The Scene
The climactic dinner scene where Primo unveils his timpano to stunned silence. When sliced, the layers of pasta, meatballs, hard-boiled eggs, and cheese cascade out. It's the heart and soul of the entire film.
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Pinch of salt
For the Filling:
- 1 lb ziti pasta, cooked al dente
- 1 lb small meatballs, cooked
- 6 hard-boiled eggs, quartered
- 8 oz Genoa salami, diced
- 1 lb provolone, cubed
- 1 cup grated Pecorino Romano
- 4 cups marinara sauce
Instructions
- Make the dough: Mix flour, eggs, oil, and salt. Knead 10 minutes until smooth. Rest 30 minutes.
- Prep fillings: Cook pasta al dente. Make/cook meatballs. Boil eggs. Cube cheeses. Dice salami.
- Roll the dough: Roll into a large circle (about 24 inches) - it should be thin but not see-through.
- Line the pan: Butter a large deep bowl or pot. Drape dough inside, leaving overhang.
- Layer it up: Sauce → pasta → meatballs → eggs → salami → cheese. Repeat layers until full.
- Seal and bake: Fold dough over top. Bake at 350°F for 90 minutes until golden.
- The reveal: Rest 30 minutes. Invert onto platter. Cut and watch jaws drop!
