Sicily Torta Rustica Food

PIZZA RUSTICA

Steps:

• Position the rack on the bottom of the oven, and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a heavy large frying pan over medium heat. Add the sausages and saute until golden brown, breaking the sausage into pieces, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer the mixture to a small bowl and set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of oil in the same frying pan over medium heat. Add the spinach and cook until the spinach wilts and the juices evaporate, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Squeeze the spinach to drain as much liquid as possible.
• Into a large bowl, add egg yolks and beat lightly. Stir in the ricotta, mozzarella, and 1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese. Add the sausage, the spinach and prosciutto to the mixture and stir to combine.
• Roll out larger piece of dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 17-inch round. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch springform pan. Trim the dough overhang to 1 inch. Spoon the ricotta mixture into the dough-lined pan. Roll out the remaining piece of dough into a 12-inch round. Place the dough over the filling. Pinch the edges of the doughs together to seal, then crimp the dough edges decoratively. Brush the beaten 1 large egg over the entire pastry top. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan over the top. Bake on the bottom shelf until the crust is golden brown, about 1 hour.
• Let stand 15 minutes. Release the pan sides and transfer the pizza to a platter. Cut into wedges and serve.
• Blend the flour, the butter, the shortening and salt in a food processor until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Blend in the eggs. With the machine running, add the water 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough forms. Gather the dough into a ball. Divide the dough into 2 pieces, with 1 piece twice as large as the second piece. Flatten the dough pieces into disks. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until the dough is firm enough to roll out, about 30 minutes.

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.

LORETTA PAGANINI'S TORTA RUSTICA

Steps:

• Make the spinach layer: In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and stir for one minute. Add spinach, basil, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until moisture evaporates from spinach and spinach begins to stick slightly to skillet, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl and cool completely.
• Make the egg layer: In a large bowl, whisk eggs, salt and pepper until well combined. In a medium skillet, preferably non-stick, heat one tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add half of the egg mixture and cook, stirring often until eggs are soft-set, about 1-1/2 minutes. Transfer to another bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining oil and eggs. Set aside to cool completely.
• Position a rack in the center of the oven and place a baking sheet on the rack. (The baking sheet is important as it helps set the bottom crust and catches any dripping butter from the cooking pastry.) Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Lightly butter the inside of a 9-inch round spring form pan. Tightly wrap bottom of pan with a double thickness of aluminum foil.
• Torte Rustic continued:.
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll out one sheet of puff pastry to 1/8-inch thickness. Carefully transfer pastry to prepared pan ? pressing dough against sides of pan and letting excess pastry hang over edges. Brush inside of dough lightly with some of the beaten egg white.
• Sprinkle dough with half of the Parmigiano Reggiano and Gruyere cheese. Layer with half of the smoked ham, then half of the peppers. Spread with half of the spinach mixture, then half of the beaten eggs. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
• Roll out remaining sheet of pastry to 1/8-inch thickness. Center the pastry on top of filling. Cut a small hole out of the center of the pastry to allow steam to escape. Press layers of dough together firmly around edges of spring form pan. With a sharp knife or scissors, trim away excess dough at pan?s edge, leaving a 1/2 inch wide border of dough. (If desired, reserve pastry trimmings and cut out decorations). Roll up dough into a thick rope and pinch and flute with fingers to seal. Brush top of dough lightly with some of the yolk glaze. If using, place pastry decorations on top and brush decorations lightly with glaze.
• Place spring form pan on preheated baking sheet in oven. Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 325°F and continue baking until golden brown, 50 minutes to 1 hour.
• Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. (The torte can be prepared up to 2 days ahead, cooled, covered tightly with foil and refrigerated). Remove sides of pan. Use a serrated knife to cut into wedges and serve at room temperature.

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.

