Layered Vegetable Cake Recipes

VEGGIE CAKES

Steps:

• Grate zucchini, sprinkle with 1 tsp salt and set in a fine mesh strainer. Place a bowl or plate on top of the zucchini and weigh it down. I stacked 3 cans on diced tomatoes on top and that did the trick.
• Let it sit for AT LEAST 30 minutes, up to 1 hour. After it has drained, wrap it in a clean kitchen towel or a piece of cheesecloth and SQUEEZE! Even more water will come out, we want it as dry as possible!
• Set the drained zucchini aside.
• In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, pepper, granulated garlic or Cajun seasoning, if using, breadcrumb and cheese together. Add all the vegetables and toss to combine, making sure to break up the zucchini and coat everything with flour mixture.
• Crack eggs into a small bowl, give a little whisk and pour over veggie mixture. Mix to THOROUGHLY combine.
• Heat a sauté pan (skillet) over medium-high heat, add a drizzle of oil (a teaspoon or two) and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan.
• Using a scoop (or a large spoon), drop mixture into the hot pan and flatten out with your fingers to form a patty.
• Cook for 4 - 5 minutes on each side, turning down the heat if they begin to brown too quickly.
• Remove from pan to a cooling rack set inside of a sheet pan, or a paper towel lined baking sheet.
• Repeat until mixture is gone!

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.

LAYERED VEGETABLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F & lightly butter a deep cake pan 8 inches in diameter, then line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl mix together the breadcrumbs, cheese, herbs & garlic, then season to taste with salt & pepper, before sprinkling half of this crumb mixture over the bottom of the prepared pan.
• Slice all vegetables as thinly as possible, which is best done with a mandoline or in a food processor with a thin cutting disc.
• The vegetables are to be layered in the prepared pan ~ lightly seasoning with the crumb mixture every couple of layers ~ starting with half of the potatoes, then half of the parsnips, then half of the turnip, then half of the sweet potato & finally half of the rutabaga.
• At this point sprinkle a little more than half of the remaining breadcrumb mixture over everything, then start the entire process again, finally topping the last layer with the remaining crumb mixture.
• Whisk together the eggs, vegetable stock & cream then season lightly.
• Pour this mixture evenly over the layered vegetables & cover with aluminum foil, pinching around the edges to seal.
• Bake for 1 hour, then remove the foil & bake another 30 minutes.
• Preheat the broiler to high, then turn the cake onto a heatproof plate. Remove & discard the parchment paper lining before placing the cake under the broiler for 4 or 5 minutes or until it is crisp & golden.
• Let it cool just slightly, then cut into wedges & serve.

INA GARTEN'S ROASTED VEGETABLE TORTE (BAREFOOT CONTESSA)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Cook the zucchini, onions, garlic, and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat for 10 minutes until the zucchini is tender. Season with salt and pepper.
• Brush the red and yellow peppers and eggplant with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and roast on a baking sheet for 30 to 40 minutes, until soft but not browned.
• In a 6-inch round cake pan, place each vegetable in a single, overlapping layer, sprinkling Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste between each of the layers of vegetables.
• Begin with half of the eggplant, then layer half of the zucchini and onions, then all of the red peppers, then all of the yellow peppers, then the rest of the zucchini and onions, and finally the rest of the eggplant.
• Cover the top of the vegetables with a 6-inch round of parchment paper or waxed paper. Place a 6-inch flat disk (another cake pan or the bottom of a false-bottom tart pan) on top and weight it with a heavy jar. Place on a plate or baking sheet (it will leak) and chill completely.
• Drain the liquids, place on a platter, and serve at room temperature.

LAYERED VEGETABLE CAKE

Steps:

• Rinse vegetables, cut potatoes and carrots in 1-inch pieces and steam-cook with some salt for 15 minutes.
• During that time, hard boil eggs; separately grate eggs and zucchini, reserve.
• Prepare the "frosting" mixing together sour cream, mayonnaise, salt and pepper.
• Separately grate potatoes and carrots.
• On a serving platter, layer potatoes, carrots, zucchini and eggs, with the dressing between the layers.
• Serve.

LAYERED VEGETABLE BAKE

Steps:

• Heat butter in a frying pan and sauté the garlic and leek for 5 minutes, then add the spinach and cook a further minute.
• Layer half the potatoes in the base of a lined 24cm round spring form tin. Top with the spinach and leek mixture, then top with remaining potatoes. Sprinkle grated cheese over the top.
• Whisk together the cream cheese, eggs, cream, thyme and seasoning. Pour cream cheese mixture over the cheese and bake at 200ºC for 40-45 minutes. Serve with salad or your favourite cooked meat.