 4. Meanwhile, prepare the pesto: in the blender, combine the basil leaves, washed and dried 5, and the pine nuts 6.

Add the garlic with the core removed 7, the grated Pecorino and Parmesan 8, and the coarse salt 9.

Finally, pour the oil 10 and blend intermittently (so as not to overheat the mixture) 11 until you obtain a homogeneous sauce 12.

Spread the pesto all over the pastry base 13. Cut the tomato into very thin slices 14 and place them on the surface, slightly overlapping them 15.

Distribute the stracciatella over the tomatoes 16 and finally garnish with basil leaves, a pinch of salt, and a drizzle of oil 17. Your summer savory pie is ready to be enjoyed 18!

Storage

It is recommended to consume the summer savory pie immediately.

Tip

Feel free to enrich your summer savory pie: replace the basil pesto with Arugula Pesto or Zucchini pesto, or the fresh tomatoes with sun-dried tomatoes in oil!

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.

Summer Savory Pie

PRESENTATION

INGREDIENTS

How to prepare Summer Savory Pie

Storage

Tip

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