Layered Cheese Torta Recipes

SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND PESTO TORTA

Steps:

• Finely chop garlic in processor. Add basil, 1/4 cup pine nuts, oil and lemon juice. Process until well blended. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Using on/off turns, process just until blended. Transfer pesto to medium bowl.
• Coarsely chop tomatoes in processor. Add tomato paste and process until mixture is almost smooth. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and blend well.
• Using electric mixer, beat 2 cups cream cheese and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Season with salt and pepper.
• Spray 6-cup soufflé dish with nonstick spray. Line with plastic wrap, extending plastic over sides. Spread 3/4 cup cream cheese-butter mixture evenly over bottom of prepared dish. Top with half of tomato mixture, then 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, then half of pesto mixture. Repeat layering with 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, remaining tomato mixture, 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture and remaining pesto. Top with remaining cream cheese-butter mixture. Cover and chill overnight. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Invert torta onto platter. Peel off plastic. Garnish with basil sprigs and toasted pine nuts. Serve with baguette slices.

BASIL AND TOMATO LAYERED CHEESE TORTA

Steps:

• In a mixer or with wooden spoon, blend softened cheeses until smooth.
• Line a 7-inch loaf pan with enough dampened cheese cloth to hang over each side of the pan.
• With moist spatula, spread 1/3 cheese mixture in pan until evenly covered. Top with basil pesto, careful not to blend with cheese.
• Top with 1/3 cheese mixture by dropping small spoonfuls over previous layer and carefully spreading.
• Then spread the sun-dried tomato pesto and top with the remaining 1/3 of cheese mixture until evenly covered.
• Fold cheese cloth over top of cheese.
• Wrap in foil and refrigerate overnight.
• To serve, remove foil and cheese cloth carefully and invert onto serving platter.
• Top with pine nuts and fresh basil sprig.
• Serve at room temperature with plain crackers and toasted baguette slices.

ELEGANT CHEESE TORTE

Steps:

• In a bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Remove 3-1/2 cups to a small bowl; stir in pepper and set aside. Fold olives into the remaining cream cheese mixture. Spread evenly over the bottom of a 9-in. springform pan; set aside., In another large bowl, beat cheddar cheese, cider and paprika on low speed for 1 minute. Beat on high until almost smooth. Spread half over olive layer. Top with peppered cheese mixture. Top with remaining cheddar mixture. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate for 6 hours or until firm., Place on serving plate and remove sides of pan. Press pecans into top; garnish with additional olives or grapes if desired. Serve with crackers.

PROVOLONE AND PESTO CHEESE TORTE

Steps:

• Line an 8-inch-square pan with plastic wrap, extending the ends of the wrap over the edges of the pan.
• Line the pan with the provolone cheese (reserve a few slices for another layer of the torte), overlapping the slices a bit and pressing the edges together slightly. The cheese should extend over the edges of the pan enough that it can help encase the finished torte layers.
• Using a food processor, mix together the cram cheese, butter and garlic. Spread the ingredients in layers in the following order: one-third of the mixture, one-half of the pesto, a layer of provolone, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, one-third of the mixture, the remaining pesto, and the remaining mixture.
• Fold the sides of the cheese over the mixture to encase it, using another slice in the middle, if needed. Fold the edges of plastic wrap over the finished cheese torte, covering tightly. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
• To serve, invert the mold onto a cutting board, remove the plastic wrap and cut the torte diagonally into halves or fourths. Serve with crackers or baguette slices.
• Red and green grapes make a good accompaniment.

PESTO AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO TORTE

Steps:

• In food processor, place cream cheese, Parmesan cheese and garlic. Cover and process until blended. Divide into thirds (about 1 cup each).
• Line 5-cup mold or 8x4-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap. Spoon one-third of the cheese mixture in bottom of mold; smooth top with spatula. Spoon pesto evenly over cheese layer. Spoon one-third of the cheese mixture over pesto layer; smooth top with spatula. Spoon tomatoes evenly over second cheese layer. Spoon remaining cheese mixture over tomatoes. Strike filled mold on counter to pack down. Cover and refrigerate at least 24 hours.
• When ready to serve, turn mold upside down onto serving platter and remove plastic wrap. Serve torte with baguette slices.

LAYERED TORTE APPETIZER

Steps:

• Cream the cream cheese and salad dressing mix together.
• In separate bowl, stir together artichokes, peppers, salt and black pepper, garlic, and parsley.
• In a 3-cup bowl lined with plastic wrap, alternate layers of cheese and vegetables, beginning and ending with cheese layer.
• Invert onto plate; remove plastic wrap.
• You may garnish the top with additional parsley or with sliced black olives, if desired.
• Serve with crackers or fresh veggie dippers.

LAYERED CHEESE TORTA

Steps:

• Combine the first 4 ingredients in a bowl. Beat at medium speed with mixer until blended; stir in pecans.
• Line a lightly greased 4-cup fluted mold or a 7 3/8 x 3 5/8-inch loaf pans with plastic wrap, allowing edges to extend over the sides of pan.
• Spread 1/3 of blue cheese mixture into mold and chill 1 hour.
• Combine remaining 3 ounce package of cream cheese and milk, beating well. Add cheddar cheese and next 3 ingredients, mixing well. Spread over chilled blue cheese mixture in mold. Top with remaining 2/3 of blue cheese mixture, spreading.
• Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 8 hours or up to 3 days.
• Unmold onto a serving plate; remove plastic wrap and garnish.
• Serve with ginger snaps or assorted crackers.