Layered Vegetable Torte

Updated Aug. 6, 2024

Layered Vegetable Torte
Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
1 hour
Rating
5(1,518)
Comments
Read comments

Getting this vegetable torte right takes a little time. You really must grill (or pan-grill) or roast all the vegetables well — they have to become quite tender — before assembling the torte. Ultimately, you want the vegetables to almost melt together. Grilling is the technique of choice because it gives the vegetables a hint of smokiness.

Featured in: A Vegetable Torte Starts at the Grill

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: Give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.

  • Share this recipe

  • Print this recipe

Advertisement


Ingredients

Yield:4 to 6 servings
  • 1large eggplant, cut into ¼-inch slices
  • 4medium zucchini or yellow squash, cut into ¼-inch slices
  • 2portobello mushrooms, cut into ¼-inch slices
  • 2red bell peppers, cored and cut into ¼-inch slices, optional
  • ½cup extra virgin olive oil, or more as needed
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • 2plum tomatoes, cut into ¼-inch slices
  • 2tablespoons minced garlic
  • ¼cup chopped fresh basil leaves
  • ¼cup freshly grated Parmesan
  • ½cup bread crumbs, preferably fresh
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

391 calories; 21 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 14 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 50 grams carbohydrates; 10 grams dietary fiber; 8 grams sugars; 8 grams protein; 1229 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put a grill pan over medium-high heat, or prepare a grill; the heat should be medium-high, and the rack about 4 inches from flame. Brush eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms and bell pepper, if using, lightly with half the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; if roasting, grease 2 baking sheets with oil. Roast or grill vegetables on both sides until soft.

  2. Step 2

    Coat bottom and sides of 8-inch springform pan with oil. Layer a third of the eggplant slices into bottom of the pan, then layer in half the zucchini, mushrooms, bell pepper, if using, tomato, garlic and basil, sprinkling each layer with a bit of salt and pepper. Repeat layers until all vegetable are used. Press the top with a spatula or spoon to make the torte as compact as possible. Sprinkle top with Parmesan and bread crumbs, and drizzle with about 1 tablespoon oil.

  3. Step 3

    Bake torte in oven until hot throughout and browned on top, about 30 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before removing outer ring of pan, then let cool for another 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Ratings

5 out of 5
1,518 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Comments

The vegetables can be roasted/grilled up to a day before final assembly. It is a summer favorite.
Mark's recipes are all about flexibility. Make it your own. I prefer to slice the tomatoes as I go because I always use more than specified. I add a sprinkle of garlic, basil and Parmesan to each of the layers and top it with tomatoes, garlic, basil, Panko and parmesan. Bake on a sheet pan and rest at least 20 minutes. Hot or room temperature is excellent. Do not reheat; it turns to mush.

Fabulous recipe! Followed the suggestion below to add red bell pepper slices, used shallots instead of garlic and dotted each layer with goat cheese to add a bit more protein. Loved the goat cheese flavor with the veggies.

I love this recipe which I make slightly differently adding grilled red or yellow peppers and using a terrine mold lined with blanched leek leaves. After it's baked, the terrine is overturned and when it's cut, the slices look like a rainbow-colored 7-layer cake.

This was waaay better than it sounded...and it sounded pretty good. I just used eggplant, zucchini and yellow summer squash. Forgot to get mushrooms and garlic, so I made a layer of chopped onions instead. Also can't eat tomatoes or dairy and don't have a grill. It was divine. I roasted all the vegetables in the oven and assembled in the springform pan as directed and it came out looking positively elegant - it would make a great dish for a "fancy" lunch.

Cooked per recipe, aside from a few Tabasco drops on top at the end for a little zip. Liked it overall but a bit garlic heavy, and I like garlic! Will ‘half it’ next time.

Hoooooooooly cats! This was so, SO good. There was a lot of prep work, yes, but the result was more than worth it. As suggested by another, I subbed in pesto for the garlic and basil (the punch from the pecorino there was just divine), and added panko in between each layer. This time, I roasted all the veg in the oven but will do it on the grill next time (it’ll be much faster, I think). GREAT recipe!

Private comments are only visible to you.

or to save this recipe.