Mediterranean Torta Recipes

SPANISH OLIVE OIL TORTAS ~ TORTAS DE ACEITE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C).
• In a large bowl, stir together 1 1/2 cups flour (180 g), salt, and fennel seeds.
• Pour the oil into a measuring cup or another bowl containing the water, stir in the sugar and yeast, and mix well. Let rest for a few minutes until it becomes frothy.
• Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and slowly pour in the yeast mixture, using a fork to gradually mix in the flour. When everything starts to come together, use your hands to mix it into a smooth dough. If the dough is sticky as heck, add some or all of the remaining 1 cup flour, a little at a time, until a smooth dough forms. It's quite possible you'll need to add at least 1/2 cup and as much as the full 1 cup.
• Lightly oil 2 large baking sheets and then dust them with confectioners' sugar. Lightly flour a clean work surface and a rolling pin with all-purpose flour.
• Divide your dough into 12 equal-size pieces and shape each one into a ball. Roll out each ball until it's almost translucent and somewhere around 4 inches in diameter.☞TESTER TIP: It's not a specific thickness, such as 1/16 or 1/8 inch, that you want to look for with the dough. Rather, it's when the dough becomes so thin as to be almost transparent. That's when you know it's at the proper place. And don't worry about attaining a perfect circular shape. These are intended to be rustic.
• Place each torta on a baking sheet and lightly brush with some beaten egg white. Lightly dust the dough first with confectioners' sugar and then a little raw sugar.
• Bake for 5 to 12 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Watch the tortas closely as they can burn in seconds.
• Immediately transfer the tortas to wire racks to cool and crisp. Devour warm or at room temperature. The tortas will crumble into flaky loveliness as you take a bite, and will then quickly dissolve into sweet nothingness within seconds. So lovely.

EASY SPANISH TORTILLA RECIPE

Steps:

• In a big bowl, whisk together the eggs, salt, and paprika. Set aside for now.
• Prepare a 10-inch oven-proof nonstick skillet or a well-seasoned cast iron skillet. Heat the olive oil in the skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking.
• Add the potatoes, onions, and scallions to the oil (at first, they won't all seem to fit, but with a little stirring, they'll compress as they cook). Lower the heat immediately to medium-low and watch to control the heat and make sure it continues to gently bubble. Cook for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are very tender.
• Use a heat-safe strainer over a heat-safe bowl to drain the olive oil (reserve the oil aside for now).
• Season the potatoes well with kosher salt and add them to the egg mixture in the bowl.
• Turn the oven broiler on.
• In the skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of the reserved olive oil over medium heat. Pour in the egg and potato mixture, and gently press to even out the top. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook until you see the edges of the omelette begin to set and firm up then put the pan under the broiler to finish cooking. Broil for about 5 minutes, watching carefully until the eggs are cooked through and the top of the omelette browns slighlty (see notes if you prefer to finish cooking on stovetop).
• Allow the tortilla a few minutes before serving.
• To serve, invert the tortilla onto a large serving platter (you may need to loosen the edges using a spatulla). Cut into 6 slices and serve.

TORTA RUSTICA

Steps:

• Mix flour, cornmeal, and salt in a bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Beat 2 eggs with 3 tablespoons cold water; stir into flour mixture until dough holds together. Add another tablespoon water if needed. Shape 2/3 of the dough into flattened round; repeat with remaining 1/3. Wrap. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes, or until firm enough to roll.
• In another bowl, combine ricotta cheese, crumbled feta, Parmesan cheese, 1 egg, parsley, basil, and oregano until well blended.
• Have an 8 or 9 inch springform pan ready. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the larger portion of dough into a 15 inch diameter circle. Carefully place in ungreased pan; press lightly against bottom and sides. Trim overhanging dough to 1 inch from pan rim.
• Scatter half of the mozzarella over the bottom of the crust. Next arrange half the ham slices in an even layer. Spread with ricotta cheese mixture, then sprinkle with spinach. Cover with the remaining ham slices. Press down gently to pack layers. Add red peppers in a single layer, and top with the remaining mozzarella. Press down again.
• Roll out remaining dough to 8 or 9 inch circle. Place over filling to cover. Moisten edges, and seal crusts together. Crimp or flute edges. Crust should not extend above pan rim. Beat remaining egg, and brush over the crust. Cut several small vents in top crust for steam to escape.
• Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 1 hour, or until crust is deep golden brown and pulls away from sides. Cool in pan on wire rack 45 minutes. Remove pan sides; cool completely. Cut into 12 wedges. Serve at room temperature.

