Creamy Spinach Torta In A Potato Crust Recipes

CREAMY SPINACH TORTA IN A POTATO CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Peel the potatoes. Slice two of them crosswise into rounds about 1/8-inch thick. Slice the third potato lengthwise into rounds about 1/8-inch thick. Spray a large baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray. Place the potatoes in a single layer on the prepared pan and spray with additional cooking spray. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden and crispy, turning the slices once during baking time. While the potatoes are baking, mix the spinach with the cream cheese, eggs, parsley, dill, feta cheese and lemon peel. Season with black pepper to taste.
• Remove the potatoes from oven and place the round slices, overlapping them, on the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Place the long slices along the sides. Spoon the spinach mixture into the pan.
• Bake the torta for 40 minutes or until the top feels firm and set. Remove the pan from the oven. Release the spring and carefully remove the side of the pan. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

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.