Spinach And Cheese 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.

SPINACH AND CHEESE TORTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350.
• Spray a 9-in round cake pan with cooking spray.
• Put the spinach in a large microwavable bowl; cover with plastic wrap and prick several holes in the plastic.
• Microwave on high until the spinach starts to wilt, about 2 minutes.
• Let stand until the spinach wilts completely, about 5 minutes.
• Uncover and let cool.
• Squeeze the spinach to remove the excess liquid; chop coarsely.
• Meanwhile, put the eggs, egg white, cheese, milk, cilantro or parsley (if using), salt, and ground pepper in a bowl, beating with a whisk to combine.
• To assemble the torta, place 1 tortilla in the bottom of the pan. Layer with half the spinach, 1 tortilla, then the roasted peppers.
• Top with 1 tortilla and the remaining spinach and tortilla. Pour the egg mixture over the top.
• Bake about 20 minutes or until firm.
• Remove the torta from the oven and increase the heat to broil.
• Broil 5 inches from heat until just browned on the top, about 1 minute.
• Let stand 5 minutes before inverting the torta on a cutting board and slicing into 4 wedges.

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.

SAUSAGE WITH SPINACH AND CHEESE TORTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Grease or spray 9-inch springform pan. In medium bowl, mash beans with potato masher until almost smooth. Stir in Bisquick mix and dressing. Spread mixture in bottom and up sides of springform pan.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set. Meanwhile, in 10-inch skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat 7 to 9 minutes or until no longer pink; drain. Remove from heat, and stir in spinach, tomatoes, oregano and 1 cup of the cheese; mix well. Spoon mixture over prebaked crust.
• In medium bowl, beat eggs, milk and cream with whisk until light. Pour over sausage mixture.
• Bake 30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese. Bake 20 to 25 minutes longer or until golden brown, center is firm, and knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes. Loosen edge of torta from side of pan; remove side of pan. Cut into 6 wedges.

SPINACH TORTA

Steps:

• 1. Thaw, drain and squeeze the spinach well to remove any liquid. Place in a large bowl.
• 2. Saute onions in a large skillet in olive oil over medium heat until soft and translucent - approximately 15 minutes.
• 3. Add the parmesan cheese, softened cream cheese, eggs, bread crumbs and salt and pepper to the spinach. Mix well.
• 4. Add the spinach mixture to the onions and mix well.
• 5. Roll out one of the pie crusts and place into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish. Fill with the spinach mixture.
• 6. Roll out the second pie crust and place on top of casserole. Prick the top pie crust with a fork and brush with a little oil.
• 7. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Let cool around 10 minutes or so before cutting into squares. Can serve at room temperature.

TORTA RUSTICA (SPINACH , TOMATO & CHEESE QUICHE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425. You can use the piecrust pan provided, or place one crust in a 9-inh pie pan for better presentation. Leave the other piecrust out to thaw.
• Lightly beat 1 egg; brush half the egg over bottom of crust and set the rest aside to use later on the top of the crust.
• In a large bowl, combine remaining eggs, ricotta, Asiago, and Parmesan cheese and basix; mix until well blended.
• Stir in spinach, bread crumbs and tomatoes.
• Scrape mixture into prepared piecrust; smooth top to make and even layer.
• Place second piecrust over filling.
• Brush remaining egg over the top.
• Flute edge and seal.
• Bake pie 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375; bake 20 minutes longer, or until golden brown.
• Cool on a wire rack at least 30 minutes before serving.

SPINACH-RICE TORTA SQUARES

Steps:

• Position rack in the center of the oven; preheat to 325°; lightly oil a 13x9 inch baking dish; sprinkle with bread crumbs.
• Tilt dish to coat with the crumbs, and tap out the excess.
• Bring a medium saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat; add in the rice and decrease heat to medium.
• Cook, uncovered, until the rice is tender (about 16 minutes); drain well and set aside.
• Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat; add in the onions.
• Stir/saute 6 minutes or until the onions are tender.
• Add in the garlic; stir until it gives off its aroma, about 1 minute.
• Add in the spinach; cook, stirring often, just to evaporate any remaining liquid, about 3 minutes; set mixture aside.
• In a big bowl, whisk the eggs, basil, rosemary, salt, and pepper together; add in the rice, spinach/onion mixture, 1 cup of parmesan cheese, and the cheddar cheese; mix well.
• Spread mixture in the baking dish; sprinkle remaining parmesan on top.
• Bake until the torta feels firm when pressed in the center, about 45 minutes.
• Cool completely in the dish; cut the torta horizontally into 6 equal strips, then vertically into 9 strips to make 54 pieces.
• Arrange on a serving platter; serve at room temperature.