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    Home » Pasta » Baked Spaghetti Pie

    Baked Spaghetti Pie

    November 5, 2019 , Updated January 13, 2025 Maria 10 Comments

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    Baked spaghetti pie in a large plate topped with chopped parsley.

    No need to wait for leftover pasta to make Daniel Paterna’s Baked Spaghetti Pie (Torta Di Pasta). This comforting pasta pie comes together in no time at all! 

    Baked spaghetti pie in plated and topped with fresh Italian parsley.

    Disclosure: I have been provided with a complimentary copy of the book: “Feast of the Seven Fishes: A Brooklyn-Italian’s Recipes Celebrating Food and Family” by Daniel Paterna (Publisher: PowerHouse Books). I have not received any monetary compensation for this review. Views and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own.

    As a food blogger, I occasionally get opportunities to perform cookbook reviews. 

    As much as I love cookbooks, this is something I rarely do.

    When I received an e-mail from Emily of Mindbuck Media Book Publicity (Publisher: powerHouse Books), asking if I was interested in reviewing a book entitled FEAST OF THE SEVEN FISHES: A BROOKLYN-ITALIAN’S RECIPES CELEBRATING FOOD AND FAMILY, written by Daniel Paterna, I was ecstatic!

    The cover of the Book entitled Feast of the Seven Fishes by Daniel Paterna

    First, because the email did not end up in my spam folder and second, The Feast of the Seven Fishes!!! 

    The truth is that my family and I (first-generation Italian-Canadian) continue to celebrate Christmas Eve with a variety of meatless recipes and wonderful desserts, including this recipe for Seafood Salad, St. Joseph’s Pasta, my Mom’s Mostaccioli and my sister in law’s Calzoni di Ceci, to name but a few dishes.

    Both my parents immigrated from Southern Italy in the early ’50s; my dad from the region of Molise, and my mom from Campania.

    For those of you who are not aware, anyone of Italian origin considers Christmas Eve one of the most important holidays to celebrate with family and friends. 

    I immediately felt an emotional attachment without knowing anything about the book. I was extremely curious to see how Mr. Paterna, an Italian from Brooklyn, celebrates this important family gathering.

    I couldn’t wait to see if his family recipes resembled mine as his family also has origins from Campania.

    My expectations were high.

    I would not be disappointed.

    In the words of Daniel Paterna, this book truly is a celebration of “Family, Friends, and Food”(page 248).

    In this book review, I will provide you with my impressions. I will also share with you my adaptation of his family recipe for Torta di Pasta (reproduced by permission of the publisher).

    A photo of Daniel Paterna, author of The Feast of the Seven Fishes.
    Daniel Paterna

    Who is Daniel Paterna?

    Mr. Paterna is a second-generation Italian-American who, along with his brother, is still custodian to the Brooklyn house his grandfather built in 1926. A home where his mother lived her entire life and the home where he was born and raised.

    He is a graduate of the Pratt Institute and graduated with honors in graphic design. He presently owns his own design company.

    Who would be interested in The Feast of the Seven Fishes book?

    If you grew up in an Italian neighborhood, whether it was in Brooklyn, Boston, South Philly, Montreal (like me) or any other city where millions of Italians immigrated to, this book is for you.

    If you are of Italian origin, proud of your heritage, and trying to preserve “the traditions” of the generations before you, this book is for you.

    If you enjoy Italian food and culture, this book is for you.

    If you are interested to learn about an ethnic community, expressed not only in words, but with enticing photos of people, places and recipes that celebrate life, this book is for you.

    A Brooklyn-Italian’s recipes celebrating food and family

    Upon flipping the first page of this hardcover book, there are two words: “For Mom.”

    There is no denying that this book is about a son expressing his love and gratitude, first and foremost, for his mom and his family and then to all of his extended family -the individuals and family shops of his Bensonhurst neighborhood. 

    His professional background as a photographer is evident as you read this captivating book. 

    Mr. Paterna offers snapshots of what it was like to be an Italian in Brooklyn. Photos of people, places and food that will elicit an emotional response. Forgotten memories will be triggered.

    The importance of community is extremely evident in so many of the photos. I did not walk the streets of this neighborhood, but I was raised in a similar community. The faces and places were very familiar to me. It felt like I was home.

    If you grew up in an Italian family, chances are you were in an Italian neighborhood with your cousins living down the street. The food, the places and the characters of this narrative will indeed feel very familiar to you. 

    The content

    The book is divided into sections and subsections ( a sample listed below), each with captivating photos of people, places and recipes. Every photo tells a story. Mr. Paterna is a master of his craft. 

    After a Foreword by Michael Lomonaco, Mr. Paterna introduces his parents, grandparents and family. We are also introduced to Bensonhurst and the community he lived in. Family recipes are included in every section. Important holidays are highlighted with wonderful family stories and Mr. Paterna’s sense of humor. The final section is entitled “Passing it On” (page 246). No further explanation is required.

