🇮🇹 Italian · Bread
🍞 Casatiello
Casatiello
A dramatic Neapolitan Easter bread ringed with whole eggs baked directly into the dough, generously studded throughout with cured meats and cheese for a rich, savory holiday centerpiece.
Casatiello's whole eggs, nestled into the dough and secured with strips of dough forming a cross over each one, are said to symbolize resurrection for the Easter holiday, and the bread's dense richness reflects its role as a meat-and-cheese-forward centerpiece after the fasting of Lent.
Ingredients
Equipment: Large mixing bowl, Ring-shaped bundt pan, Kitchen twine or extra dough for securing eggs
- 500 g (4 cups) bread flour
- 10 g (3 tsp) active dry yeast
- 250 ml (1 cup) warm water
- 100 g (⅓ cup) lard or olive oil, softened
- 10 g (1¾ tsp) salt
- 150 g (5.3 oz) salami, diced
- 150 g (5.3 oz) pancetta or ham, diced
- 150 g (1½ cups) mixed cheese (pecorino and provolone), diced
- 6 whole raw eggs, in their shells, for baking into the dough
- Black pepper, to taste
Method
- Dissolve the yeast in the warm water and let sit for 5 minutes.
- Combine the flour, salt, and softened lard, then add the yeast mixture, kneading into a smooth, elastic dough.
- Let rise, covered, in a warm place for about 1.5–2 hours, until doubled.
- Punch down the dough and knead in the diced salami, pancetta, cheese, and a generous amount of black pepper.
- Shape the dough into a ring and place in a well-oiled bundt or ring pan.
- Let rise again for about 45 minutes.
- Nestle the whole, unpeeled raw eggs into the top of the dough at intervals, pressing them in gently.
- Cross two thin strips of reserved dough over each egg to secure it in place.
- Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 45–50 minutes until deeply golden, tenting with foil if browning too quickly.
- Cool before slicing — the eggs cook through fully during baking.
Chef Tips
- The whole eggs bake and cook fully inside their shells as part of the bread — they're meant to be peeled and eaten as part of each slice.
- Crossing dough strips over each egg helps keep them securely in place through the final rise and bake.
- A generous amount of black pepper is traditional and helps balance the richness of the meats and cheese.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not securing the eggs well enough, causing them to shift or fall out during baking.
- Skimping on the meat and cheese filling, which is meant to be generous and is central to the bread's character.
- Underbaking, leaving the dense, enriched dough undercooked in the center.
Nutrition (per serving)
Health Benefits
- A good source of protein from the eggs, cured meats, and cheese.
Cultural Note
Casatiello is a defining feature of the Neapolitan Easter table, its whole baked-in eggs traditionally understood to symbolize resurrection and rebirth for the holiday.
Storage & Serving
Storage: Store wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Reheating: Not applicable; served at room temperature.
Serve with: A glass of wine, As part of an Easter breakfast spread