Savory Bread Pie

Name: Savory Bread Pie
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: Stale bread 3 ¼ cups; Curly endive 3 cups; Cluster tomatoes 3; Mozzarella cheese 2 ¼ cups; Breadcrumbs 0.85 cup; Fresh liquid cream 1.67 cups; Grana Padano PDO cheese to grate 5.3 oz; Eggs 1; Lemon peel 1; Fennel seeds 1 tsp; Extra virgin olive oil 1 ½ tbsp; Fine salt to taste; Black pepper to taste

it br es fr de

495

Calories per serving

Vegetarian

Energy Kcal 495
Carbohydrates g 45.9
of which sugars g 6.3
Protein g 20.9
Fats g 25.3
of which saturated fat g 13.41
Fiber g 3.2
Cholesterol mg 93
Sodium mg 777

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 50 min
Serving: 8
Cost: Low

PRESENTATION

When you think about Italian cooking, the savory bread pie really stands out. It's a brilliant example of turning everyday ingredients into something special. The dish is rooted in the cucina povera tradition—where you make do with what you have. And you know, those pieces of leftover bread that are kinda stale? They're perfect for this. In places like Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, families mix in whatever veggies they've got, like wilted spinach or zucchini. Then, they bind it all with a splash of milk and a couple of eggs. And you bake it up until it has this golden crust. Seriously good. Inside, it's soft and moist. Cannot go wrong.

Across Italy, this savory pie recipe is celebrated for its adaptability. Some folks skip the eggs and focus on veggies and melty cheeses. This bread-based pie lets you get creative—you can throw in tangy tomatoes or leftover meat for more substance. Others keep it simple with fresh greens and herbs, keeping that light and fresh vibe. Really, no matter how you do it, this pie captures the "cucina povera" spirit. Thing is, you get a satisfying meal from humble ingredients. It's about transforming everyday stuff into something tender and really, really good.

Whether it’s a cozy dinner or a quick appetizer, a homemade savory pie like this is always a hit. Which is great. And it brings a taste of Italy’s warmth and ingenuity to your table. Honestly, it is proof that a little kitchen creativity leads to big flavors and happy tummies. So, go ahead and give it a try. You'll love it—and probably make it again and again.

How to prepare Savory Bread Pie

To make the savory bread pie, first coarsely chop the stale bread 1 and place it in a bowl, pour the cream over it 2 and let it soak for at least 10 minutes, the necessary time for the bread to absorb the liquid and soften. Once ready 3,

transfer the softened bread to a mixer bowl, add the grated cheese 4, breadcrumbs 5, and the egg 6.

Blend everything until you get a smooth mixture 7 and set aside. Now separate the escarole florets from the final part of the stem and wash them under running water 8, then dry them. Slice the mozzarella 9

and also the tomatoes 10. Now preheat the oven to 375°F in static mode and take a 14 x 11 inch rectangular baking pan, grease it with olive oil 11, then evenly distribute the bread mixture over the entire pan, pressing it with your fingers to compact it 12.

Once the base is ready 13, start filling by adding the ingredients in layers: start with part of the escarole 14, some slices of mozzarella 15

and tomatoes, then salt, pepper, and flavor with fennel seeds 16 and lemon zest 17, finally drizzle with a little olive oil 18.

At this point, make a second layer: lay the escarole 19 and continue with all the ingredients in the same order until they are all used up. Bake the bread pie at 375°F in the preheated static oven for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and add an additional handful of breadcrumbs, about 3/4 oz, spreading it over the surface of the pie 20. This operation serves to absorb any water released by the mozzarella during cooking. Continue baking for another 15-20 minutes. Once cooking is finished, take the savory bread pie out of the oven, let it cool slightly, and then cut it into slices to enjoy 21!

Storage

The savory bread pie keeps in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. It is possible to freeze the preparation once cooked.

Advice

It is recommended to use low-fat pizza mozzarella, as it is drier and will release less liquid during cooking. The vegetables can be comfortably replaced based on taste and seasonality, and you can enrich the savory bread pie with other tantalizing ingredients such as ham, capers, and olives.

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

Savory Bread Pie

PRESENTATION

How to prepare Savory Bread Pie

Storage

Advice

RELATED RECIPES