MEDITERRANEAN TORTE

Steps:

• 1. Roll out each bread loaf, on lightly floured surface, into a 12-inch circle. Fit one dough into a 9-inch springform pan, allowing edges to overhang.
• 2. Drain all the liquid out of the canned ingredients and get out excess moisture in spinach and red pepper strips, with paper towels. Set aside.
• 3. Saute the mushrooms using a nonstick skillet for 5-8 minutes. Drain.
• 4. Layer in this order: 1/2 Salami All Mushrooms All Olives 1/2 Cheese 1/2 Ham All Spinach All Peppers 1/2 Salami 1/2 Ham All Artichokes 1/2 Cheese
• 5. Brush egg mixture on overhanging pastry edges. Top the torte with remaining round shaped bread dough. Fold overhanging edges over top pastry, crimping as necessary to seal. Brush top with remaining egg mixture.
• 6. Bake at 350 degrees, on bottom oven rack, for 30 minutes. Cover the top with aluminum foil and bake additional 15-20 more minutes.
• 7. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Remove sides of pan. Cut into wedges. Serve

BREAKFAST TORTA WITH JAM (ITALY)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 F.
• Line a 9 inch round cake pan with parchment paper.
• In a mixing bowl, add your flour, sugar and a pinch of salt.
• Create a hole in the center of the flour mixture and crack your eggs into the open space.
• Rinse a single lemon (Thea buys Organic!) and zest over the flour mixture.
• Over the stove, heat butter until melted. Once the butter has melted, mix into your dough.
• Work the dough with your hands to mix all the ingredients. "If the pastry is too soft - add flour. If it's too hard - add another egg."
• Cover the bottom of the cake pan with parchment paper and then half the dough, saving the other half of the dough for the top of the pastry. "I use the same pastry for apple pie... obviously you have to put apples."
• Cover the bottom of the pastry with the desired amount of jam. Cover with crumbles of the leftover dough.
• Bake for 25 minutes - the pastry will begin to brown and "it must have a smell" (a delicious smell at that).
• Let the pastry cool and harden.
• Enjoy!

TORTA RUSTICA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Mound flour on a table and make a well in the center. Pour the dissolved yeast, oil, and salt into the center of the well. Gently mix in flour with a fork. Dough should be smooth and pliable. Add warm water if dough is too dry. Roll the dough into a ball and put in an oiled bowl. Cover with a cloth and put in a warm place for 1 hour.
• Divide the dough into 2 pieces and roll out 1 of the dough balls into a round shape, about 12 inches in diameter and 1/4-inch thick. Lay in a greased 12-inch tart pan with a removable bottom.
• Spread the tomatoes, mozzarella, ham, and pecorino on the dough. Sprinkle with oregano, salt and pepper. Roll out the other ball and lay it on top, folding the top and bottom layers of dough together around the edges. Cut 3 small holes in top of the pie for steam to escape. Bake in the oven until the crust is brown and the cheese is melted, about 20 minutes.

MEDITERRANEAN SLICES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Unroll the pastry and cut into 4 rectangles. Take a sharp knife and score a 1cm edge inside each rectangle, taking care that you don't cut all the way through the pastry. Place on a baking sheet.
• Spread 1 tbsp pesto onto each slice, staying inside the border, then pile up the peppers and artichokes. Cook in the oven for 15 mins until the pastry is starting to brown.
• Tear the mozzarella ball into small pieces, then scatter it (or use cheddar, if you prefer) over the veg. Return to the oven for 5-7 mins until the pastry is crisp and the cheese has melted. Serve with a green salad.

