“Toy Box” Tomato Ricotta Cheese Torta
To prepare this tomato ricotta cheese torta, we make use of the petite, vibrant tomatoes readily available at any summer farmer's market. These tomatoes are affectionately known as "toy box" tomatoes due to their diverse array of shapes and sizes.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 12 ounces (1 1/2 cups) ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 clove garlic, crushed (optional)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano (optional)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- sea salt, as needed, for sprinkling top
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 9- or 10-inch pie dish with 1 tablespoon olive oil, and set aside.
- Add ricotta, egg, flour, baking powder, salt, black pepper, garlic, basil, oregano, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese to a mixing bowl, and stir thoroughly to combine; spoon into the prepared pie dish, and spread into an even layer.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the torta puffs up a bit, and the cheese firms up, about 20 minutes. A skewer inserted in the center should come out clean.
- Let cool until just warm. Cover the top of the torta with halved cherry tomatoes. Drizzle with remaining olive oil, and season generously with sea salt. The torta can also be served at room temperature, or cold. The finished torta can also be drizzled with balsamic vinegar, or any vinegar, as well as freshly squeezed lemon.
Notes
For a lighter, gluten-free version, simply omit the all-purpose flour, and add an extra egg.
Other cheese, such as Cheddar, can be added instead of, or in addition to, the Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Besides tomatoes, torta can also be topped with grilled summer vegetables, like corn, squash, peppers, or eggplant.
Nutrition
Calories: 137kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 8gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 358mgPotassium: 168mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 171mgIron: 1mg
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