Zuchinni Rice Torta Squares Recipes

LIDIA'S RICE AND ZUCCHINI CROSTATA

Steps:

• The night before, place ricotta in a cheese cloth placed in a strainer hung over a bowl. Refrigerate and let drain overnight.
• The day of, mix shredded zucchini with raw rice in a large bowl and let sit for one hour at room temperature.
• In a food processor, place flour and salt and pulse a few times to mix.
• In a measuring cup, add ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil and 1/3 cup of cold water together. The remaining water will be added as needed but in my batch, I used all of the ½ cup of water.
• Run the food processor and add the oil and water mixture with machine running. Add the remaining water if needed to bring the dough together.
• Pour out onto a floured surface and knead for one minute.
• Shape into a rectangle, cover tightly with plastic and let sit at room temperature for one hour.
• After the hour has elapsed, preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Rack should be at the very bottom of the oven with a pizza stone on the rack if possible.
• Add the drained ricotta, grated cheese, scallions, eggs, milk and salt to the zucchini and rice. Mix to combine.
• Flour the counter and roll the dough out so it is longer and wider than your 12X18 inch buttered pan. (The recipe as written yielded a very thin dough. It is however soft enough that it stays together so make sure it gets rolled larger than the pan. If I was to do this recipe over again, I probably would have increased the amount of dough by about 25%.)
• Roll the dough up on a floured rolling pin then unroll onto the prepared sheet pan, letting the excess hang over. Tuck the sides and corners in but do not cut off excess.
• Pour the ricotta batter onto the dough and spread to the edges.
• Fold the overhanging dough over the top of each edge, pleating the four corners.
• Place on top of the pizza stone and bake for 60-70 minutes or until slightly browned and a knife inserted into the center, comes out clean. If it doesn't brown, you may consider placing it under the broiler for a minute. We did with ours.
• Cool 30 minutes and cut into 20 pieces.

ZUCCHINI RICE TORTE

Steps:

• for the crust:.
• Using a food processor or mixing by hand in a large bowl, combine the flours, salt and fennel seed.
• Add the butter and cheese and work into flour, mixing well until the dough forms a solid ball.
• Press dough in an even layer on the bottom and one inch up the sides of an 8 to 9-inch springform pan.
• for the filling:.
• In a large sauté pan, cook the bacon until crisp.
• Remove bacon and drain on paper towels.
• Crumble bacon into small pieces and set aside.
• Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the drippings and return pan to heat.
• Add zucchini, onion and garlic and cook over medium heat until tender (about 10 minutes), stirring occasionally.
• Remove zucchini mixture from pan and allow to cool.
• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Beat eggs in a large bowl.
• Add buttermilk, and remaining ingredients.
• Mix well and pour mixture into the pastry shell.
• Smooth the top with a flat spatula and bake for 55 minutes, or until golden brown and set (a knife inserted in the center comes out clean).
• Let stand at least 15 minutes, then loosen the edges by running a knife between the crust and the pan, and remove sides of the pan.
• Cut into wedges and serve warm or cold.
• serve with hot sauce-optional.

ZUCCHINI TART

Steps:

• Put a baking sheet in the oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Lay the pie dough on a piece of parchment. Slightly raise the edges and crimp. Stir together the mayonnaise and mustard in a small bowl, then spread the mixture over the crust.
• Put the zucchini and thyme in a medium bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil; toss gently to combine. Arrange the slices over the mayonnaise mixture.
• Carefully remove the hot pan from the oven. Slide the parchment paper onto the pan and bake until the crust is golden and the zucchini is tender, 20 to 30 minutes.

ZUCCHINI AND GRUYERE FRITTATA SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 12-by-18-by-1-inch sheet pan with olive oil.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan over medium heat. Add the pancetta and saute for 5 minutes, until it begins to brown. Add the leeks and saute for 5 minutes, until tender. Add the zucchini and thyme and saute for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini is tender.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Stir in two-thirds of the Gruyere and the basil.
• Pour the zucchini mixture in an even, well distributed layer into the prepared sheet pan. Pour the egg mixture over the top and sprinkle with the remaining Gruyere. Shake the pan to evenly distribute the egg mixture. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until puffed and just set in the center. Allow to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes. Cut the frittata into 30 equal size squares, sprinkle with salt, garnish with the julienned basil and serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

