Vegetarian Torta Recipes

LAYERED VEGETABLE TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put a grill pan over medium-high heat, or prepare a grill; the heat should be medium-high, and the rack about 4 inches from flame. Brush eggplant, zucchini and mushrooms lightly with half the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; if roasting, grease 2 baking sheets with oil. Roast or grill vegetables on both sides until soft.
• Coat bottom and sides of 8-inch springform pan with oil. Layer a third of the eggplant slices into bottom of the pan, then layer in half the zucchini, mushrooms, tomato, garlic and basil, sprinkling each layer with a bit of salt and pepper. Repeat layers until all vegetable are used. Press the top with a spatula or spoon to make the torte as compact as possible. Sprinkle top with Parmesan and bread crumbs, and drizzle with about 1 tablespoon oil.
• Bake torte in oven until hot throughout and browned on top, about 30 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before removing outer ring of pan, then let cool for another 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.

VEGETABLE TORTES

Steps:

• Cook potatoes:
• Cover potatoes with cold salted water by 1 inch, then simmer until just tender, about 20 minutes.
• Prepare mushrooms as potatoes cook:
• Finely chop mushrooms with shallots and thyme in 2 batches in a food processor. Sauté half of mixture in 2 tablespoons butter with salt and pepper to taste in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until liquid mushrooms give off is evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add 1/4 cup wine and simmer, stirring, until wine is evaporated, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool, then cook remaining mushroom mixture in same manner. Season as needed.
• Make potato filling:
• Drain potatoes in a colander and, when cool enough to handle, peel. Force warm potatoes through food mill into a large bowl. Stir in hot milk, garlic, scallions, remaining 4 tablespoons butter, peas (do not crush), and salt and pepper to taste. Cool to room temperature.
• Broil eggplants:
• Preheat broiler.
• Cut 2 thin lengthwise slices from opposite sides of each eggplant and discard. Cut eggplants lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices, then brush both sides with oil and season with salt and pepper. Arrange some eggplant slices in 1 layer on rack of a broiler pan and broil in batches 2 to 3 inches from heat, turning once, until just tender and golden brown on both sides, about 5 minutes total. Cool cooked eggplant on broiler rack 5 minutes, then transfer to a plate. Broil remainder in same manner.
• Roast peppers:
• Lay bell peppers on their sides on racks of gas burners and turn flames on high. (Or put peppers on rack of broiler pan about 2 inches from heat.) Roast peppers, turning with tongs, until skins are blackened, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer peppers to a large bowl and let stand, covered, 15 minutes. Peel peppers, discarding skins. Slit peppers lengthwise and open them flat, discarding seeds and ribs. Pat peppers dry.
• Make pastry shells:
• Oil springform pans. Roll out 1 sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a 16- by 10 1/2-inch rectangle. Trim edges and halve pastry lengthwise. Line half of side of 1 pan with 1 pastry half, leaving a 1 1/2-inch overhang at top and 1 inch of bottom edge on bottom of pan. Gently press pastry into bottom of pan. Repeat with remaining half sheet of dough so that side of pan is completely lined. Gently press together edges of pastry where they meet. Roll out another pastry sheet into a 14-inch square and cut into a 10-inch round using bottom of springform pan as a guide. (Reserve pastry scraps for another use.) Put round in bottom of pan and press edges to seal. Chill pastry-lined pan while repeating procedure with remaining pan and 2 more pastry sheets.
• Assemble tortes:
• Sprinkle bottoms of pastry shells evenly with bread crumbs. Divide filling ingredients between pastry shells in following manner, seasoning each layer with salt and pressing each layer firmly and evenly into pans: potato mixture, 1 cup cheese (1/2 cup each), eggplant, mushroom mixture (press down firmly on mushrooms with paper towels to remove excess moisture and repeat process until towels are almost dry), roasted peppers, and remaining cup cheese.
• Roll out remaining pastry sheet on lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a 16- by 12-inch rectangle, then cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide strips with a pizza wheel or a sharp knife. Brush pastry overhang with egg and arrange half of strips in a lattice pattern on top of filling in each torte. Trim strips at edge of pan. Gently press ends of strips into pastry on sides of pans, then roll overhang into inside edge of pan. Brush lattice and rolled edges with egg. Chill tortes 45 minutes.
• Bake tortes:
• Position oven rack in bottom third of oven and cover with a large sheet of foil. Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Bake tortes on foil in oven, rotating pans halfway through baking, until well browned, 45 to 50 minutes (if tortes get too brown, tent edges with foil). Transfer tortes in pans to a rack. Run a sharp knife around inside edges of pans and carefully remove sides of pans. Cool tortes at least 1 hour (to serve warm) and up to 3 hours (to serve at room temperature).

VEGETARIAN TORTA

Steps:

• Cut the bolillo roll in half. Toast the roll in the toaster or toaster oven, or grill with a small amount of butter or oil spray until crisp.
• Spread 1TBSP of Vegenaise on each side of the torta roll.
• Assemble the torta with the vegetables sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with Sriracha.
• Enjoy!

EASY VEGAN CHOCOLATE TORTE [NO BAKE]

Steps:

• Line the bottom of a loose-bottomed 20 cm / 8 inch flan tin with non-stick baking paper.
• Whizz the biscuits in a food processor until they resemble sand (alternatively place them in a sealed bag and bash with a rolling pin). Transfer to a mixing bowl.
• Gently melt the vegetable spread/vegan butter in a saucepan. Pour into the mixing bowl with the biscuit crumbs and stir through until thoroughly combined. Transfer to the tin and press down firmly using the back of a metal spoon. Place in the fridge while you prepare the chocolate.
• Heat the cream in a medium size saucepan. When it starts to boil, remove from the heat. Stir in the vanilla extract and the chocolate. Continue stirring until the chocolate has fully melted. Taste test and add a touch more extract or some liquid sweetener, if needed.
• Pour the chocolate filling over the biscuit base and tap the tin on the worktop to remove any air bubbles. Refrigerate until solid (about 1½ hours).
• I like to decorate the torte with a sprinkling of Lotus biscuit crumbs round the edge and some cherry or raspberry compote on the side.
• The torte will keep for 5 days in the fridge. It is also freezes well.

VEGETARIAN TORTA MEXICANA

Steps:

• Fry potato slices in a little oil until golden brown.
• Cut the bolillos in half horizontally, and remove enough crumb to create a hollow.
• Toast both bolillio halves in a toaster oven or under a broiler.
• Coat both sides with mayonnaise.
• Spread refried beans over the bottom half only and sprinkle with grated cheese.
• Place bottom halves under the broiler just long enough to melt the cheese.
• After broiling, top the beans with the potato slices, chili strips, avocado and cabbage.
• Drizzle with crema, and a squeeze of lime juice.
• Cover with the top half of the roll.
• Eat with both hands and have plenty of napkins ready.

VEGETARIAN TORTA

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Brush Bolillo with oil. Broil until toasted. Rub with cut side of garlic. Spread mayonnaise over. Spread beans over one half of Bolillo. Sprinkle with cheese. Top with roasted pepper strips, olives and avocado. Arrange lettuce and tomatoes over. Press Bolillo over and serve.