BreadBreadsOlive OilPizza & PaniniRicottaTomatoVegetarian

Tomato and Ricotta Torta Rustica

No traditional Italian picnic would be complete without a crowd-pleaser like Torta Rustica. This really is the perfect picnic companion. With a golden olive oil pastry crust, this Torta can include many different regional Italian fillings. In this fabulous recipe, the pastry case doesn’t need to be baked blind – even better!

Prep Time: 60 mins (chilling)
Cooking Time: 90 mins
8 people

Used in this recipe

Ingredients

For the olive oil pastry

350 g plain flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
150ml Filippo Berio Mild & Light in Colour Olive Oil
125ml cold water

For the Filling

500g ricotta
50g grated Grana Padano Cheese
2 eggs, beaten
4 tbsp freshly shredded basil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
300g cherry and baby plum tomatoes, halved
Basil leaves, to garnish

Method

Place the flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl. Pour in the Filippo Berio Mild & Light Olive Oil and stir with a fork until a soft, ragged dough forms. Gradually add the water. Gather into a ball with your hands and knead gently on lightly floured surface for 5 minutes or until the dough is smooth and slightly elastic. Place in a sealable plastic bag and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 180º C, Gas Mark 4. Place a baking tray in the oven. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface, so it is slightly larger than a 23cm flan tin and line the tin.
In a bowl, stir together the ricotta, eggs, most of the cheese, basil and seasoning. Spoon into the pastry case and top with the tomatoes.
Fold the excess pastry over and pleat, then sprinkle over the remaining Grana Padano cheese.
Place on the baking sheet and cook for 1 hour or until the filling is set. Allow to cool completely, decorate with basil leaves.

Mild & Light In Colour Olive Oil

From £10.99

This Olive Oil is a healthy substitute for other cooking oils. With its high smoke point it is the ideal choice for frying, stir-frying and baking. The light bouquet allows the natural flavour of food to come through.