Pastiera napoletana (Neapolitan ricotta cheese Easter pie)

To prepare pastiera napoletana (Neapolitan ricotta cheese Easter pie) start with shortcrust pastry. Pour the flour and sugar 1 into a bowl, add the lard 2 and start kneading by hand 3. 

As soon as you have obtained a crumbly mixture 4 add the yolks 5. Work with your hands again 6

and as soon as you get an evenly textured dough, transfer it to a work surface 7. Continue kneading the dough, just long enough to obtain a smooth and evenly textured dough 8. Wrap in plastic wrap 9 and leave to rest in the refrigerator for an hour or so.  

In the meantime pour the milk into a saucepan, add the precooked wheat 10, lard 11 and grated lemon rind 12. 

Turn on the heat and stirring frequently 13, leave to cook for about 20 minutes over medium heat until a creamy mixture is obtained 14 and leave to cool. Once the mixture has cooled completely, start making the cream. In a bowl sift both the cow's and sheep's ricotta cheese 15;

Add the sugar 16 and mix with a whisk or spatula 17. Then add the eggs 18

and the cooled wheat mixture 19. Add the seeds of the vanilla bean 20; dice both the orange and the candied citron 21

and put them in the mixture 22, together with a pinch of cinnamon 23 and orange blossom water 24. 

Now mix all the ingredients 25 and proceed to assemble the cake. Grease with lard and flour an 8-inch to 11-inch (20-26 cm) round aluminum cake mold 26. Using a rolling pin, roll out the shortcrust pastry 27

to a thickness of about 1/4 inch (1/2 cm) 28. Now transfer it into the mold 29, pressing against the entire surface 30. 

Remove the excess dough with a small knife 31 and knead it again, it will be used to make the lattice pattern on top. Pour the cream inside the shortcrust pastry shell 32 and level it. Roll out the rest of the dough, again, about 1/4-inch (1/2 cm) thick and make the lozenges, about 1/2-inch (1.5 cm) wide, using a pastry cutter wheel 33. 

Align the ribbons of dough on top of the cake, first in one direction 34 and then in the other 35, in a lattice pattern, all the way to the sides of the mold. Bake in a static oven preheated to 350°F (180°C) for about 80 minutes, moving the cake to the lowest rack during the last 20 minutes of baking time. If the lattice should darken too much, cover the top loosely with aluminum foil. Remove the pastiera napoletana (Neapolitan ricotta cheese Easter pie) 36 and let it cool completely. Before serving, you can sprinkle the surface with powdered sugar to taste.