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Vegetarian Timpano

A timpano (baked pasta dish) made with eggs, cheese, and vegetables. The dough is adapted from the "Timpano alla Big Night" recipe from Cucina & Familia by Joan T. Tucci and Gianni Scappin.

Course Main, Main Course, Main Dish/Side Dish
Cuisine Italian
Keyword broccoli, eggplant, eggs, hard boiled eggs, mushrooms, onions, pasta, peppers, timpano, tomato sauce, tomatoes, vegetarian, zucchini
Prep Time 3 hours
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Resting Time 2 hours
Total Time 6 hours 30 minutes
Servings 12

Ingredients

For the Vegetables

  • 2 large red peppers
  • 1 medium Italian eggplant
  • 1 head broccoli
  • 6 ounces mushrooms
  • 2 medium Italian zucchini
  • 2 yellow onions
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided plus two tablespoons

For the Sauce

  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
  • 1 32-ounce can whole peeled Italian tomatoes
  • 5 to 6 leaves basil, torn
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • pinch sugar (optional)

For the Ricotta Mixture

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 ounces spinach or kale leaves, or a mixture
  • 16 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 2 eggs (uncooked)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 tsp salt

For the Crust

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 eggs (uncooked)
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup water (approximately)

Additional Timpano Ingredients

  • 1 pound high-quality Italian penne pasta or equivalent, cooked, drained, and tossed lightly with olive oil
  • 1 pound low-moisture mozzarella cheese
  • 8 ounces provolone cheese
  • 12 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
  • 1 egg, beaten (uncooked)
  • olive oil and butter for greasing pan

Instructions

Preparing the Vegetables

  1. Broil the red peppers, turning frequently, until the skin is charred on all sides. Peel off the skin, remove the seeds, and cut the flesh into strips. Set aside.

  2. Slice the eggplant into 1/2-inch-thick slices; toss with salt, and place in a strainer, preferably weighing it down with something heavy. Allow the eggplant to sit and drain for 30 to 60 minutes, then rinse and pat dry. Toss with 1/4 cup olive oil, spread out on a baking sheet, and roast at 375 degrees for 20 minutes, or until tender and lightly browned.

  3. Chop the broccoli, mushrooms, and zucchini into bite-sized pieces or slices. Toss in a bowl with 1/4 cup olive oil. Spread out on a large baking sheet and roast at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, or until vegetables are cooked and lightly browned.

  4. Peel and dice the onions, then saute in 2 tablespoons of olive oil until softened and golden brown.

  5. Set all prepared vegetables aside until ready to use.

Preparing the Tomato Sauce

  1. In a medium saucepan, saute the garlic in olive oil until just softened. Add the tomatoes, basil, salt, and oregano and bring to a slow boil. Reduce the mixture to a simmer and continue simmering for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally and breaking up the large tomato pieces with a spoon. Remove from heat and toss with the cooked pasta. Set aside.

Preparing the Ricotta Mixture

  1. Heat the olive oil in a medium frying pan. Add the spinach and/or kale leaves and saute until wilted. Remove greens from the pan and chop finely. Stir the greens together with the remaining ingredients (ricotta cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, salt) until well mixed and then set aside.

Preparing the Crust

  1. Add flour, eggs, and olive oil to a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. Mix until combined; then add water tablespoonful by tablespoonful until the dough sticks together and forms a ball. Place the ball of dough on a lightly floured surface and let it rest for 30 minutes.

  2. After the dough has rested, roll it out with a lightly floured rolling pin into a large circle, approximately 1/16 to 1/4 inch thick, and approximately two feet in diameter. Now you are ready to assemble the timpano.

Timpano Assembly

  1. Grease a 5-quart round enamel-coated Dutch oven with butter and olive oil. Pick up the timpano dough and lay it gently in the Dutch oven, letting the edges hang over. Spoon about half of the pasta-sauce mixture into the crust. Layer slices of mozzarella cheese (about half the cheese) over the pasta. Then cover the cheese with the eggplant and onions. Next, dollop on the ricotta cheese mixture to cover the vegetables.

  2. For the next layer, arrange the eggs in a circular pattern into the timpano, pressing the eggs down gently into the ricotta mixture. Cover the eggs wiith the zucchini, mushrooms, broccoli, and red peppers. Then add one more layer of mozzarella slices, using up the remaining mozzarella.

  3. Finally, pour the remaining pasta and sauce into the timpano. Top with sliced provolone. Then pour one beaten egg over the top. Now pull up the edges of the dough and fold them over the top, sealing the contents tightly.

  4. Cover the timpano with the lid from the Dutch oven and bake at 375 degrees for one hour. Remove the lid and bake for an additional 30 minutes. The top crust should be golden brown and the internal temperature should be at least 125 degrees F.

  5. Remove from the oven and let it sit in the Dutch oven for 30 minutes. Then gently invert the timpano onto a large platter. Let the timpano stand for at least another 30 minutes before slicing into it. Serve with additional sauce if desired.