Cheese Torte Italiana, a famous cheese quiche from the Vatican, is made with Gorgonzola, Fontina, and sun-dried tomatoes that will make you sing alleluia.
For my birthday, I received The Vatican Cookbook from my sisters-in-law. You can't go wrong with gifting me any cookbook, actually, but this one is extra special.
A few years ago, we visited the Vatican during our European tour with my sister-in-law and her husband, and I've been talking about going back ever since.
Come to think of it maybe they just want me to shut up about it already, ha!
Well, it's not working.
First, you can't put the Vatican into a "been there, seen that" category, unless you've been there and seen that like a gazillion times. Second, Italy is just a sea away from my home country and I get super homesick in winter.
Seeing familiar places while flipping through the book was indeed therapeutic.
If you haven't been to the Vatican yet, put it on your bucket list. Or at least get your hands on their cookbook and learn not only how to make Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope John Paul II favorite recipes but also the history of Vatican's Swiss Guards, who put the book together.
🛒 Ingredients and Notes
- all-purpose flour
- Fontina cheese (can be substituted with Gouda, Gruyere, or Provolone)
- butter
- milk
- eggs
- sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon capers
- Gorgonzola
🔪 Instructions
Pie Crust
- Mix the flour, herbs, and salt in a bowl. Blend the butter with a pastry cutter into the flour, creating a coarse, crumb-like consistency.
- Add the water, working quickly to bring the mixture to the thick, pliable dough without over-kneading. If the dough is too dry add more water, half a teaspoon at a time.
- Roll the dough onto wax paper and cover with another sheet of wax paper. Refrigerate to rest for 20 minutes.
Filling
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In the meantime, mix the milk, eggs, and grated Fontina cheese. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and capers to the egg and milk mixture. Stir well. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Place the dough on the bottom of a round 9-inch quiche or pie plate. Poke the dough with a fork. Add the filling, and crumble Gorgonzola on top.
- Place in the oven on the lowest rack. Bake about 10 minutes, then reduce temperature to 300 degrees Fahrenheit and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes.
Liked this recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and/or a review in the comments section. Your feedback is always appreciated! Stay in touch through Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook! Don't forget to sign up for my email list below too!
How to make Vatican’s cheese quiche
Ingredients
Pie Crust
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons dried Italian herbs
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 6 tablespoons cold butter, diced
- 6 tablespoons cold water
Filling
- 1 ¼ cups whole milk
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup Fontina cheese, grated (can be substituted with Gouda, Gruyere, or Provolone)
- 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon capers
- ⅓ cup Gorgonzola
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
Pie Crust
- Mix the flour, herbs, and salt in a bowl. Blend the butter with a pastry cutter into the flour, creating a coarse, crumb-like consistency.
- Add the water, working quickly to bring the mixture to thick, pliable dough without over-kneading. If the dough is too dry add more water, half a teaspoon at a time.
- Roll the dough onto wax paper and cover with another sheet of wax paper. Refrigerate to rest for 20 minutes.
Filling
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In the meantime, mix the milk, eggs, and grated Fontina cheese. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and capers to the egg and milk mixture. Stir well. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Place the dough on the bottom of a round 9-inch quiche or pie plate. Poke the dough with a fork. Add the filling, and crumble Gorgonzola on top.
- Place in the oven on the lowest rack. Bake about 10 minutes, then reduce temperature to 300 degrees Fahrenheit and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes.
Patty @pattysaveurs.com says
Utterly interesting item Jas! I went to Vaticano but only once and there were so many visitors at the same time! I think I'll look for the cook book if it's full of recipes as tempting as this one! 🙂
Jas says
Thank you, Patty! I love their cookbook. It contains delicious recipes and a great read into the history of their kitchen. If you can't find it locally, use the link in the post 😉
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
Looks amazing and it sounds heavenly!! I love cheese and being Italian the idea that it is named Vatican makes it a must bake. Thank you for the recipe.
Jas says
Hi, Marisa! That makes me happy and I'd love to hear how you liked it. Please let me know! Blessings, 😀
Debra says
That looks amazing! Thanks for sharing with us at the Funtastic Friday Blog Hop!
Jas says
Hi, Debra! Thanks so much 🙂
Theresa says
I have a few Quiche recipes I love making. This looks good too. Thanks for joining us at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Shared.
Jas says
This one stole my heart in more ways than one, Theresa! Thanks for stopping in!
Jas says
Thanks so much! Hope your week is great as well!
Ann says
Nothing beats a good cheesy quiche. With the word Vatican in it, it's like eating a baptise quiche. All food related sins forgiven. 🙂 hehe
Jas says
Ha, ha! I love you only because you're so crazy. XOXO
Michelle says
Holy cow I can't sing Jas, but my tongue seems to be jiving in my mouth to alleluia after reading your recipe. I didn't think that was possible. No-one jives to alleluia, surely 😉 This sounds like the most delicious quiche ever
Jas says
Lol, you crack me up, Michelle! It is the tastiest quiche I ever had, for sure. 🙂
Maria says
One of my favorite recipes! I love Rome! So lucky your were there. I am going to make this.
Maria
Jas says
Hi, Maria! Yes, I feel very lucky to be there and to have been blessed by the Pope himself. 🙂
Richella Parham says
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing the recipe. I love quiche!
One summer our oldest son got an internship in the office of the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See. Can you imagine? It was a wonderful experience for him. And we got to go visit him! I agree with you: The Vatican is a wonderful place to visit, many times!
Jas says
Oh, wow! What an experience that must have been! I'm in awe! It truly is a wonderful place! Thanks for stopping in, Richella! Have a glorious day 🙂