TORTA RUSTICA WITH RICOTTA AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Make the dough: In a food processor, pulse together the flour, sugar and salt. Add butter and pulse until the mixture forms lima bean-size pieces. Alternatively, mix together flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl, then add butter, working the pieces into the flour with your hands, squeezing and pinching them until the mixture looks like oatmeal.
• Add egg, egg white and lemon zest, and pulse after each addition. If working by hand, whisk together egg, egg white and lemon zest in a separate bowl, then mix into the butter mixture. Slowly add iced wine, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse or mix by hand until the dough just comes together. You may not need all the liquid. The dough should be moist, but not wet.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and gather and press it into a ball. Divide into 2 portions, one slightly larger than the other, and shape into disks. Wrap the disks tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 5 days.
• When ready to bake, heat oven to 375 degrees.
• Make the filling: If your ricotta seems watery, put it in a sieve and let it drain while you cook the spinach.
• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic and a large pinch of salt, and continue to cook until spinach is very dry, about 2 minutes longer. Transfer to a large bowl to cool. If any liquid accumulates as the spinach sits, pour it out of the bowl (you don't want it to water down the ricotta).
• In a food processor, purée drained ricotta and eggs until just combined and smooth. Add to the bowl with the spinach and fold in mozzarella, pecorino, ham (if using), parsley, black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt, red-pepper flakes and nutmeg. Set aside when rolling out dough (or chill for up to 4 hours).
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the larger pastry dough disk to a 14-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. Fit dough into a 9-inch springform pan, pressing the dough up the sides of the pan. Scrape filling into crust and spread evenly. Roll out second pastry disk to a 12-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. Cut 1/2-inch-wide strips and weave into a lattice on top of the filling. Seal, trim and crimp the edges. Brush the top of the torta with the egg wash.
• Place torta on sheet pan and bake until crust is crisp and brown, and filling is firm, 50 to 60 minutes. Cool on a rack for at least 45 minutes before serving.

MEDITERRANEAN LAYERED TORTE

Steps:

• Place cream cheese and feta cheese in food processor. Cover and process until blended. Divide into thirds (about 1 cup each).
• Line 5-cup mold or loaf pan, 8 1/2x4 1/2x2 1/2 inches, with plastic wrap. Spoon one-third of the cheese mixture in bottom of mold; smooth top with spatula. Spoon tomatoes evenly over cheese layer. Spoon hummus evenly over tomatoes. Sprinkle with cucumber.
• Spoon one-third of the cheese mixture over cucumber; smooth top with spatula. Spoon olives evenly over cheese layer. Spoon remaining cheese mixture over olives; smooth top with spatula. Strike filled mold on counter to pack down. Cover and refrigerate at least 24 hours but no longer than 48 hours.
• When ready to serve, turn mold upside down onto serving platter. Remove plastic wrap. Serve torte with pita wedges.

MEDITERRANEAN TORTA

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350. Coat 8 or 9 inch springform pan with vegetable cooking spray. Place 1 tortilla in bottom of pan. Spread tortilla with 3 tablespoons spinach. Top with about 2 tablespoons of each: Feta, Roasted peppers, tomato, French Fried Onion rings and 2 teaspoons of olives.
• 2. Repeat to make 3 more layers. Place remaining tortilla on top; coat with vegetable cooking spray. Bake 25 minutes or until heated through.
• 3. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and remaining onions; bake 5 minutes or until onions are golden. Cut into wedges to serve.
• Makes 8 appetizers or 4 main dish servings.

MEDITERRANEAN LAYERED TORTE

Steps:

• Place cream cheese and feta cheese in food processor; cover and process until blended. Divide into thirds (about 1 cup each).
• Line a 5 cup mold or a 8-1/2 x 4-1/2 x 2-1/2 loaf pan with plastic wrap. Spoon 1/3 of the cream cheese mixture in bottom of mold. Smooth top with spatula. Spread tomatoes over cheese layer. Spoon hummus over tomatoes; then sprinkle cucumbers over hummus.
• Spoon another cup of cheese mixture over cucumbers; smooth out. Spoon olives evenly over cheese layer. Spoon remaining cheese mixture over the olives; smooth out. Bang filled mold on counter to pack down the torte.
• Cover and refrigerate at least 24 hours, but no more than 48 hours.
• When ready to serve, turn mold upside down on serving platter. Remove plastic wrap and serve torte with your choice of breads, or crackers.