ZUCCHINI RICE TORTA SQUARES

Steps:

• Melt 1 T butter in medium skillet over medium heat. Add zucchini and garlic, toss until tender, dry and starting to brown, about 5 minutes. Bring 2 c water and 1 T butter to boil, stir in rice and salt, cook 18 minutes until rice is tender. Brush 11x7x2" pan with 1 T butter. Put rice in large bowl. Stir in zucchini mix, 1 c cheese, oregano and mint. Season with salt and pepper and cool. Beat eggs in small bowl and add to mix. Transfer to baking dish, press to form even layer. Sprinkle with 1/2 c cheese. Preheat oven to 350. Bake torta 30 minutes, until edges brown. Cool 20 min. Cut into squares.

SPINACH-RICE TORTA SQUARES

Steps:

• Position rack in the center of the oven; preheat to 325°; lightly oil a 13x9 inch baking dish; sprinkle with bread crumbs.
• Tilt dish to coat with the crumbs, and tap out the excess.
• Bring a medium saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat; add in the rice and decrease heat to medium.
• Cook, uncovered, until the rice is tender (about 16 minutes); drain well and set aside.
• Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat; add in the onions.
• Stir/saute 6 minutes or until the onions are tender.
• Add in the garlic; stir until it gives off its aroma, about 1 minute.
• Add in the spinach; cook, stirring often, just to evaporate any remaining liquid, about 3 minutes; set mixture aside.
• In a big bowl, whisk the eggs, basil, rosemary, salt, and pepper together; add in the rice, spinach/onion mixture, 1 cup of parmesan cheese, and the cheddar cheese; mix well.
• Spread mixture in the baking dish; sprinkle remaining parmesan on top.
• Bake until the torta feels firm when pressed in the center, about 45 minutes.
• Cool completely in the dish; cut the torta horizontally into 6 equal strips, then vertically into 9 strips to make 54 pieces.
• Arrange on a serving platter; serve at room temperature.

ZUCCHINI AND RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Bring water to boil, add rice. When water returns to a boil, reduce temperature to a low. Cover rice and cook until rice is tender.
• Preheat oven's broiler. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Cut ends from zucchini and steam until tender. Reserve 2 zucchini for garnish, then dice remaining zucchini.
• Combine butter and oil in a Dutch oven and heat until butter is melted. Add rice and diced zucchini, then saute until golden, stirring frequently. Stir in the cheeses until melted and add salt and pepper to taste. Let cool slightly, then stir in eggs quickly. Pour into a prepared baking dish and sprinkle generously with bread crumbs.
• Slice reserved zucchini and arrange around the diced mixture. Drizzle melted butter over top.
• Broil about 6 inches from the source of heat until lightly browned and bubbly.

BAKED ZUCCHINI SQUARES

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the biscuit mix, Parmesan cheese, parsley, oregano, basil and salt. Combine eggs, oil and onion; stir into dry ingredients just until combined. Stir in zucchini. Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and set. Cut into squares.

ZUCCHINI DESSERT SQUARES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly; reserve 3 cups. Pat remaining crumb mixture into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 375° for 12 minutes. , Meanwhile, for filling, place zucchini and lemon juice in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 6-8 minutes or until zucchini is crisp-tender. Stir in the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg; cover and simmer for 5 minutes (mixture will be thin). , Spoon over crust; sprinkle with the reserved crumb mixture. Bake at 375° until golden, 40-45 minutes.

ZUCHINNI-RICE TORTA SQUARES

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add zucchini and garlic: Toss until tender, dry, and starting to brown Cook the rice until tender About 18 minutes Brush an 11x7x2 inch glass baking dish with pam. Transfer rice to a large bowl. Stir in zucchini mixture, 1 cup cheese, oregano, and mint. Season with salt and pepper. Cool to luke warm. Beat eggs in a small bowl to blend. Stir into rice mixture to coat. Transfer to baking dish. Press to form even layer. Sprinkle 1/2 cup cheese. All this can be done one day ahead. Preheat onve to 350. Bake torta until firm and beginning to brown around edges, about 30 minutes. Cool 20 minutes. Cut into 24 squares. Arrance on platter, garnish with mint.