Family Table Treasures

Sharing treasured family recipes from our table to yours!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipe Box
    • Desserts
      • Bars
      • Cookies
      • Cakes
      • Specialty Cakes
      • Cupcakes
      • Pies
      • Candy
      • mousses
      • puddings
      • souffles
    • Breakfast
      • Muffins
      • Breads
    • Side Dishes
      • Soups
      • Vegetables
      • Stews & Chilis
    • Condiments
      • Sauces
    • Appetizers
    • Healthy bites
      • Dairy Free
      • Gluten free
    • Beverages
    • Heritage Series
    • Main Dishes
      • Beef
      • Fish
      • Pork
      • Poultry
      • Pizza
    • Garnishes
    • Holiday
    • Kitchen Tools
  • Cleaning Tips
    • Disinfecting
    • Decluttering
    • Organization
  • Mom’s Corner
    • DIY Projects
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Home » Pesto & Sun Dried Tomato Torta

Pesto & Sun Dried Tomato Torta

June 25, 2015 by Nicole Crocker 3 Comments

Sharing is caring!

107 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
Jump to RecipePrint Recipe

An impressive appetizer that will have your guests raving and begging for the recipe!  This Pesto & Sun Dried Tomato Torta is so full of the flavors of Tuscany you’ll think you’re there!

Pesto & Sun Dried Tomato Torta

A couple months ago I shared a recipe for Caprese Tartlets that a family friend makes.  She’s the one who I said we always look forward to when she shows up at a party because we know she will have something spectacular to eat.

Well she did it again! This is the appetizer that she brought to my daughter’s graduation party.  Let me tell you… everyone was raving over this one!  Several people asked for the recipe so I knew I needed to share it here on Family Table Treasures.

Pesto & Sun Dried Tomato Torta

 

I made this for dad on Father’s Day along with the refreshing Mai Tais that I shared the recipe for earlier this week.  We couldn’t get enough of this tasty dip and I’m kind of wishing I didn’t cut the recipe in half.

It was pretty simple to make too.  The only problem I had was that  I made it at Paul’s house and he didn’t have a food processor.  I had to use his blender and it really did not work well so it took me a bit longer.  If you have a food processor, emulsion blender or a high performance blender like a Ninja or Vitamix you’ll have this whipped up in no time!  Next time I’ll make sure I have my Ninja blender with me!

Pesto & Sun Dried Tomato Torta

Pesto & Sun Dried Tomato Torta
Print

Pesto & Sun Dried Tomato Torta

An impressive appetizer that will have your guests raving and begging for the recipe!  This Pesto & Sun Dried Tomato Torta is so full of the flavors of Tuscany you'll think you're there!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
Total Time 20 minutes minutes
Servings 15 people
Calories 285kcal
Author Nicole Crocker

Ingredients

  • 4 Cloves Garlic
  • 1 1/2 Cups Packed, fresh basil leaves
  • 1/4 Cup Pine nuts
  • 2 Tablespoons Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Fresh lemon juice
  • 2 2/3 Cups Cream cheese ,room temperature (about 21 ounces)
  • 1/4 Cup Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 1/3 Cups Drained oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
  • 1/3 Cup Tomato paste
  • 3/4 Cup Unsalted Butter Room temperature
  • Nonstick vegetable oil spray
  • Fresh basil sprigs
  • Toasted pine nuts
  • extra virgin olive oil ,for drizzle on top
  • Baguette slices ,toasted

Instructions

  • Finely chop garlic in processor or high powered blender. Add basil, 1/4 cup pine nuts, oil and lemon juice. Process until well blended. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Process until just mixed. Transfer pesto to medium bowl.
  • Rinse out processor or blender. Place sun dried tomatoes to processor and mix until finely chopped. Add tomato paste and process until mixture is almost smooth. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and blend well. Remove mixture to a small dish.
  • Using electric mixer, beat 2 cups cream cheese and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Spray 6-cup soufflé dish with nonstick spray. Line with plastic wrap, extending plastic over sides. Spread 3/4 cup cream cheese-butter mixture evenly over bottom of prepared dish. Top with half of tomato mixture, then 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, then half of pesto mixture. Repeat layering with 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, remaining tomato mixture, 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture and remaining pesto. Top with remaining cream cheese-butter mixture. Cover and chill overnight. (This can be made up to 3 days ahead. At the very least it will need 24 hours to chill.)
  • Invert torta onto platter. Peel off plastic. Garnish with basil sprigs, toasted pine nuts and a drizzle of olive oil on top. Serve with toasted baguette slices or crackers.
  • This is a large batch serving. I would cut the recipe in half for a smaller gathering.
  • I cut it in half and it served 8 of us generously with some left over.

