Torta Rustica di Verdure al Pomodoro (Rustic Italian Vegetable Tart)
A rustic Italian tart of roasted courgette, peppers and aubergine over a layer of tomato sauce, with melting mozzarella and basil.
Made with Basic tomato sauce and Shortcrust pastry. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time1 hr 30
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.98 a head
- Oven220°C (200°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan). Toss the courgettes, pepper and aubergine with the olive oil and a pinch of salt on a large tray. Roast for 25 minutes, turning once, until soft and golden. Lower the oven to 180°C (160°C fan).
25 min - 2
Meanwhile, roll out your ready made shortcrust pastry (see the base recipe) and line a 25 cm loose bottomed tart tin. Chill for 20 minutes, then blind bake at 200°C (180°C fan) with paper and beans for 15 minutes. Remove them and bake for 5 minutes more.
20 min - 3
Spread your ready made tomato sauce (see the base recipe) over the pastry base in a thin even layer.
- 4
Top with the roasted vegetables and tear the mozzarella over them.
- 5
Beat the eggs with the basil and pepper and pour over the top. Scatter with the hard cheese.
- 6
Bake at 180°C (160°C fan) for 25 to 30 minutes until set and golden. Rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
28 min 20 s
Tips
- Roast the vegetables until they have lost most of their moisture, otherwise the tart turns watery.
- Use a thick tomato sauce. If yours is thin, simmer it until it holds on a spoon.
- Add a few black olives or capers for a salty note.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 2 hours and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Serve cold or reheat slices at 160C (fan 140C) for 12 minutes until hot through. Not suitable for freezing.
Questions
Can I use other vegetables?
Yes. Roasted butternut squash, red onion, fennel and mushrooms all work. Keep the total about 600 g and make sure they are well roasted.
Is it vegan?
No, as it has eggs, mozzarella and butter pastry. A vegan version needs a dairy free pastry, a dairy free melting cheese and a chickpea flour batter in place of the eggs.
What is a torta rustica?
It simply means a rustic tart or pie in Italian. The filling varies by region, from vegetables to cured meats and cheese.
More made with basic tomato sauce
Carne Guisada (Tex Mex Beef Stew with Warm Corn Tortillas)
DFEFNFHarissa Prawn Linguine with Cherry Tomatoes
DFEFNFBeef Tagine with Peas and Preserved Lemon (Tajine Lham Bil Bsela)
DFEFNFFasolakia me Kreas (Greek Green Beans with Beef in Tomato)
DFEFNFDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.