    Go-To Shops:

    • I Negozi: The Shops
    • Queen Ann Ravioli
    • Royal Crown II Paneantico
    • Faicco’s Pork Store
    • Villabate Alba
    • Frank & Sal
    • Savarese Italian Pastry Shop
    • Pastosa Ravioli
    • Lioni
    • Papa Pasquale
    • United Meat Market
    • D.Coluccio & Sons
    • A.L.C. Alimentari Italian Grocery
    • Sea Breeze II

    La Festa:

    • Christmas Eve, the Feast of the Seven Fishes
    • Christmas Day
    • Easter
    • Good Friday
    • Easter Sunday
    • Daily Dishes

    Passing It On:

    • Family, Friends and Food
    • Anne’s Legacy
    • Thank You

    And finally, an Index of Recipes.

    The family recipes

    Mr. Paterna generously shares his family recipes for some of the most important Italian holiday celebrations. These are authentic Italian recipes to his family. 

    I share a similar background with Mr. Paterna as my mom was also born in the Campania region of Italy, Benevento, to be exact. So many of his family recipes resemble my own.

    To date, I have tried three of his recipes. The Baked Shrimp (page 150) because it reminded me of my mom’s Baked Cod Fish recipe. The Meatball Recipe (page 164) once again because of the similarities to my family’s recipe. Both are excellent.

    The third recipe is the Torta Di Pasta (page 43) or if you prefer, pasta pie. I chose this simple recipe because it reminded me of my nonna  and “cucina povera“.

    Here is my interpretation of Mr. Paterna’s family recipe which he describes as “a great use of leftover pasta” (page 43).

    A round dish of spaghetti pie.

    Instructions

    Let’s preheat the oven to 350°F and place the oven grate to the center of the oven. The recipe for this oven spaghetti calls for a 10-inch ovenproof skillet. I had a 9-inch round oven-proof pan. 

    Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 pound of spaghetti. Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking together.

    Since the pasta is going to be baked, cook according to the package instructions minus a few minutes. In other words, very al dente. Taste for doneness. When done, drain the pasta and set it aside to cool slightly.

    While the pasta is cooking, let’s prepare the rest of the ingredients for this pasta pie.

    Some of the ingredients for the pasta pie are in bowls, ready to be combined.

    In a large bowl, whisk together 8 eggs, ¼ cup of milk, salt and pepper. The recipe calls for 1½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper.

    Stir in the ¾ cup of grated Romano cheese. [The original recipe includes the addition of ¼ cup of dried sausage, I opted to skip this ingredient].

    Cooked spaghetti is added to the egg mixture.

    By this time the pasta should be done. Drain and set it aside for a few minutes allowing it to cool down. Add the spaghetti to the egg mixture and combine it properly together.

    A round pan filled with a spaghetti mixture on a wooden board.

    Heat the ovenproof pan (or skillet) over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the spaghetti mixture and cook for approximately 5 minutes until the bottom begins to set. 

    Transfer the pan (or skillet) to the oven and cook for approximately 20 minutes or until the egg mixture sets and is no longer runny.

    Allow to cool a few minutes before transferring to a serving dish.

    A round platter of spaghetti pie on a wooden board.

    Garnish with chopped fresh Italian parsley. Slice and serve this baked with your favorite Italian Salad. 

    My final thoughts

    I spent an entire weekend reading and reviewing Mr. Paterna’s book the FEAST OF THE SEVEN FISHES: A BROOKLYN-ITALIAN’S RECIPES CELEBRATING FOOD AND FAMILY.

    I thoroughly enjoyed my complimentary copy of the book. I never thought a “cookbook” could be so engaging! 

    Needless to say, family stories and recipes are truly priceless. 

    Equally mesmerizing are all of the food photos… and there are many!  

    I felt a special connection to the section on “Go-To Shops” as my dad (a butcher by trade) was the owner of an Italian Grocery Store in Montreal. As a daughter of a grocer, I experienced first hand how important it was for an immigrate population to be able to shop for Italian ingredients. So many of these essential ingredients were key to recreate those wonderful family recipes.  

    These shops, continue to play an integral part in ensuring that Italian traditions continue.

    This is not your traditional cookbook. This is a story about the importance of family and community told through pictures and recipes. 

    Would I recommend this book? Yes, a thousand percent!

    In fact, I am planning on gifting this book to a few of my friends.

    Thank you, Mr. Paterna, for the wonderful tribute to your mom, your family and all of the individuals that continue to play an integral part of this celebratory book.

    Your mom would be proud!

    THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

    Ciao for now,

    Maria 

    ★★★★★ If you have made this Spaghetti Bake Recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

    Recipe

    An overhead photo of spaghetti pie in a round dish.

