While layering the noodles in the Lasagnas for International Festival at my son’s elementary school in Austin, I thought that there really isn’t much in the way of Spelt for creating layered casseroles and dishes. So I came up with the following two recipes, one original, and the other a family recipe.
Spelt Kracker Casserole
- 6 Seeded Spelt flatbreads
- 1 cooked chicken breast
- 10 frozen, cooked shrimp
- ½ sweet onion
- ½ cup pitted green Spanish cocktail olives
- 1 roasted red pepper
- 4 oz fresh, washed spinach leaves
- 2 medium tomatoes
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup shredded cheese (we use the Mexican taco mix)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt, Pepper
- Parmesan cheese
In an 8-inch by 8-inch baking dish, Use 3 flatbreads to cover the bottom. To these add precooked, shredded chicken. Add the precooked shrimp (I use the frozen). Layer with finely sliced or diced onions. Add the green olives, sliced into halves. Julienne the red pepper and layer. Crush 3 more Krackers and spread on top of the chicken, shrimp, onions, olives and peppers. Layer the spinach leaves onto the Krackers. Slice and spread the tomatoes on the spinach.
In a separate bowl, beat the egg, add the cottage cheese (or ricotta or plain yogurt), the minced garlic, salt and pepper. I also add fresh oregano because it grows in our garden. Cover the tomatoes with the cheese topping, and sprinkle liberally with grated parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes, or until the top is well browned.
This recipe could easily be meatless, and a good substitute would be cooked tofu and portabello mushrooms.
contributed by: George Eckrich
Summer Zucchini and Tomato Casserole
This is the perfect recipe for enjoying all the zucchini and tomatoes that are available in the summer. The amounts are inexact and depend on the size of your baking dish. So writes my Mother:
Butter a baking dish.
Add:
- Layer of zucchini, salt and pepper
- Layer of tomatoes, salt and pepper
- Layer of diced onions
- Layer of crushed Dr. Krackers, your choice
- Grated cheese
Repeat layers until dish is full. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.
When we make this dish, we like to add fresh cilantro or basil, depending on what we have available, and often add Jalapeno peppers for some more fun.
contributed by: George Eckrich