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Pascualina

A golden, flaky pie packed with Swiss chard and ricotta, with whole eggs nestled inside that appear like jewels when you slice it.

⏱ 40 minPrep time
🔥 50 minCook time
🍽 8Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Pascualina

Pascualina came to the Río de la Plata with Ligurian immigrants and became a Uruguayan institution, served at picnics, family lunches, and mate afternoons. The signature is the whole eggs hidden in the filling — cut a slice and each one reveals a perfect round yolk.

The pie that hides whole eggs in every slice

The crust is buttery and flaky, the chard filling is earthy and sweet with a creamy ricotta finish, and the hidden eggs add pockets of rich, tender protein. Warm or at room temperature, with a glass of wine or a cup of tea, it is pure comfort in pie form.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook the onion for 5 minutes until soft, then add the garlic and cook 1 minute more.
  2. Add the chopped chard in batches, stirring until it wilts, and cook 8 to 10 minutes until all the liquid has evaporated; season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
  3. Transfer the chard to a bowl, let it cool for 10 minutes, then stir in the ricotta and 1 beaten egg.
  4. Roll out one sheet of puff pastry into a 12-inch round and fit it into a 9-inch pie dish, letting the edges overhang.
  5. Spread half the chard filling in the shell, then make 4 shallow wells with the back of a spoon and crack a whole egg into each well.
  6. Cover with the remaining filling, gently smoothing it over the eggs, then roll out the second pastry sheet and lay it on top.
  7. Press the edges to seal, trim the overhang, crimp with a fork, brush with the egg glaze, and cut 3 small steam vents in the center.
  8. Bake at 375°F for 45 to 50 minutes until the crust is deep golden brown and the filling is set; cool 15 minutes before slicing.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Make sure the chard is really dry before filling — soggy filling makes a soggy bottom crust. Pascualina is excellent at room temperature and keeps 3 days refrigerated.

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Recipe details

Prep40 min
Cook50 min
Servings8
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →