Middle Eastern Phyllo Rice Torte

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Middle Eastern Phyllo Rice Torte

 

olive oil spray

1 1/2 cups wild-rice blend, rinsed well

3 cups water

3 plum tomatoes, halved and seeded

4 portobello mushrooms, stems discarded

salt and freshly ground pepper

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 medium sweet onions, thinly sliced

pinch of cinnamon

2 teaspoons garam masala

1/4 cup golden raisins

1/4 cup chopped dried apricots

1/4 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

10 sheets phyllo dough, plus extra in case of tearing (1/2 pound), thawed if

frozen

4 large eggs, beaten

1/4 cup almonds, toasted and coarsely chopped

 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch springform cake pan

generously with olive oil. In a medium saucepan, cover the rice with the

water and bring to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat until the rice is

barely tender and just cooked through, about 30 minutes. Drain well.

On a large nonstick baking sheet, arrange the tomatoes, cut side down, and

the Portobellos, stemmed side down. Season the tomatoes and mushrooms

generously with salt and pepper and bake until tender, about 30 minutes.

When the vegetables are cool enough to handle, peel the tomatoes and thinly

slice the mushrooms.

Heat the olive oil in a medium enameled cast-iron casserole. Add the onions,

cover and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about

10 minutes. Uncover and cook over moderately high heat, stirring frequently,

until the onions are browned, about 10 minutes longer. Add the cinnamon and

garam masala and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Remove

from the heat. Add the cooked rice, raisins and dried apricots and season

with salt and pepper. Stir in half of the sliced Portobellos and 1

tablespoon of the chopped parsley.

Layer 5 sheets of the phyllo dough on a work surface, turning each

successive one a quarter turn so that the stack forms a large round. Spray

the top layer with olive oil and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the parsley.

Repeat with the 5 remaining phyllo sheets, spraying the last sheet with

olive oil. Fit the phyllo stack into the prepared cake pan, pressing it into

the corners. Scatter 1 tablespoon of the parsley over the bottom. Gently

pack the rice mixture into the cake pan and smooth the surface with the back

of a spoon. Top the rice mixture with the remaining Portobellos and the

tomatoes. Pour the beaten eggs evenly over the tomatoes. Sprinkle the torte

with the chopped almonds and the remaining 1 tablespoon of chopped parsley.

Using kitchen scissors or a sharp knife, trim the phyllo overhang to about

1/4 inch.

Bake the rice torte on the bottom rack of the oven for about 1 hour, or

until the phyllo is deep golden and the filling is set in the middle. Let

the rice torte cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then carefully remove the

ring and slide the torte onto a large serving plate. Cut into wedges and

serve.

Makes 8 servings.