Nutrition

Calories: 285kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 228mg | Potassium: 294mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1180IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 0.8mg

This recipe was shared by a family friend who got it from a local cook book.  I also found the recipe on Epicurious and slightly adapted it.

I think the directions explain the process of puting this together well but I thought I would share a picture of how to line your dish with plastic wrap.  Make sure you spray inside of your dish before lining it with plastic wrap for easy removal.

Pesto & Sun Dried Tomato Torta

Pesto & Sun Dried Tomato Torta

This Pesto & Sun Dried Tomato Torta is great on toasted baguettes, crackers, veggies or anything else you want to make more delicious!

If your summer schedule is anything like mine you have a lot of parties coming up that you’ll be looking for some great apps for.  Don’t worry. I’ve got you covered.  Here are some other great appetizer recipes for you to try.  Just click on the picture for the recipe.

{Cheesy} Bacon Dip

 

Cannoli Dip {with Lemon Zest}

If you would like to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest or Google+ just click on the social media buttons at the top right hand corner of the page and it will bring you right to my page.  Once you’re there just hit “like” or “follow”!  Easy!  It’s a great way for you to see when I add something new!

Oh yeah….and if you would like to share this recipe you can just use the share buttons right at the bottom of this post.  I would appreciate it so much!   Sharing is caring!

I will be sharing this recipe at the following link parties:

Let’s Get Real

I’m Lovin It

Foodie Fridays

Wow Us Wednesdays

Create It Thursdays

 

Filed Under: Appetizers, Gluten free Tagged With: crackers, emulsion blender, Father's Day, graduation party, Ninja blender, parties, summer, toasted baguettes, veggies, Vitamix

Comments

  1. Mom says

    June 25, 2015 at 12:27 pm

    Always a big favorite and recipe always requested. I just shared one for someone last week after the party.
    And makes a nice colorful presentation. I loved it with the toasted baguettes.

    Reply
  2. Christina @ Juggling Real Food and Real Life says

    June 26, 2015 at 3:36 pm

    Hi Nicole. You had me at cream cheese. I need to figure out how to become friends with your family friend. She has awesome recipes. This is so beautiful for summer, but I can imagine serving it at Christmas too with the red and green colors. I think I’ll be making this over and over.

    Reply
    • Nicole Crocker says

      June 29, 2015 at 3:03 am

      You’ll definitely fall in love with this recipe Christina! I know I did. You are right about this being a perfect appetizer for Christmas. In fact my friend sent me a text after I posted this to thank me and that’s exactly what she said. She always makes it during the Christmas season.

      Reply
5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Welcomeabout me

    Hi, I’m Nicole. Welcome to my site. I hope you enjoy trying some of my family’s favorite recipes. There have been many wonderful memories that were created around our family table as we shared some of these meals. Pull up a chair and enjoy!

    Categories
    • & Chili
    • Appetizers
    • Bars
    • Beef
    • Beverages
    • Breads
    • Breakfast
    • Brownies
    • Cakes
    • Candy
    • Celebrating Our Heritage Series
    • Cleaning Tips
    • Condiments
    • Cookies
    • Cupcakes
    • Dairy Free
    • Decluttering
    • Desserts
    • Disinfecting
    • DIY Projects
    • Fish
    • Freedom From Clutter
    • Garnishes
    • Gluten free
    • Healthy bites
    • Heritage Series
    • Holiday
    • Kitchen Tools
    • Main Dishes
    • Mom's Corner
    • Most Popular Recipes
    • mousses
    • Muffins
    • Organization
    • Pasta
    • Pies
    • Pizza
    • Pork
    • Poultry
    • Salads
    • Sauces
    • Side Dishes
    • souffles
    • Soups
    • Specialty Cakes
    • Stews
    • Stews & Chilis
    • Uncategorized
    • Vegetables

    Never Miss A Recipe!

    Easter Favorites

    Frosted cake with spun sugar nest on top with mini eggs in it.

    Best Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

    Decorating Easter Eggs {With Onion Peel Dye} {Celebrating Our Heritage Series}

    Colored eggs in a basket filled with green grass

    How to decorate Easter Eggs with Onion Peel Dye

    Recent Posts

    Stacked Spiced Pumpkin Latte Cookies on a white plate with pumpkins, fall leaves and a coffee mug in the background

    Spiced Pumpkin Latte Cookies

    Shirmp Cake being dipped into Lemon Aioli

    Easy Shrimp Cakes with Lemon Aioli

    Get Delicious Recipes Served Right To Your In Box!

    Copyright © 2025 · Lifestyle Pro Child Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

    107 shares
     

    Loading Comments...
     

      Rate This Recipe

      Your vote:




      A rating is required
      A name is required
      An email is required

      Recipe Ratings without Comment

      Something went wrong. Please try again.