Sausage, Roasted Red Pepper, and Spinach Torta Rustica

Sausage, Roasted Red Pepper and Spinach Torta Rustica
Ingredients:
16 1/4-inch-thick baguette slices, cut on slight diagonal
1 tablespoon butter
12 oz fresh baby spinach leaves
1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casing removed
1 1/2 cups grated Fontina cheese, divided
3/4 cup diced drained roasted red peppers (from 12-ounce jar)
6 large eggs
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepperDirections:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 8x8x2-inch baking dish. Place 8 baguette slices in bottom of dish; press 2 baguette slices onto each side.
Melt 1 tablespoon butter in large pot over medium-high heat. Add spinach; toss until just wilted, about 3 minutes. Transfer spinach to strainer; cool. Squeeze spinach dry. Transfer to medium bowl.
Heat same pot over medium-high heat. Add sausage. Sauté until cooked through, breaking up, about 7 minutes. Mix into spinach; mix in 1 cup cheese and peppers. Spread atop baguette slices in bottom of dish.
Whisk eggs in medium bowl to blend. Whisk in last 4 ingredients. Pour over spinach mixture and stir lightly with fork to distribute evenly. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup cheese over.
Bake torta until puffed and golden and center is set, about 55 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest 15 minutes before serving.
Nat's Notes:
1. I used cheese I had on hand: a cheddar/mozzarella mixture and some goat cheese. The goat cheese really shined in this!
2. I used spinach-fontina turkey sausage, which blended seamlessly!from Bon Appetit December 2008




perrysplate
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Unknown — October 4, 2011 @ 1:57 am
I am new to this site and absolutely love it. I tried this recipe for the first time on my fellow church members yesterday. It was a smashing success! Many people asked for the recipe. I made one batch with sausage and another without (for vegetarians like me). Both received rave reviews. Also, I wasn't able to use roasted red peppers so I substituted fresh diced peppers and I used turkey kielbasa sausage because I couldn't find Italian. Still fabulous! Thank you so much. I can't wait to try more of your recipes!
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