Basil Cheese Torte Recipes

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.

BASIL AND CHEESE TORTA

Steps:

• With electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth, scraping sides of bowl as needed.
• Set aside.
• Prepare Pesto: In a blender or food processor, whirl to a paste the basil, parmesan or romano cheese, and olive oil.
• Stir in pine nuts.
• Set aside.
• Cut cheesecloth squares about 10-12" square to line custard cups (It needs to be able to cover the bottom, go up the sides and still have some to fold over the top of the torta).
• If you use the really loose weave stuff (standard grocery store cheesecloth), you'll need two pieces per custard cup.
• Moisten the cheesecloth with water, wring dry and lay two sheets out flat on top of each other.
• Smoothly line your custard cups with the cheesecloth (this can be a bit tricky, but it doesn't have to be perfectly smooth).
• With your fingers or a flexible rubber spatula, spread a thin layer (about 1/2 inch) of the cheese mixture in a lined custard cup.
• Cover with 1/4-/12 inch pesto.
• Put another layer of cheese.
• If you can, do another layer of pesto and cheese, so you end up with 3 cheese layers and 2 pesto layers.
• Two layers of cheese and one of pesto works if that's the way it comes out.
• Fold the ends of the cheesecloth neatly over the top of the torta and press down lightly with fingers.
• Repeat with remaining cheese and pesto.
• I get 5 large custard cups or 6 small cups plus one large cup from this quantity of ingredients.
• Chill until tortas are firm when pressed (at least 2 hrs, I usually just let them go overnight).
• Remove from custard cups by gently pulling on the cheesecloth around the edges.
• Remove the cheesecloth and wrap the torta tightly in two layers of saran wrap.
• Seal in sandwich size ziplock freezer bags and place in freezer.
• To serve: Remove from freezer and thaw (overnight in frig works well).
• Bring to near room temp and srve with sliced baguettes and crisp raw vegetables.
• Variation: For a large party, do one massive torta in a charlotte mold, loaf pan or a clean clay flowerpot.
• You'll end up with 7-8 layers of each filling in this one.
• I wouldn't freeze this size, but it will keep in the frig for up to 5 days.

SPAGHETTI BASIL TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°. Spray springform pan, 9x3 inches, with cooking spray. Cook and drain spaghetti as directed on package. Rinse with cold water; drain.
• Toss spaghetti, Parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese, Italian seasoning and eggs until spaghetti is well coated.
• Press half of the spaghetti mixture in bottom of pan. Sprinkle with half of the basil. Layer with half of the tomato and cheese slices. Press remaining spaghetti mixture on top. Sprinkle with remaining basil. Layer with remaining tomato and cheese slices.
• Bake uncovered 30 minutes until hot and light brown. Let stand 15 minutes. Remove side of pan. Cut torte into wedges.

RICOTTA, TOMATO AND BASIL TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 180°C (360°F ) Oil side and line with baking paper the base of 20cm springform tin.
• Beat ricotta, feta, eggs and garlic until smooth. Stir in basil.
• Put into prepared tin and smooth top. Arrange tomatoes on top cut-side up.
• Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until set and golden.
• Cool completely before putting in fridge for at least1 hour to firm.

SPAGHETTI BASIL TORTE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray spring-form pan with no stick cooking spray (olive oil flavored is nice). Cook and drain spaghetti as directed on package.
• 2. Toss spaghetti with Parmesan, ricotta, Italian seasoning, olives, and eggs until spaghetti is well coated. Press half of spaghetti into the bottom of the spring-form pan. Sprinkle with half of basil, half of tomato, and half of cheese. Then spread remaining spaghetti on top of mixture in pan. Layer remaining ingredients in same order as previously done.
• 3. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes until hot and light brown on top. Remove from oven. Let stand for 15 minutes. Remove the pan and cut in slices to serve.

BASIL TOMATO TART

Steps:

• Roll pastry to fit a 9-in. tart pan or pie plate; place in pan. Do not prick. Line pastry shell with a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. , Bake at 450° for 5 minutes. Remove foil; bake 8 minutes more. Remove from the oven. Reduce heat to 375°. Sprinkle 1/2 cup mozzarella over the hot crust. , Cut each tomato into eight wedges; remove seeds. Arrange over cheese. , In a food processor, process the basil and garlic until coarsely chopped; sprinkle over tomatoes. , Combine mayonnaise, Parmesan, pepper and the remaining mozzarella; spoon over basil. Bake, uncovered, until the cheese is browned and bubbly, 20-25 minutes.

LAYERED TORTE APPETIZER

Steps:

• Blend cheeses until smooth.
• line 7" loaf pan with enough dampened cheesecloth to hang over each side.
• Spread 1/3 of cheese mixture into pan, coat evenly.
• top with basil pesto. (don't blend in with the cheese).
• Carefully spread another (1/3 of mix) Cheese layer.
• Spread Sundired tomato mixture over the cheese layer.
• Top off with the remaining cheese mixture, covering evenly.
• Fold cheese cloth over the top and cover with foil and refridgerate over night.
• To serve, remove foil & cheese cloth and invert onto a serving platter.
• Top with pine nuts and basil.
• Serve at room temp with crackers or toast rounds.

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.