Torta Russa Recipes

BISKVIT; RUSSIAN CAKE RECIPE WITH RUSSIAN CREAM

Steps:

• Line 2 non-stick cake pans with wax paper and preheat the Oven to 350°F.
• Separate egg whites from yolks than in a medium bowl, whisk together yolks, sugar and vanilla. Add flour until well blended.
• In a large bowl, beat egg whites on high speed until they foam and are about 3-4 times in volume (about 2 1/2 to 3 minutes). Don't beat too long or it will be too stiff and won't blend well.
• Use a spatula to gently fold the yolk mixture into the egg whites until well combined. Don't mix too much or you will lose volume. The batter should have a fluffy texture.
• Divide the batter evenly among the two, lined cake pans and bake 20-25 minutes until the tops are golden.
• As soon as the cake is done, turn the cake out onto a clean surface and peel off the wax paper. This is much easier to do while the cake is still very warm. Let cakes cool to room temperature.
• Use a knife to remove rough edges. Break them into small pieces. Place the pieces in the oven for a few more minutes until they are golden. When they cool, they will crumble easily. Reserve these crumbs for sprinkling the cake after it's frosted.
• Mix all of the syrup ingredients together until sugar dissolves.
• Place the first cake (Up-side-down) on the dish you will be serving it on. Once you put the syrup on, it will be very difficult to move it.
• Use a tablespoon to pour half the syrup evenly over the first cake.
• Wait a few minutes for the cake to pull in the syrup.
• Frost the top of the first cake layer. Repeat the step with the second layer. Frost the top and sides of the cake.
• Sprinkle the reserved crumbs all over the cake. It helps to hold a large knife next to the side of the cake as you sprinkle crumbs to keep more of them on the cake. TA DA!!

RUSSIAN NAPOLEON CAKE (NAPOLYEON TORT)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar together until creamy.
• Fold in the sour cream, stiffly beaten egg whites, vodka, and salt.
• Gently fold in the flour, a spoonful at a time, until the dough is soft and pliable. You might not need all of it.
• Wrap in plastic and chill for 1 to 2 hours to make it easier to roll out.
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 F and butter a baking sheet and dust with flour.
• Divide the pastry dough into 10 pieces. Roll out each portion of dough, one at a time, directly on the prepared baking sheet into a very thin 8-inch circle.
• Bake each circle of pastry until golden brown, about 6 to 10 minutes. If dough bubbles as it cooks, pierce with a fork.
• As each layer is cooked, remove from the sheet pan and set aside to cool on a wire rack. Repeat until all dough pieces have been baked.
• Gather the ingredients.
• Pour the milk into a large saucepan and heat, but do not boil.
• In a large bowl, beat together the egg yolks, egg white, and sugar until creamy.
• Add 6 tablespoons flour and mix well.
• Pour this mixture into the warm (but not scalding hot) saucepan of milk, stirring initially with a whisk until smooth and then with a wooden spoon, constantly over low heat until thick and creamy.
• Add the butter and vanilla and stir until smooth.
• Remove from the heat and set aside to cool. Stir frequently as the mixture cools.
• Place one layer of the cooked dough in the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan and cover evenly with a layer of cooled custard filling.
• Continue to build up the cake in this way, layering the custard on top of the pastry, finishing with the 9th pastry layer.
• Crumble the 10th and final pastry and layer over the top of the torte. Refrigerate for 5 to 6 hours.
• When ready to serve, run a butter knife around the edges of the cake, remove the springform ring, and, using a cake lifter or two spatulas, carefully transfer to a serving platter.
• Use an electric knife to get nice, clean cuts and serve.
• Enjoy!

RUSSIAN TORTE

Steps:

• To make pastry: Sift flour, add butter and mix like pie dough.
• Add egg yolks and then warmed milk/yeast mixture. Mix until dough pulls away from the bowl.
• Divide into 3 equal portions (eyeball it or if you are a perfectionist like me the balls will be about 12 oz. each!) Preheat oven to 350.
• Roll out one portion of dough (between sheets of parchment paper or greased/floured wax paper) into a rectangle to fit a 15x10x1-inch jellyroll pan. Remove dough from paper and press into the lightly greased pan.
• Combine nut filling ingredients. Reserve 1/4 cup for the topping. Sprinkle remaining nut filling onto the dough.
• Using the same method, roll out the 2nd portion of dough.
• Spread both cans of fruit over the 2nd layer of dough.
• Roll out 3rd portion of dough and place over the apricot filling. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes. Meanwhile, make meringue by beating the 4 egg whites until stiff. Add sugar, beating until dissolved. When torte has baked 25 min, pull out and spread meringue over baked torte. Sprinkle with reserved nuts. Return to the oven for 10-20 minutes until lightly browned.
• Cut into diamond or square shapes when cooled. You can use other fruit fillings in place of the apricot.

TORTA RUSSA

Steps:

• Blend the amaretti in a food processor and then set them aside.
• Now blend the almonds too, however turn the processor on and off quickly as you want to chop them finely, but not turn them into a cream. Set them aside.
• Put the butter and sugar in the food processor and blend together until creamy and fluffy.
• Then add the eggs, one at the time until well combined.
• Now add the flour and a pinch of salt and blend them inches.
• Set the food processor to a low speed and add the almonds and a shot of amaretto.
• Finally ad the amaretto cookies and mix them inches.
• Roll out the puff pastry until it is nice and thin and put it in a 9" springform pan. Roll it out so that it is big enough to come out over the top of the pan.
• Add the filling.
• Fold the puff pastry from the sides onto the cake. Note that it doesn't have to cover the whole cake just the first inch or two form the outside.
• Bake in a preheated oven at 360° for 40-45 minutes or until done. You can check by inserting a toothpick into the center. If the crust starts to brown too much cover it with foil.
• Let cool before serving.
• Notes:.
• The quantity of puff pastry varies from one brand to another. In this case I need one package to make the crust.
• By dry I don't mean old. Amaretto cookies are made in two ways, as a dry and crunchy cookie or a moist and chewy cookie.

TORTA CAPRESE

Steps:

• Place the chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler and melt until smooth. Cool slightly, until just warm to the touch.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Place the egg whites in a medium bowl with the salt. Place the yolks in a slightly larger bowl with the granulated sugar. Using a handheld mixer, beat the whites on medium speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Then beat the egg yolks on medium speed until light, pale and fluffy, about 1 1/2 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, stir the chocolate mixture, almond flour and vanilla into the yolks. In 2 batches, fold the whipped whites into the chocolate base. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake until puffed and beginning to crack on top, about 40 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• When cool, run a thin knife around the edge of the pan to release the cake. Remove the outside ring and dust the top with confectioners' sugar.

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:

• 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.

TORTAS

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and pan-fry the round steaks 5 minutes on each side, or to desired doneness.
• Slice the rolls lengthwise. Spread about 1 tablespoon of sour cream onto one side of each roll, and top with about 1/3 cup of mashed pinto beans per sandwich. Place a cooked round steak per sandwich on top of the pinto beans, and then layer each sandwich with one-fourth of the avocado slices, tomato slices, and sliced pickled jalapenos, about 1/2 cup of shredded lettuce, 1/4 cup of cilantro, and 1/4 cup of crumbled queso fresco cheese. Squeeze a lime wedge over each sandwich, close, and serve.

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.