Italian Spinach Torta Recipes

SPINACH TORTA RUSTICA

Steps:

• To prepare the torta dough, sprinkle yeast over warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
• Add honey and let stand for 5 minutes. Mix in salt and 1/2 cup flour. Beat for about 3 minutes on medium speed.
• Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until smooth. Gradually beat in the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour to make a soft dough. Beat in butter, one tablespoon at a time.
• Place dough in a greased bowl and let rise in a warm place till doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Make filling while the dough rises. To make the filling, saute onion in olive oil till soft and lightly browned. Stir in garlic and cook for less than a minute. Mix in spinach and remove from heat.
• In a medium bowl, beat the egg yolk. Mix in ricotta, 1/2 cup Parmesan, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add spinach mixture.
• Punch down risen dough. Divide into two pieces, one slightly larger than the other. On a floured surface, roll larger piece into an 8-inch circle. Fit into the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan.
• Spread evenly with filling. Roll the rest of the dough into a 9-inch square.
• Cut the square into 9 or 10 strips. Weave strips over the top of the filling to make a lattice pattern. Tuck the ends of the dough down around the filling.
• Preheat oven to 375º. Let torta rise for 15-20 minutes till dough puffs up slightly. Brush top of the dough with an egg beaten with water. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese.
• Bake for 40-45 minutes, till browned. Cool for 5 minutes, then remove rim. Serve warm or at room temperature.

ITALIAN SPINACH AND RICOTTA PIE

Steps:

• Place spinach in a skillet over medium heat and cook until wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain, squeeze dry, and chop finely.
• Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium heat and add onion. Cook until onion starts to soften, about 3 minutes. Add spinach and cook and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl to cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Stir ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, 2 whole eggs, nutmeg, salt, and pepper into the cooled spinach mixture.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch tart pan or pie dish.
• Unwrap the phyllo dough. Keep covered with a damp cloth to prevent phyllo sheets from drying out.
• Lay 1 sheet of phyllo over the buttered dish flush with the edge so that excess phyllo hangs over on only one side of the dish. Brush lightly with melted butter. Top with another sheet of phyllo at a slight angle to the first one. Continue in this manner, with up to 12 sheets, brushing each sheet with butter and working clockwise to lay each at a slight angle to the previous sheet.
• Spoon cheese and spinach mixture evenly into the phyllo-lined dish. Using the back of a spoon, make six indentations in the filling, then carefully place 1 egg yolk in each. Season each yolk with salt and pepper and drizzle with a bit of melted butter.
• Take the extra phyllo dough hanging over the edges of the dish and fold it over to the centre to cover the filling, 1 sheet of phyllo at a time, brushing each one with butter. Brush the top of the whole pie with butter.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the phyllo pastry is a dark golden brown, about 40 minutes. Remove and let cool slightly before slicing. Serve warm.

ITALIAN BRUNCH TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan. Unroll 1 tube of crescent dough and separate into triangles. Press onto bottom of prepared pan to form a crust, sealing seams well. Bake until set, 10-15 minutes., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add spinach and mushrooms; cook and stir until mushrooms are tender. Drain on several layers of paper towels, blotting well. In a large bowl, whisk 6 eggs, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning and pepper., Layer crust with half of each of the following: ham, salami, provolone cheese, red peppers and spinach mixture. Pour half of the egg mixture over top. Repeat layers; top with remaining egg mixture., On a work surface, unroll and separate remaining crescent dough into triangles. Press together to form a circle and seal seams; place over filling. Whisk remaining egg; brush over dough., Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer reads 160°, 1 to 1-1/4 hours, covering loosely with foil if needed to prevent overbrowning. Carefully loosen sides from pan with a knife; remove rim from pan. Let stand 20 minutes.

MUSHROOM, SPINACH AND CHEESE TORTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Saute onion and garlic in oil in large saucepan until onion is translucent. Add mushrooms and spinach and continue cooking until mushrooms have released their juices and spinach has wilted. Continue cooking until liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat.
• Beat eggs slightly in large bowl. Add ricotta and parmesan, sour cream, bread crumbs and parsley to eggs. Drain excess liquid from vegetables, then add to cheese mixture. Stir until well blended.
• Brush some of melted butter on large baking sheet. Count out 6 phyllo leaves and carefully lift them up and lay flat on buttered baking sheet.
• Spread filling over middle of leaves, leaving a 3 inch border all around. Brush edges with butter.
• On top of the filling, lay down 2 leaves of phyllo at a time, brushing top leaf with butter each time. After 4 pairs, fold corners of all phyllo leaves up over filling, and brush with butter.
• Lay down 2 more pairs of leaves, buttering top leaf of each pair. Tuck edges under torta, corners first, then sides. Sprinkle top with sesame or poppy seeds.
• Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 50 minutes or until filling is set and phyllo is crisp and golden. Allow to rest 10 minutes before slicing.

ITALIAN SPINACH TORTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Place oven rack at lowest position. Prepare pie crust according to package directions for TWO-CRUST PIE using 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom or 9-inch pie pan. Place 1 prepared pie crust in pan press in bottom and up sides of pan. Trim edges if necessary.In medium bowl, combine spinach, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic salt, pepper and egg yolk blend well. Spread evenly in pie crust-lined pan.To make lattice top, cut remaining crust into 3/4-inch-wide strips. Arrange strips in lattice design over spinach mixture. Trim and seal edges. In small bowl, combine egg white and water beat well. Gently brush over lattice. Bake at 400° F. on lowest oven rack for 45 to 50 minutes or until dark golden brown.* Cool 10 minutes remove sides of pan. Serve warm.*TIP: Cover torta with foil during last 5 to 10 minutes of baking if necessary to prevent excessive browning.Nutrition Per Serving: Calories 220 Protein 6g Carbohydrate 18g Fat 14g Sodium 480mgFrom "Pillsbury Best of the Bake-Off® Cookbook." Copyright 2004 General Mills. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.