Best Basil Cheese Torta Recipes

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BASIL AND TOMATO LAYERED CHEESE TORTA



Basil and Tomato Layered Cheese Torta image

Taken from the Fresh Market .com and posted for ZWT. This combines classic Italian ingredients in a surprising combination, and the end result is fab! It makes for a lovely starter and is made a day ahead, so you may concentrate on other things! **Overnight refrigeration is NOT included in cook/prep time!

Provided by alligirl

Categories     Cheese

Time 15m

Yield 1 7 inch torta, 10-12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

8 ounces mascarpone cheese, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup basil pesto (drained of excess liquid)
1 cup sun-dried tomato pesto (drained of excess liquid)
2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
1 sprig fresh basil
cracker, and toasted baguette slices

Steps:

  • In a mixer or with wooden spoon, blend softened cheeses until smooth.
  • Line a 7-inch loaf pan with enough dampened cheese cloth to hang over each side of the pan.
  • With moist spatula, spread 1/3 cheese mixture in pan until evenly covered. Top with basil pesto, careful not to blend with cheese.
  • Top with 1/3 cheese mixture by dropping small spoonfuls over previous layer and carefully spreading.
  • Then spread the sun-dried tomato pesto and top with the remaining 1/3 of cheese mixture until evenly covered.
  • Fold cheese cloth over top of cheese.
  • Wrap in foil and refrigerate overnight.
  • To serve, remove foil and cheese cloth carefully and invert onto serving platter.
  • Top with pine nuts and fresh basil sprig.
  • Serve at room temperature with plain crackers and toasted baguette slices.

BASIL AND CHEESE TORTA



Basil and Cheese Torta image

This is a great appetizer to make now while basil is plentiful and stash in the freezer to use all year. I pull one out of the freezer when I need something quick for a dinner party appetizer or potluck. Use 6 or 10 oz custard cups

Provided by ktdid

Categories     Spreads

Time 1h

Yield 5-8 small tortas

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 lb cream cheese, softened (can use half Neufchatel)
1 lb unsalted butter, softened (don't substitute margarine)
3 cups lightly packed fresh basil leaves (2-3 bunches)
4 ounces freshly grated parmesan cheese or 4 ounces romano cheese
1/3 cup olive oil
2 ounces pine nuts
cheesecloth

Steps:

  • With electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth, scraping sides of bowl as needed.
  • Set aside.
  • Prepare Pesto: In a blender or food processor, whirl to a paste the basil, parmesan or romano cheese, and olive oil.
  • Stir in pine nuts.
  • Set aside.
  • Cut cheesecloth squares about 10-12" square to line custard cups (It needs to be able to cover the bottom, go up the sides and still have some to fold over the top of the torta).
  • If you use the really loose weave stuff (standard grocery store cheesecloth), you'll need two pieces per custard cup.
  • Moisten the cheesecloth with water, wring dry and lay two sheets out flat on top of each other.
  • Smoothly line your custard cups with the cheesecloth (this can be a bit tricky, but it doesn't have to be perfectly smooth).
  • With your fingers or a flexible rubber spatula, spread a thin layer (about 1/2 inch) of the cheese mixture in a lined custard cup.
  • Cover with 1/4-/12 inch pesto.
  • Put another layer of cheese.
  • If you can, do another layer of pesto and cheese, so you end up with 3 cheese layers and 2 pesto layers.
  • Two layers of cheese and one of pesto works if that's the way it comes out.
  • Fold the ends of the cheesecloth neatly over the top of the torta and press down lightly with fingers.
  • Repeat with remaining cheese and pesto.
  • I get 5 large custard cups or 6 small cups plus one large cup from this quantity of ingredients.
  • Chill until tortas are firm when pressed (at least 2 hrs, I usually just let them go overnight).
  • Remove from custard cups by gently pulling on the cheesecloth around the edges.
  • Remove the cheesecloth and wrap the torta tightly in two layers of saran wrap.
  • Seal in sandwich size ziplock freezer bags and place in freezer.
  • To serve: Remove from freezer and thaw (overnight in frig works well).
  • Bring to near room temp and srve with sliced baguettes and crisp raw vegetables.
  • Variation: For a large party, do one massive torta in a charlotte mold, loaf pan or a clean clay flowerpot.
  • You'll end up with 7-8 layers of each filling in this one.
  • I wouldn't freeze this size, but it will keep in the frig for up to 5 days.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1275.8, Fat 134.1, SaturatedFat 73, Cholesterol 315, Sodium 626.8, Carbohydrate 6, Fiber 1.4, Sugar 0.9, Protein 18.5

BASIL CHEESE TORTA



BASIL CHEESE TORTA image

Categories     Condiment/Spread     Cheese     Appetizer     Vegetarian     Basil     Chill     Potluck

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 8 oz. pkg. of Cream Cheese softened
1 lb unsalted butter softened
Cheese Cloth
1 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
3 1/4 cups fresh basil leaves lightly packed
1/2 cup Olive Oil
Salt & pepper

Steps:

  • In a large bowl of electric mixer, beat 2 large packages of cream cheese and 2 cups of unsalted butter until very smoothly blended. Stop mixer to scrape down the sides Smoothly line a 5-6 cup plain mold (loaf pan) with a moistened cheesecloth. Drape excess cloth over rim of mold. Place fresh basil in bottom of mold upside down. With spatula spread about 1/3 of cheese mixture in bottom of pan alternating with basil filling. Repeat layers until mold is filled, ending with cheese. Fold back cheese cloth and wrap airtight in refrigerator for up to 3 days. Unmold and place decorative side up. Serve with baguettes or crackers. Basil Filling: In food processor whirl to paste 3 1/4 cup of lightly packed basil leaves, 1 1/2 cups grated parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup of olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste.

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