Tortino Recipes

ALMOND TORTONI

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat egg white until foamy. Gradually beat in sugar, and continue beating until thick and glossy; set aside.
• Whip cream in a large bowl. Carefully fold in sherry, almond extract, macaroon crumbs, ground almonds, and chopped red and green cherries. Gently fold egg white into cream mixture.
• Spoon into 8 paper baking cups placed in medium size muffin tray. Sprinkle with slivered almonds. Cover muffin tray with clear plastic wrap, then wrap with aluminum foil. Freeze overnight.
• To serve: Let sit for 5 minutes at room temperature, then garnish with maraschino cherry halves.

TORTINO

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly brush a 3-quart baking dish with 1 teaspoon olive oil; set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add leeks; cook slowly until tender, about 5 minutes. Remove leeks; drain in a colander. Transfer to a medium bowl to cool. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to Dutch oven; repeat cooking and draining process with celery. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to Dutch oven, and repeat cooking and draining process with Swiss chard.
• In a large bowl, combine the eggs, 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, cream, ricotta, Aleppo pepper, and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season with salt and black pepper. Whisk until well combined.
• Add cooked vegetables to egg mixture; thoroughly combine. Pour into prepared baking dish. Spread evenly; cover with foil. Pull a rack out of the oven, and set a roasting pan on top; fill pan with 2 inches warm water. Place baking dish in roasting pan; slide rack back into oven. Bake 40 minutes. Uncover; continue baking until set, about 20 minutes.
• Heat broiler. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano over the tortino. Place under broiler until lightly browned. Cut into squares, and serve warm.

TORTONI, FROZEN ALMOND CREAM DESSERT

Steps:

• Put the cookies in a small heavy-duty plastic bag and crush them with a heavy object.
• There should be about 1/4 cup crumbs.
• Combine the cream, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and almond extract in a large chilled bowl.
• Beat with a hand-held electric mixer on high speed until the cream holds soft peaks when the beaters are lifted.
• In a clean bowl, with clean beaters, beat the egg whites with the salt on low speed until foamy.
• Gradually increase the speed and beat until the the whites hold soft peaks.
• Fold the whites into the whipped cream.
• Spoon the mixture into 8 wine goblets.
• Sprinkle the tortoni with the amaretti crumbs.
• Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
• Remove from freezer 15 minutes before serving.

TORTINO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Heat oil in 9-inch ovenproof skillet, preferably nonstick, on medium heat.
• Add leeks, garlic and zucchini and sauté until vegetables are tender, about 4 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in thyme leaves. Cool for 15 minutes.
• Beat together eggs, cream, salt, pepper and hot sauce. Pour over vegetables. Place in oven and bake for 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle over cheese and bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until eggs are set.
• Slide out of skillet, cut into squares and serve either warm or at room temperature.

VEGETABLE-AND-RICOTTA TORTINO

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add the peas and asparagus. Cook until the vegetables are just tender. Drain and immediately plunge the vegetables into a large bowl of cold water to stop the cooking. Drain and set aside.
• In a large kettle, heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat and add the onions, celery and watercress. Begin adding the Swiss chard, stirring until the leaves fit into the pot. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are very tender. Season with salt and pepper and drain if necessary. Set aside to cool.
• In a large bowl, combine the eggs, remaining tablespoon of olive oil, cream, 1/4 cup of the Parmigiano, ricotta, Aleppo pepper and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Stir until smooth. Add the peas, asparagus and cooled vegetables and stir to combine.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Pour the tortino mixture into a large, lightly greased casserole dish, sprinkle with the black pepper and cover with foil. (Make sure it does not touch the vegetables.) Place the dish in a large roasting pan and pour in boiling water to rise halfway up the sides.
• Bake for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake until the center of the tortino is set, an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the casserole from the roasting pan and sprinkle the remaining Parmigiano on the top. Place the casserole under a broiler until the cheese is nicely browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Allow to cool slightly, cut into squares and garnish with mint and serve.