RICOTTA TART: TORTA DI RICOTTA

Steps:

• For the pasta frolla: Combine sugar, butter, egg, milk, baking powder and salt in a large bowl and mix well. Fold in the flour but do not over mix; make sure that the mixture remains cool and does not become pasty. Shape into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes, or until firm.
• For the Ricotta Filling: Place the ricotta in a large bowl stir in the sugar, then the eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla being careful not to over mix.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut off 1/2 of the pasta frolla and reserve. Roll 1/2 of the dough into a 14-inch disc and line a 9-inch cake pan with it. Allow the dough to hang over the edge of the pan. Roll out the reserved dough into a 10-inch circle. Reserve. Pour the ricotta filling into the crust base. Lay the reserved 10-inch circle of dough on the top of the filling. Trim the excess so there is a 1/2 to 3/4-inch overhang. Take the flap of dough left on the edge of the ring and roll it on itself so that it rests completely within the pan.
• In a small bowl, beat together the egg with a pinch of salt and a few drops of water to make an egg wash. Brush the surface of the torta with the beaten egg mixture. Place the torta in the lower third of the oven and bake for about 45 minutes until the filling is set and the crust is golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool in the pan. Serve warm, or at room temperature.

SPINACH AND ANCHOVY PIE (TORTA TA L-ISPINACI U NCOVA)

Steps:

• PIE DOUGH.
• pile flour and salt on clean surface and make a well in centre.
• add yeast and sugar in tepid water & mix with fork.
• leave for few min and add into the well.
• using fork and circular movement, bring flour from inner edge of the well and mix into water.
• when dough comes together, knead with hands until you have smooth springy dough.
• flour top of dough and cover it with cling film and let it rest for 15min in room temperature.
• PIE FILLING.
• heat olive oil on a medium to low heat.
• when hot pour onions and cook until transparent (stir occasionaly).
• pour in basil and cook for 2 minute.
• add spinach and stir well.
• turn heat on low and cover pot.
• Stir occasionaly.
• when spinach softens, add anchovies including oil and stir well.
• finally add black olives, stir well and switch off heat.
• taste before adding salt
• (and pepper) since anchovies are salty.
• uncover pot and allow to cool before outting it on top of the dough.
• preheat oven at 350 deg F.
• Prepare a baking container and apply butter on every side then put some flour and cover all sides. discard excess flour.
• roll open dough, lay it on dish.
• pour filling.
• cover filling with dough.
• when done fork surface of pie and brush with egg.
• cook until dough is golden brown.
• serve cool or warm.

PASTA RUSTICA

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package instructions.
• Heat a large saute pan on high heat. when hot, add bacon, stirring often. When bacon is browned, remove from pan and save some of the fat in the pan.
• Coat the chicken lightly with flour and saute on medium heat in remaining bacon fat until cooked through, add onions and garlic, and cook stirring often for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add olive oil, salt and pepper to taste and bacon.
• Drain pasta, but do not rinse. The starch clinging to the pasta will help bind the sauce. Add to the above ingredients. Stir in parmesan and parsley.

SAUSAGE, ROASTED RED PEPPER, AND SPINACH TORTA RUSTICA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 8x8 inch baking dish. Place 8 baguette slices in bottom of dish; press 2 baguette slices onto each side.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in large pot over medium-high heat. Add spinach, toss until just wilted, about 3 minutes. Transfer spinach to strainer; cool. Squeeze spinach dry. Transfer to medium bowl.
• Heat same pot over medium-high heat. Add sausage, saute until cooked through, breaking up, about 7 minutes. Mix into spinach; mix in 1 cup cheese and peppers. Spread atop baguette slices in bottom of dish.
• Whisk eggs in medium bowl to blend. Whisk in last 4 ingredients. Pour over spinach mixture and stir lightly with fork to distribute evenly. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup cheese over top.
• Bake torta until puffed up and golden and center is set, about 55 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest 15 minutes before serving.

SICILY TORTA RUSTICA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 10-inch springform pan with nonstick vegetable cooking spray.
• Heat oil in medium-size nonstick skillet over medium heat.
• Add onion and garlic; sauté for 5 minutes. Add sausage slices; sauté until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Remove skillet from the heat.
• Combine ricotta cheese, eggs, provolone, prosciutto, Parmesan, salt and pepper in large bowl. Stir in the sausage mixture.
• Roll out both pie crusts on lightly floured surface with lightly floured rolling pin to two 14-inch rounds. Place one round in bottom of prepared pan. With fingers, lightly press crust into bottom and up sides of pan, without stretching dough.
• Spoon cheese mixture into pastry-lined pan. Place second crust on top of cheese; trim edges of pastry even with rim of pan. Brush pastry with beaten egg yolk.
• Bake on the bottom oven rack in 375 degree oven for 45 minutes. (If the top begins to brown too quickly, cover with a sheet of aluminum foil).
• Turn oven off; let the pie continue to cook in the oven for another 15 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

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.