Torta Rustica Food

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.

TORTA RUSTICA

Steps:

• To make the dough:Place all of the dough ingredients into the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment. Set on low speed until the wet ingredients incorporate into the dry. Check the dough's consistency about 7 minutes, adding additional water or flour to form a smooth ball of dough.Remove the dough and cut off about one-third. In separate olive oil coated bowls let both pieces rest, covered with plastic wrap. Make the filling while the dough rests.To make Filling I:In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the ricotta and Parmesan cheeses, egg, basil, and oregano. Stir to combine.To assemble: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9" springform pan or a deep (at least 2") 9" round cake pan.On a lightly floured surface, roll the larger portion of dough into a 15" circle.Carefully place the dough into the prepared pan; press it against the bottom and sides.Trim the overhanging dough to within 1" of the pan rim.Add 1 cup of the mozzarella over the bottom of the crust, then arrange half the prosciutto slices in an even layer.Spread with all of the ricotta cheese mixture, and then sprinkle with all of the spinach.Cover with the remaining prosciutto slices; press down gently to pack the layers.Add the red peppers in a single layer, and top with the remaining mozzarella. Press down again.Roll the remaining dough into a 9" circle.Using water moisten the edges of the bottom crust and place the top crust over the filling, pressing to seal the top and bottom crusts.Brush the top crust with beaten egg and cut several small vents for steam to escape.Bake the torta for 1 hour, or until the crust is a deep golden brown and pulls away from the sides of the pan.Cool it in the pan on a baking rack for at least 45 minutes. Remove the pan sides carefully then cool it completely.Serve the Torta Rustica at room temperature.The Torta Rustica can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

TORTA RUSTICA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Place thawed spinach in a small bowl. Using paper towels, press as much water as possible out of the spinach; set spinach aside. (Note: Really squeeze as much liquid out as possible to prevent Torta Rustica from being overly soggy!)
• Roll one batch of pie dough out into a 14" circle. Carefully press dough into bottom and sides of a 9" springform pan; set pan aside.
• Using a large skillet, add oil and place over medium heat. Once hot, add diced onion and minced garlic. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until onion just begins to soften (~4-5 minutes).
• Using a large bowl, combine cooked onions and garlic with the ricotta, feta, Parmesan, 1 large egg, parsley, basil, oregano, salt and pepper; mix until well combined.
• Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella into bottom of pan. Next, layer half of the sliced salami on top of mozzarella. Spread ricotta mixture evenly on top. Next, sprinkle spinach on top of ricotta. Finally, layer rest of the sliced salami and then the roasted red peppers on top. Finish by sprinkling remaining 1 cup of mozzarella on top.
• Roll remaining batch of pie dough into a 9" circle. Place on top of the filling. In a small bowl, whisk the remaining egg until lightly beaten. Brush edges of dough with beaten egg and pinch together to seal. Brush top of the pie with the remaining beaten egg. Cut 4 small vents into the top of the pie dough to allow steam to escape.
• Bake at 375°F for 60 minutes, or until crust is dark golden brown in color. Let pie cool in pan for at least 45 minutes before removing sides of pan.
• Let pie cool completely before slicing. Cut into wedges and serve at room temperature.

PARMESAN SPINACH CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Pulse spinach in three batches in a food processor until finely chopped. Transfer to a medium bowl. Add ricotta (or cottage cheese), Parmesan, eggs, garlic, salt and pepper; stir to combine.
• Coat 8 cups of the muffin pan with cooking spray. Divide the spinach mixture among the 8 cups (they will be very full).
• Bake the spinach cakes until set, about 20 minutes. Let stand in the pan for 5 minutes. Loosen the edges with a knife and turn out onto a clean cutting board or large plate. Serve warm, sprinkled with more Parmesan, if desired.

TORTA RUSTICA

Steps:

• Place drained artichoke hearts and roasted red sweet peppers on paper towels; set aside to drain while preparing filling.
• For filling, in a large skillet heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir about 3 minutes or until tender. Stir in garlic; cook about 1 minute or until fragrant. Add spinach; cook for 2 to 3 minutes more or until liquid is evaporated. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Transfer to a colander. When spinach is cool enough to handle, use your hands to squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Transfer spinach mixture to a medium bowl. Stir in ricotta, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, one of the eggs, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and the black pepper. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 375ºF. Prepare Pastry Dough for Double Crust Pie. Divide pastry dough into two balls, one about one-fourth larger than the other. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the larger dough ball into a circle 14 to 15 inches in diameter. Carefully ease dough circle into a 9-inch springform pan. If pastry tears, pat dough against bottom and up the sides of the pan. Roll out the remaining dough ball to a circle 10 inches in diameter; transfer this dough circle to a large plate and refrigerate while layering the torta.
• Spread Classic Pesto Sauce over bottom crust in pan. Spread ricotta mixture over pesto. In a small bowl combine fontina cheese, the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, and the flour. Sprinkle half of the fontina mixture over ricotta mixture. Top with layers of salami, roasted peppers, and artichoke hearts. Sprinkle the remaining fontina mixture over artichokes. Fold the edges of the bottom crust onto top of the final fontina layer. Cover torta with the 10-inch dough circle, pressing edges into the pan to seal with the bottom crust.
• In a small bowl combine the remaining one egg and the water. Brush over top crust. Cut decorative steam holes in center of the top crust.
• Bake on middle rack of oven for 1 hour to 1 hour, 15 minutes or until crust is deep golden brown; place a large baking sheet on the rack under the pan to catch any drippings. Cool in pan on wire rack for 2 hours. Cut into 12 wedges. Serve warm or at room temperature. Pastry for a Double-Crust Pie
• In a large bowl combine flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until pieces are pea size. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon cold water over part of the flour mixture; toss with a fork. Push moistened dough to side of bowl. Repeat with an additional 7 to 9 tablespoons cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until all of the flour mixture is moistened. Gather mixture into a ball, kneading gently until it holds together. Divide dough in half. Shape each portion into a ball. On a lightly floured surface use your hands to slightly flatten one portion of dough. Roll dough from center to edge into a 12-inch circle.
• Wrap pastry circle around rolling pin; unroll into a 9-inch pie plate; ease pastry into pie plate without stretching it. Transfer filling to pastry-lined pie plate. Trim pastry as directed in individual recipe. Roll the remaining dough into a 12-inch circle. Use the remaining pastry circle as directed in individual recipe. Bake as directed in individual recipe.

SAUSAGE, ROASTED RED PEPPER, AND SPINACH TORTA RUSTICA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 8x8x2-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. Sauté 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. Bake torta until puffed and golden and center is set, about 55 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest 15 minutes before serving.