Torta Rustica Recipes

MARY DISOMMA

Steps:

• Prepare the torta dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, salt, and a little of the cubed butter. Mix on low speed, adding the remaining butter cubes until small crumbs form.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, and milk. On medium speed, add the egg mixture to the flour mixture. Mix on low until a dough forms and begins to pull away from the side of the bowl. Remove dough from bowl and wrap in plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator to rest. It is best to let dough rest in the refrigerator for at least 45 minutes before rolling it out.
• Prepare the filling and torta: Thoroughly drain the frozen spinach and squeeze out extra moisture using paper towels.
• In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil on medium heat. Add the onion and spinach. Sauté until onions are translucent but not browned.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the spinach, onion, parmesan, breadcrumbs, eggs, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Prepare your springform pan: Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with a round piece of parchment paper. Spray the side of the pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• Divide the chilled pastry dough almost in half. You will need a bit more of the dough for the pastry that lines the bottom and side of the springform pan. Lightly flour a work area and roll out one piece into a 14-inch circle. Fold the dough into quarters so you can easily pick it up and place it in the prepared pan. Gently unfold the dough and press it to adhere to the pan side . The dough should go all the way up the side of the pan.
• Now it's time to create your torta! Layer the ingredients using whatever additional fillings you select. I, of course, love them all. Here is the layering order I suggest: 1⁄2 of the spinach mixture, 1⁄3 of the fontina cheese, tortellini, pimento, 1⁄3 of the fontina cheese, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, remaining fontina cheese, and remaining spinach mix.
• Roll out the remaining dough and place on top of the torta, pinching the edges of the overhanging dough with the bottom pastry. Roll out any excess pastry and cut into decorations for the top of the torta. Place decorations on a separate sheet pan lined with parchment. Refrigerate the torta and decorations overnight.
• When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place torta in pan on a parchment-lined baking pan. Mix 1 beaten egg with 2 tablespoons cream. Brush egg wash on top of the torta. Place the decorative cutouts on top and brush them with some of the glaze. Bake for approximately 50 minutes to 1 hour or until the pie crust is golden brown. Remove from oven and let rest for 30 minutes. Carefully remove the springform ring. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Note: The unbaked torta can be frozen for up to a month. Remove from freezer the night before you plan to bake it, and let defrost in refrigerator overnight. Remove from fridge and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 ½ hours. If the top is beginning to brown too much, place a piece of foil on the top for the last ½ hour of baking.

AUTUMN TORTE RUSTICA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Place squash slices on baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Lightly spritz with cooking spray. Bake 15 minutes or until tender., Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine two eggs, cheeses and sage. In a small bowl, whisk water and remaining egg; set aside., In a large skillet, saute onion in oil until tender. Stir in the spinach, garlic and nutmeg. Cook and stir for 2 minutes; set aside., Unfold one pastry sheet onto a lightly floured surface. Roll out into a 14-in. square. Press onto bottom and up sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan, allowing excess pastry to drape over edges. Brush with reserved egg mixture. , Layer with half of the squash, cheese mixture and spinach. Repeat layers. Roll out the remaining pastry into a 10-in. square; place over filling. Trim edges; fold the bottom pastry over the top and press edges to seal. Reroll pastry trimmings. Cut out with a small leaf cookie cutter; place on torte. Brush pastry with egg mixture., Place pan on baking sheet. Bake at 400° 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire rack to cool for 45 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. Refrigerate leftovers.

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.

TORTA RUSTICA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Mound flour on a table and make a well in the center. Pour the dissolved yeast, oil, and salt into the center of the well. Gently mix in flour with a fork. Dough should be smooth and pliable. Add warm water if dough is too dry. Roll the dough into a ball and put in an oiled bowl. Cover with a cloth and put in a warm place for 1 hour.
• Divide the dough into 2 pieces and roll out 1 of the dough balls into a round shape, about 12 inches in diameter and 1/4-inch thick. Lay in a greased 12-inch tart pan with a removable bottom.
• Spread the tomatoes, mozzarella, ham, and pecorino on the dough. Sprinkle with oregano, salt and pepper. Roll out the other ball and lay it on top, folding the top and bottom layers of dough together around the edges. Cut 3 small holes in top of the pie for steam to escape. Bake in the oven until the crust is brown and the cheese is melted, about 20 minutes.

TORTA RUSTICA

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the flour and salt. Pour in the oil and stir with a fork until mixture crumbles evenly. While stirring with a fork, add water, a little at a time, just until mixture start to come together.
• Turn onto lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rest in the refrigerator, about 1 hour.
• While dough rests, make the filling. Add olive oil to a large sauté pan or skillet over medium high heat. Add the crumbled sausage meat and stir. Sauté until meat is just cooked through and browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool to room temperature.
• In the same pan, add the spinach and let wilt, about 1 to 2 minutes. (Alternatively, blanch the spinach in boiling salted water for a few seconds and plunge in cold water.) Drain spinach and squeeze out excess liquid. Transfer to same bowl as the sausage. Add the ricotta, pecorino, asiago and beaten eggs. Stir the mixture until well combined.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a pizza pan or large baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll 2/3 of the dough into a circle, about 14-inch diameter and 1/16-inch thick. Transfer to a large round pizza pan or large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush with olive oil. Spread filling over dough evenly. Roll remaining dough out to 14-inches (not quite as thin as strudel) and place over top. Evenly dock top of dough with fork so steam from the filling can escape. Crimp edge of dough to seal, twisting dough with your fingers.
• Brush top with olive oil. Sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake until golden and crisp, about 30 to 40 minutes.

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 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.

TANTALIZING TORTA RUSTICA

Steps:

• Rub the shortening into flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Keep the ingredients as cold as possible and rub using fingertips only.
• Add enough ice water to form a dough that comes cleanly away from the bowl.
• Wrap in plastic and allow to rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes while you prepare the filling.
• Heat the pizza stone and oven to 375°F Using the pizza stone prevents the pastry from becoming soggy.
• Sun-dried tomato layer - Combine the feta, ricotta and sun-dried tomatoes and blend in a food processor.
• Add the egg and continue to blend until a paste is formed.
• Mix in grated asiago cheese and pine nuts and place in covered bowl and set aside in fridge.
• Spinach layer - thaw and drain spinach. Dry the spinach with kitchen towels, it is important this is not too moist or the pastry will become soggy.
• Combine spinach, thinly sliced shallots, cayenne pepper flakes and Italian herbs.
• Roll out the 2/3 pastry to approximately a 10" circle. Lightly dust the cake tin with corn flour.
• Line the cake tin (7" diameter, 3" deep springform pan) with the rolled pastry. Brush the pastry with egg white and allow to air dry. This will also help to prevent the crust from becoming soggy.
• Layer half mozzarella in to the bottom, follow with half the sun dried tomato mixture, next spinach layer, then roasted red peppers. Place all of the artichokes in the next middle layer and repeat with the other half. Make sure the peppers and artichoke are dried with kitchen towel to prevent crust sogginess.
• You can layer the torta whatever way you like - be creative!
• Roll out the remaining pastry and cut into 1" strips. Place over the torta to create a lattice and seal with the bottom crust.
• Brush the top of the pastry with milk.
• Bake at 375F for 50-60 minutes until golden.
• Allow to cool before removing from the pan. You can invert the pan into a plate and repeat to turn the correct way around. Best served at room temperature.

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.