Italian Torta Sandwiches Recipes

ITALIAN BRUNCH TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan. Unroll 1 tube of crescent dough and separate into triangles. Press onto bottom of prepared pan to form a crust, sealing seams well. Bake until set, 10-15 minutes., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add spinach and mushrooms; cook and stir until mushrooms are tender. Drain on several layers of paper towels, blotting well. In a large bowl, whisk 6 eggs, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning and pepper., Layer crust with half of each of the following: ham, salami, provolone cheese, red peppers and spinach mixture. Pour half of the egg mixture over top. Repeat layers; top with remaining egg mixture., On a work surface, unroll and separate remaining crescent dough into triangles. Press together to form a circle and seal seams; place over filling. Whisk remaining egg; brush over dough., Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer reads 160°, 1 to 1-1/4 hours, covering loosely with foil if needed to prevent overbrowning. Carefully loosen sides from pan with a knife; remove rim from pan. Let stand 20 minutes.

ITALIAN BRUNCH TORTE RECIPE - (4.3/5)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Place a greased 9-inch springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 inch square). Securely wrap foil around pan. Unroll one tube of crescent dough and separate into triangles. Press onto bottom of prepared pan to form a crust, sealing seams well. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until set. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add spinach and mushrooms; cook and stir until mushrooms are tender. Drain on several layers of paper towels, blotting well. In a large bowl, whisk six eggs, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning and pepper. Layer crust with half of the ham, salami, provolone cheese, red peppers and spinach mixture. Pour half of the egg mixture over the top. Repeat layers; top with remaining egg mixture. On a work surface, unroll and separate remaining crescent dough into triangles. Press together to form a circle and seal seams; place over filling. Whisk remaining egg; brush over dough. Bake, uncovered, 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until a thermometer reads 160°F, covering loosely with foil if needed to prevent over-browning. Carefully loosen sides from pan with a knife; remove rim from pan. Let stand 20 minutes.

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.

ITALIAN BRUNCH TORTA

Steps:

• Place cookie sheet in oven (torta will bake on heated cookie sheet). Heat oven to 375°F Make pie crusts as directed on box for Two-Crust Pie using 9-inch glass pie plate.
• In 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Stir in spinach until well combined.
• Spread 1/2 of spinach mixture in crust-lined plate. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese. Layer spinach with provolone cheese, salami, red peppers, tapenade, ham, sun-dried tomatoes, remaining Parmesan cheese and remaining spinach mixture. Top with second crust; seal edges and flute.
• Brush egg on top crust; sprinkle with reserved 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese and oregano. Cut 4 small slits in top. Place on cookie sheet in oven.
• Bake 50 to 55 minutes, covering edge of crust with strips of foil after 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown. Cool 20 minutes before serving. If desired, serve torta with fresh fruit on plates lined with romaine lettuce.

ITALIAN TORTA SANDWICHES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray or grease the bottom and sides of an 8- or 9-inch springform pan. Roll 2/3 of dough into a circle and press onto bottom and up sides of pan. (I can give you a great pie dough recipe if you like, or use a convenience package.)
• 2. Fill half the meat in the crust.
• 3. Then half of the cream cheese and pesto.
• 4. Then half of the olives and red peppers.
• 5. Finally, half the spinach and shredded cheese. Then repeat it all.
• 6. Roll out final 1/3 of dough into an 8-inch circle, and place atop fillings, pinching seams with bottom crust to seal. Make vent holes with a fork. t
• 7. Then brush with beaten egg.
• 8. Bake 50 minutes. Let rest 15 minutes, then remove from pan.
• 9. Slice into wedges. This is also great at room temperature or cold. What a different, delightful sandwich!