Spring green, potato and ricotta homity pie recipe

Spring green, potato and ricotta homity pie

There's more to Sunday lunch than meat and this alternative roast dinner shows just how satisfying vegetarian mains can be. We've given classic homity pie a seasonal twist, using fresh greens, peas, spring onions, asparagus and polenta – it's really easy to make and full of spring flavours.

See method
  • Serves 8
  • 15 mins to prepare and 60 mins to cook, plus chilling and cooling
  • 524 calories / serving

Ingredients

  • 650g new potatoes
  • 240g bag sliced spring greens
  • 3 eggs
  • 4 tbsp double cream
  • 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
  • 250g tub ricotta, drained
  • 125g pack asparagus tips
  • bunch spring onions, finely sliced
  • 100g fresh or frozen peas
  • 75g vegetarian hard cheese or mature Cheddar, grated
  • 3 tbsp ground polenta, almonds or breadcrumbs

For the pastry

  • 500g pack shortcrust pastry, diced
  • 75g vegetarian hard cheese or mature Cheddar, grated
  • 1 tbsp finely chopped curly parsley
  • flour, for dusting

‘Add to basket’ will be back soon

We’ve put our add to basket feature on hold, while we spruce things up behind the scenes.

Each serving contains

Energy
2190kJ 524.0kcal
26%
Fat
33g
high46%
Saturates
15g
high75%
Salt
1.0g
medium17%
Sugars
5g
low5%

of the Reference intake

Carbohydrate 43.0gProtein 17.9gFibre 4.2g

Method

  1. To make the pastry, put the shortcrust dough and cheese in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until combined, breaking up any lumps. Add the parsley and pulse for a few seconds more until mixed. Bring together in a ball and tip out onto a lightly floured surface.
  2. Roll out the dough to a circle large enough to line a 22cm deep pie dish. Trim and crimp the edges; chill for 30 mins.
  3. Meanwhile, put the potatoes in a large pan of water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10-15 mins, until tender. Remove from the heat and drain. Leave to cool, then roughly slice. Preheat the oven to gas 4, 180°C, fan 160°C. Put a baking sheet on the middle shelf to heat up.
  4. Meanwhile, microwave, steam or boil the spring greens following the packet instructions, until wilted. Leave to cool a little, then squeeze out the excess water. In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, cream, mustard and ricotta until combined; season. Cut the asparagus in half and set the spears aside. Dice the stalks into 1cm chunks and add to the ricotta mixture with the spring greens, peas, potatoes and most of the spring onions. Scatter over most of the cheese and mix well.
  5. Line the chilled pastry base with the polenta, breadcrumbs or almonds. Tip in the filling, pressing down with the back of a spoon until tightly packed. Arrange the reserved asparagus spears on top, then scatter over the remaining spring onions and cheese. Bake on the preheated baking sheet for 45 mins, or until the filling is set and the pastry golden. Leave to stand for 15 mins before serving.
    • Tip

      As the pie contains potatoes, serve with roasted parsnips, buttered carrots and Savoy cabbage, plus a dollop of wholegrain mustard.

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