Ritz Spinach Cheese Torte Recipes

SPINACH TORTA RUSTICA

Steps:

• To prepare the torta dough, sprinkle yeast over warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
• Add honey and let stand for 5 minutes. Mix in salt and 1/2 cup flour. Beat for about 3 minutes on medium speed.
• Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until smooth. Gradually beat in the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour to make a soft dough. Beat in butter, one tablespoon at a time.
• Place dough in a greased bowl and let rise in a warm place till doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Make filling while the dough rises. To make the filling, saute onion in olive oil till soft and lightly browned. Stir in garlic and cook for less than a minute. Mix in spinach and remove from heat.
• In a medium bowl, beat the egg yolk. Mix in ricotta, 1/2 cup Parmesan, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add spinach mixture.
• Punch down risen dough. Divide into two pieces, one slightly larger than the other. On a floured surface, roll larger piece into an 8-inch circle. Fit into the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan.
• Spread evenly with filling. Roll the rest of the dough into a 9-inch square.
• Cut the square into 9 or 10 strips. Weave strips over the top of the filling to make a lattice pattern. Tuck the ends of the dough down around the filling.
• Preheat oven to 375º. Let torta rise for 15-20 minutes till dough puffs up slightly. Brush top of the dough with an egg beaten with water. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese.
• Bake for 40-45 minutes, till browned. Cool for 5 minutes, then remove rim. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SPINACH-CHEESE TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Crush 20 crackers; mix with butter. Press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Stand remaining whole crackers around inside edge of pan.
• Beat cream cheese and sour cream in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed after each just until blended. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into crust.
• Bake 45 to 50 min. or until top is puffed and center is set. Cool slightly. Refrigerate leftovers.

SAUSAGE WITH SPINACH AND CHEESE TORTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Grease or spray 9-inch springform pan. In medium bowl, mash beans with potato masher until almost smooth. Stir in Bisquick mix and dressing. Spread mixture in bottom and up sides of springform pan.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set. Meanwhile, in 10-inch skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat 7 to 9 minutes or until no longer pink; drain. Remove from heat, and stir in spinach, tomatoes, oregano and 1 cup of the cheese; mix well. Spoon mixture over prebaked crust.
• In medium bowl, beat eggs, milk and cream with whisk until light. Pour over sausage mixture.
• Bake 30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese. Bake 20 to 25 minutes longer or until golden brown, center is firm, and knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes. Loosen edge of torta from side of pan; remove side of pan. Cut into 6 wedges.

SPINACH, CHEESE & ONION RICE TORTE

Steps:

• Wash the spinach and put it in a large saucepan with just the water that clings to its leaves. Heat for 1-2 mins until gently wilted, then tip into a colander and allow to cool. Once cool, squeeze out the excess water and chop finely.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan and gently cook the onion for about 5 mins until softened. Stir in the garlic and chilli flakes, and cook for 1 min more. Tip into a bowl, add the spinach, courgettes, rice and cheese, and toss together.
• Beat the 2 large eggs with the mustard, a pinch of salt and a good grinding of black pepper. Add to the spinach mixture and mix well. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put a baking sheet in the oven to preheat. Cut the pastry in half and roll 1 piece out on a lightly floured work surface until you have a sheet that measures 32 x 17cm. Place in a 30 x 15cm tin and prick it well all over the base. Roll out the remaining piece of pastry to the same size.
• Spoon the spinach mixture into the pastry base. Beat together the milk and remaining medium egg, then brush the edges of the pastry with it. Lay the other sheet of pastry over the top and press down gently to seal. Brush the top with a little more beaten egg and sprinkle with the sesame seeds.
• Place the tin on the preheated baking tray and bake for 10 mins, then reduce the temperature to 160C/140C fan/gas 4 and bake for a further 30 mins until the pastry is golden. Leave to cool for 10 mins before cutting into squares.

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.

BAKED ZITI WITH SPINACH AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook spinach as package directs, drain, cool and squeeze out well.
• Add eggs, ricotta cheese, parm. cheese, and pepper. Mix well and set aside.
• Combine cooked ziti with sauce and oregano. Place 1/2 ziti miture in lightly greased 13X9 baking dish, layered with cheese and spinach mixture. Add remaining ziti.
• Cover with tin foil and bake at 375 degrees for 25 minute or until bubbly.

SPINACH AND CHEESE TORTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350.
• Spray a 9-in round cake pan with cooking spray.
• Put the spinach in a large microwavable bowl; cover with plastic wrap and prick several holes in the plastic.
• Microwave on high until the spinach starts to wilt, about 2 minutes.
• Let stand until the spinach wilts completely, about 5 minutes.
• Uncover and let cool.
• Squeeze the spinach to remove the excess liquid; chop coarsely.
• Meanwhile, put the eggs, egg white, cheese, milk, cilantro or parsley (if using), salt, and ground pepper in a bowl, beating with a whisk to combine.
• To assemble the torta, place 1 tortilla in the bottom of the pan. Layer with half the spinach, 1 tortilla, then the roasted peppers.
• Top with 1 tortilla and the remaining spinach and tortilla. Pour the egg mixture over the top.
• Bake about 20 minutes or until firm.
• Remove the torta from the oven and increase the heat to broil.
• Broil 5 inches from heat until just browned on the top, about 1 minute.
• Let stand 5 minutes before inverting the torta on a cutting board and slicing into 4 wedges.

RITZ CRACKER TORTE

Steps:

• 1. Fold in 1 cup chopped walnuts and 1 cup crumbled Ritz crackers (roll them in plastic with rolling pin). Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool.
• 2. Spread with whipped cream and chopped nuts on top and refrigerate for several hours before serving. Cut and serve in squares.
• 3. This keeps remarkably long - is delicious days after being made.

SPINACH QUICHE BITES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Remove pie crusts from pouches; place flat on work surface. With 2 1/2-inch round cutter, cut 12 rounds from each crust. Press 1 round in bottom and up side of each of 24 ungreased miniature muffin cups. (A 12-cup tartlet pan can be used; see How-To tip.)
• Cook bacon in 10-inch skillet over medium heat 4 to 6 minutes, turning occasionally, until brown and crisp. Drain on paper towels. Add onions to same skillet with bacon drippings. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until tender; drain.
• Beat eggs, half-and-half, cheese, salt and nutmeg in medium bowl with wire whisk. Crumble bacon; add to egg mixture. Add onions and spinach; mix well. Divide mixture evenly among crust-­lined cups.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen and remove quiches from pan with tip of knife. Serve warm or cool. Store in refrigerator.