Pizza rustica

Pizza rustica or pizzagaina is a large Italian pizza pie consisting of a pastry-like crust that goes both on top and on the bottom, and in between the crust it holds ingredients such as salami, ham, prosciutto, eggs, and Italian cheeses such as mozzarella, ricotta, Pecorino Romano, and Parmigiano Reggiano. It is hard to classify pizza rustica as it is part pastry, part quiche, part pie, and part pizza at the same time. The dish is traditionally prepared for Easter and it is usually served at room temperature as an appetizer. Even though pizza rustica is Italian in origin, it is also popular in the Italian-American community in the United States of America.