Basil cheese torta with red bell pepper strips & pine nuts Recipe

Home -> [Appetizers, Cheese, Cheese & Eggs, Herbs & Spices, Nuts, Vegetarian] -> [Basil cheese torta with red bell pepper strips & pine nuts Recipe]

Basil cheese torta with red bell pepper strips & pine nuts

Artist:	_	Yield:	1
Categories:	Appetizers, Cheese, Cheese & Eggs, Herbs & Spices, Nuts, Vegetarian	Rating:	0
Favorites	Add to Favorites	Print Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2	lbs	Cream cheese, softened
4	tbsp	Butter, softened
3/4	cup	Basil pesto
1/2	lbs	Provolone, thinly sliced
1/4	cup	Toasted pine nuts
1		Red bell pepper, roasted
		-- peeled, seeded, and
		-- cut into 3" x 3/8" strips
1	small	Jar sun-dried tomatoes
		-- (packed in olive oil)
		Fresh basil for garnish

Procedures:

1	Mix cream cheese and butter with a fork; add pesto and mix well.
2	Line a small (3-cup) loaf pan or bowl with plastic wrap, leaving several inches of overhang on each side.
3	Make a thin layer of provolone slices on the bottom and partially up the sides.
4	Spread 1/3 of the pesto mixture over the cheese; artistically arrange 2 or 3 sun-dried tomatoes, 4-6 bell pepper strips, and about 1 tablespoon toasted pine nuts over the pesto.
5	Repeat layers until all ingredients are used (reserving some of the pine nuts to sprinkle on top), pressing down well between layers.
6	Chill overnight or for several days.
7	Serve at room temperature on a platter wreathed with fresh basil sprigs.
8	Additional toasted pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes cut into flowers, red bell pepper strips, and fresh basil sprigs may be used as garnish.
9	Note: torta may be presented inverted or not.
10	Keeps several weeks refrigerated.
11	Although best served at room temperature, it slices best chilled.
12	I like to serve it on a platter adorned with grape leaves and small clusters of red and white grapes.
13	Variations: =========== use lemon pesto; substitute slivered toasted almonds for the pine nuts; omit the sun-dried tomatoes and add 1 teaspoon lemon zest to the cream cheese mixture.
14	Use purple pesto; omit the red pepper if desired and increase the sun-dried tomatoes.
15	Use cinnamon basil pesto; omit the sun-dried tomatoes and the red peppers if desired, and use pecans instead of pine nuts.