Perfect for entertaining, this gorgeous torta -- sheets of delicate crespelle layered with rich besciamella and sweet Italian sausage -- won't disappoint. You'll be deliciously rewarded for your effort. Ingredients CRESPELLE 2 large eggs 2/3 cup whole milk 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted FILLING 3/4 pound broccoli rabe 4 cloves garlic finely chopped 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes 3 tablespoons olive oil 3/4 pound sweet Italian sausage casings removed BESCIAMELLA SAUCE 1/2 stick Unsalted butter (1/4 cup) 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 3/4 cups whole milk 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 ounce Parmigiano-Reggiano (1/2 cup), finely grated ASSEMBLY 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs 1/4 pound Italian Fontina chilled, coarsely grated (1 cup)

Instructions
Makes 4 to 6 (main course) servings.

Special equipment: an 8-inch (20-cm) round springform pan preparation

MAKE CRESPELLE:
Blend together eggs, milk, flour, and salt in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a bowl.

Lightly brush a 10-inch nonstick skillet with melted butter and heat over moderate heat until hot but not smoking. Ladle about 1/4 cup batter into skillet, tilting and rotating skillet to coat bottom, then pour excess batter back into bowl. (If batter sets before skillet is coated, reduce heat slightly for next crespella.) Cook until just set and underside is lightly browned, about 30 seconds, then invert crespella onto a clean kitchen towel to cool completely. (It will be cooked on one side only.) Make 5 more crespelle with remaining batter in same manner, brushing skillet with melted butter as needed.

MAKE FILLING:
Cut off and discard 1 inch from stem ends of broccoli rabe, then coarsely chop remainder.

Cook broccoli rabe in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, until just tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a large bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking. Drain well in a colander and pat dry.

Cook garlic with red-pepper flakes in oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 8 minutes. Add sausage and cook, breaking up sausage with back of a wooden spoon, until no longer pink inside, about 5 minutes. Stir in broccoli rabe and cook, tossing to coat with sausage, until heated through, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

MAKE SAUCE:
Heat butter in a 2- to 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderately low heat until foam subsides, then add flour and cook, whisking, 3 minutes. Add milk in a slow stream, whisking, and bring to a boil, whisking. Reduce heat and simmer, whisking occasionally, 5 minutes. Stir in salt, pepper, and cheese, then remove from heat.

ASSEMBLE TORTA:
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F. Invert bottom of springform pan (torta will be easier to slide off bottom when serving), then lock. Wrap outside of entire bottom of springform pan with a double layer of foil. Generously brush inside bottom and side of pan with butter, then sprinkle bottom with bread crumbs.

Stir together Fontina and parmesan in a bowl. Put 1 crespella in bottom of springform pan, then sprinkle with one sixth of filling and drizzle with 1/3 cup sauce. Make 5 more layers each of crespella, filling, and sauce (end with a layer of sauce). Sprinkle cheese mixture evenly over top.

Bake, uncovered, until top is bubbling and golden, about 25 minutes. Cool in pan on a rack 15 minutes. Remove side of pan and carefully slide torta off bottom of pan onto a plate. Cut torta into wedges.

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Yields: 4 Servings
     Gourmet magazine, January 2007, page 148

notes:  * Broccoli rabe can be cooked and drained 1 day ahead and chilled in an airtight container. Bring to room temperature before using.
* Sauce can be made 1 day ahead and cooled completely, uncovered, then chilled, covered.
* Crespelle can be made 3 days ahead and chilled, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.

* I made this as an intro to Easter dinner, and it was wonderful. I didn't bother to search out my 8" springform pan and just used my 9" pan, so the torta presented with sloped sides and a domed top. Georgeous! Everyone loved it and it re-heated well the next day also. I'm thinking about making it again with smaller crepes and rolling the filling similar to canneloni, it will be wonderful for a buffet.

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