Basil Mascarpone Torte Recipes

FETTUCCINE WITH MASCARPONE, TOASTED WALNUTS, AND BASIL

Steps:

• Bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a large pot for cooking the pasta.
• Place the walnuts in a medium skillet over medium heat; toast, shaking the pan occasionally to turn the nuts, until fragrant, about 5 minutes; transfer to a plate.
• Melt the butter in the skillet; add the nuts and basil and cook just until heated through.
• Place the mascarpone in a bowl large enough to hold the fettuccine when cooked.
• Stir in the walnut mixture and add salt and pepper to taste.
• When the water come to a boil, add salt to taste and the fettuccine.
• Cook until al dente and then drain, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Toss the fettuccine, still dripping with cooking water, with the walnut sauce and mix well.
• Add as much reserved cooking liquid as needed to thin the sauce.
• Divide among individual bowls and serve immediately.

FETTUCCINE WITH MASCARPONE AND BASIL

Steps:

• Boil pasta in plenty of boiling, salted water until al dente.
• While it is boiling, rinse a heatproof serving bowl under hot water to warm it and dry bowl.
• In warm bowl, whisk together cream, cheeses, basil, nutmeg, pepper and salt to taste.
• Drain cooked pasta and add to bowl with the sauce.
• Toss well.
• Serve immediately.

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.

FRESH FIG, MASCARPONE, AND PESTO TORTE

Steps:

• Make crust
• Preheat oven to 325° F. and butter a 10-inch springform pan.
• In a bowl with a fork stir together crust ingredients and salt and pepper to taste. Press mixture into bottom of pan and bake in middle of oven 10 minutes, or until lightly browned.
• Make filling
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat together filling ingredients and salt and pepper to taste until very smooth.
• Assemble torte
• Pour half of filling into crust. Drop dollops of pesto over filling and spread carefully to form an even topping. (Some filling may show through.) Top pesto layer with half of fig slices, overlapping them slightly, and pour remaining filling over figs, spreading evenly. Bake torte in middle of oven 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until top is golden brown and set. Cool torte in pan on a rack (filling will deflate slightly). Chill torte, covered loosely, at least 3 hours and up to 2 days.
• In a small saucepan stir together preserves and vinegar and bring to a simmer. Remove pan from heat and cool mixture. Stir in salt to taste.
• Slice remaining pound figs into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Run a thin knife around edge of pan and remove side. Spread torte with preserves mixture, leaving a 1/4-inch border, and top decoratively with remaining fig slices. With 2 large metal spatulas transfer torte to a serving plate.
• Serve torte at room temperature to spread on toasts.

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.

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.

FRESH FRUIT TART WITH MASCARPONE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease 2 tart pans.
• Blend flour, butter, and sugar together in a bowl using an electric mixer until combined. Divide mixture evenly and press into the bottoms of the prepared tart pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool completely.
• While crusts are cooling, beat cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, nutmeg, and cinnamon together in a bowl using an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Spread mixture over cooled crusts. Arrange strawberries, blackberries, and kiwis on tart in desired design.
• Mix sugar and cornstarch together in a small saucepan. Pour in water and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until clear and thick, about 2 minutes. Let glaze cool completely.
• Glaze the entire top of each tart gently using a pastry brush.