impress your guests or family, this is the dish that wows them all. And it's unbelievably tasty to boot!!
Recipe By : Sitara
Serving Size : 8 Preparation Time :3:20
Categories :
Cheese Eggs
Italian Luncheon
Main Dishes Vegetarian
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 large onions -- halved and sliced
1 clove garlic -- chopped
1/3 cup olive oil
1/2 #10 can diced tomatoes in juice
1 tablespoon fresh sage -- finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme -- finely chopped
2 large eggplant -- sliced into rounds
4 large zucchini -- sliced lengthwise
4 large red bell pepper -- quartered
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter
1 pint milk, 2% lowfat
3 large egg -- beaten
6 ounces grated parmesan cheese
1 pint ricotta cheese, part skim milk
For The Sauce:
In heavy skillet cook onion in oil till soft and golden, add garlic and cook till liquid has evaporated. Add tomatoes, sage and thyme and simmer till thick. Season with salt and pepper and cool.
For the Torte:
Preheat oven to 450˚F. Cut eggplant in to 1/3 inch thick rounds and bake on well oiled cookie sheet till lightly brown and tender. Cool and drain. Cut zucchini lengthwise and roast in same manner till golden. Quarter red bell peppers and roast in same manner. Cool.
In a heavy saucepan make a roux of butter and flour and whisk in milk.
Cool 5 minutes and whisk in cheese, eggs, salt and pepper.
Lightly oil baking dish or springform pan. Arrange half of eggplant in even layer, overlapping the edges and up the sides to make a bottom crust. Pour about 1/3 of the custard over it. Place zucchini in custard and season with salt and pepper, then red peppers. Repeat starting with eggplant and ending with custard. Sprinkle top with grated parmesan cheese.
Bake at 450˚ till custard is puffed and golden brown..at least 35 minutes. Let torte stand at least 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
Ladle a pool of warm tomato sauce on the plate, place a slice of the torte on the tomato sauce. Or serve the sauce on the side for guests to choose how much they would like.
Garnish with fresh sprig of thyme or sage leaves.
Serve with a crisp green salad and crusty bread.
A Chardonnay or Fume Blanc completes the meal.