    Baked Spaghetti Pie

    No need to wait for leftover pasta to make Daniel Paterna's Baked Spaghetti Pie (Torta Di Pasta). This comforting pasta pie comes together in no time at all! 
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Save RecipeSaved! Pin Rate
    Course: Main
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 347.19kcal
    Author: Maria Vannelli RD
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    Ingredients

    • 1 pound spaghetti
    • 8 eggs
    • ¼ cup milk
    • 1½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • ¾ cup Romano Cheese
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F and place the oven grate to the center of the oven.
    • Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 pound of spaghetti. Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
    • Since the pasta is going to be baked, cook according to the package instructions minus a few minutes. In other words, very al dente. Taste for doneness. When done, drain the pasta and set it aside to cool slightly.
      While the pasta is cooking, let’s prepare the rest of the ingredients for this pasta pie.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt and pepper.
    • Stir in the ¾ cup of grated Romano cheese.
    • Add the cooked and slightly cooled down spaghetti to the egg mixture and combine properly together.
    • Heat a oven proof pan (or skillet) over medium heat.
    • Add the butter and olive oil.
    • Add the spaghetti mixture and press down gently. Cook for approximately 5 minutes until the bottom begins to set. Do not stir.
    • Transfer the pan (or skillet) to the oven and cook for approximately 20 minutes or until the egg mixture is set. 
    • Allow to cool a few minutes before transferring to a serving dish.
    • Garnish with chopped fresh Italian parsley.
    • Slice and serve this baked with your favorite Italian Salad. 
    Enhance Your Cooking Experience!SCROLL UP for essential step-by-step photos embedded in the article above. When available, videos can be found in the next section. These visuals are designed to help you achieve perfect results every time. Happy cooking!

    Notes

    Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 347.19kcal | Carbohydrates: 43.81g | Protein: 16.41g | Fat: 11.24g | Saturated Fat: 4.56g | Cholesterol: 178.72mg | Sodium: 633.52mg | Potassium: 215.35mg | Fiber: 1.84g | Sugar: 2.52g | Vitamin A: 344.94IU | Calcium: 153.53mg | Iron: 1.58mg
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    Product Details:

    • Feast of the Seven Fishes: A Brooklyn-Italian’s Recipes Celebrating Food and Family
    • Author: Daniel Paterna
    • Hardcover: 256 pages
    • ISBN: 978-1576879153

     

    Disclosure: I have been provided with a complimentary copy of the book: “Feast of the Seven Fishes: A Brooklyn-Italian’s Recipes Celebrating Food and Family” by Daniel Paterna (Publisher: PowerHouse Books). I have not received any monetary compensation for this review. Views and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own.

    The links on this blog are affiliate links,which means I’ll earn a small commission if you use those links and make a purchase within a certain time frame. The commission is paid by the third-party, there’s no extra charge to you. She Loves Biscotti is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Amazon Associates is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. 

     

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    Filed Under: Pasta

    About Maria

    Maria Vannelli is a retired dietitian who lives in a suburb just outside Montreal, Canada. She's the founder of the food blog She Loves Biscotti. Maria hopes to inspire you and bring you and your loved ones closer together at meal times enabling you to create some memorable moments.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shailaja Desai

      November 11, 2019 at 6:49 pm

      This is a great recipe for left over pasta!!!

      Reply
      • Maria

        November 11, 2019 at 7:47 pm

        It really is Shailaja! Thanks so much for stopping by!

        Reply
    2. Sean@Diversivore

      November 10, 2019 at 2:09 pm

      5 stars
      I’m delighted to have come across this recipe and this book – happenstance has been led me to do a lot of reading and research about Italian-American cooking lately, and I feel like it’s a subject I’d like to explore in more detail. And what better way to explore the food than by eating it, right? I do love a good, engaging cookbook that’s worth reading and working from. Thanks for sharing your review!

      Reply
      • Maria

        November 10, 2019 at 7:09 pm

        My pleasure Sean. The photography in this book is absolutely amazing…
        A picture really is worth a thousand words with this “cookbook”. Thanks so much for stopping by Sean.

        Reply
    3. Fran Barbera

      November 06, 2019 at 5:33 pm

      How can I order book

      Reply
      • Maria

        November 07, 2019 at 11:33 am

        There is a link below the recipe. Here is my affiliate link just in case:

        Reply
    4. Colleen

      November 06, 2019 at 2:33 pm

      5 stars
      I love a cookbook that also tells a story, and this one looks wonderful. I have put it on my wishlist! And, I’ve never had spaghetti pie, but it looks delicious. Thanks Maria!

      Reply
      • Maria

        November 07, 2019 at 1:58 pm

        My pleasure Colleen. Yes, this book definitely tells a story. I am sure you will love it and all the recipes -like this spaghetti pie. Thanks for stopping by, appreciate it!

        Reply
    5. dishnthekitchen

      November 05, 2019 at 1:11 pm

      5 stars
      Maria!! What an amazing review. How lucky it is that the email didn’t end up in your spam (as many of mine seem to do!) It seems to be so much more than a cookbook and more like a personal journey or memoir. Now I’m dying to get my hands on a copy!

      Reply
      • Maria

        November 05, 2019 at 1:38 pm

        Thanks so much Bernice. Yes, grateful to have a powerful spam filter, but…
        The book is available as of today… I truly loved everything about it. I know you are a foodie that would truly appreciate this book. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, appreciate it!

        Reply

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