Spanish Vegetable Torte (Tortilla de Legumbres)
Serves: 4-6
Preparation time: 60 min.
This recipe is a variation of the popular Torta de Patatas (potato torte), a staple in many Spanish households. Cut into 2 x 3 inch rectangles it is also a tapas dish. Sometimes the expression torta de legumbres is used instead of tortilla. The latter is just the diminutive form of torta. Very practical, you can use many of the odds and ends in the vegetable bin of your fridge.
If you use a frying pan you need to flip the torte over. I avoid this tedious process and bake it in a baking dish.
Ingredients:
- 4 medium cooked potatoes, about 725 gr (3/4 lbs), diced
- 250 gr (1 cup) mixed peppers, green, yellow and red, chopped
- 1 medium red onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
- 125 gr (1/2 cup) cured ham cut into small dices
- 60 gr (1/4) cup chorizo, chopped
- 6 medium eggs, beaten
- 1 tbsp basil or cilantro chopped
- 125 gr (1/4 lbs) grated cheese
- salt and pepper
- 3 tbsp olive oil
As I mentioned, ingredients can vary, just look into your refrigerator. If you happen to have artichoke hearts on hand (you can use the canned variety but drain it well), slice them in big chunks and add them. They will give the dish an extra kick.
Preparation:
Preheat the oven 200°C (400°F) for 10 minutes. Sauté onions and the mixed peppers with 2 tbsp olive oil in a frying pan until they are soft, about 5 min. Add potatoes, ham, chorizo and sauté them for 1-2 minutes more. Remove from the heat and let it cool a bit.
Beat the eggs, basil add salt and pepper. Watch the salt and pepper content as the ham and chorizo are already salted. Add grated cheese. Set aside.
Oil your baking dish with 1 tbsp of olive oil and spread your potato-vegetable mixture in it evenly. Pour the egg, basil and cheese mixture over it. Bake it in the oven, middle shelf, for about 25-30 minutes. Or until the top seems set and crusty. Let it cool well before cutting.
You can serve the Tortilla de Legumbres as a side dish or as a main course with a mixed salad. It's a great choice for a picnic, especially if there are many hungry souls to feed.