Can anyone tell me what this dish is? I know it’s called an Asparagus Torta…but what is it?
I’ve been carrying this recipe around for a few years now, it was printed on the little twist-tie that goes around a bunch of asparagus. It’s a simple little recipe, with a lot of eggs and parmesan like a frittata. But it also calls for a lot of breadcrumbs, giving it a texture similar to southern cornbread dressing or spoon bread. It’s tasty! Dare I say it’s almost like a savory brownie? That might be going a little far.
I’m a pretty good Google searcher, but the best I’ve been able to come up with so far is that it’s likely Italian in origin. I’m categorizing this torta under “Brunch” because it tastes like an egg dish I’d enjoy for breakfast or lunch (and, in fact, I did), or an appetizer, but I could also see it as a dinner side dish. But I’m still really curious to learn when it’s supposed to be served. Did someone at the asparagus company just make this up, or is this type of torta really a “thing” somewhere in the world? If you have any insights, please share!
Asparagus Torta
From the Delta Queen Asparagus twist-tie wrapper
Prep time: 25 mintues | Cook time: 45 minutes | Total time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Yield: 9 squares
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 pounds asparagus, cleaned and trimmed
- 6 eggs
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/4 cups parmesan cheese
- 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease the bottom and sides of an 8x8x2 pan with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Cook the asparagus until tender (I place the asparagus in a microwave safe bowl, cover and cook in the microwave for 2 minutes) and let cool. Cut the asparagus into small pieces.*
- Beat the eggs with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add asparagus, salt and pepper, mix well. Add cheese and bread crumbs to the mixture.
- Pour into the prepared pan and drizzle a little olive oil on top.
- Bake the torta for approximately 45 minutes. It should be nice and brown. Cool and cut into squares to serve.
*If you’d like to add decorative asparagus spears on top like I did in the photos, keep 3 cooked spears aside, split them in half lengthwise and arrange them on top before baking the torta.
Not sure what to call this one! It does sound like a spoon bread. I’ve heard of something with similar ingredients, but the eggs are cooked whole and the breadcrumbs are on the bottom. Either way, it sounds good!
This is actually my Husbands Grandmothers recipe. Her son ownes delta queen asparagus.
That’s so cool!
I have the same wrapper but use mushrooms instead. The ladies at work loved it.
Asparagus torta is similar to an Italian frittata with the exception that it is baked rather than first cooked in a skillet and finished in the oven, and it typically uses more veggies than a frittata. It comes from Northern Italy. There are artichoke, celery, rice, zucchini, spinach, potato, etc. tortas. Basically almost any vegetable can be cooked as a torta. Most authentic recipes, besides the veggies and eggs, have onions, bread crumbs and grated parm. Depending on the vegetable, often garlic, parsley and Italian Seasoning is added to the above
Thanks for sharing your insights, Cathy! ~Kathy