Hortotiropita Greens And Cheese Pie With Chard Food

CHARD, LEMON & CHEESE PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Drain the ricotta in a sieve for a few mins to remove the whey. Thoroughly wash the chard, and in a clean tea towel, dry the chard, then finely slice.
• Heat the olive oil in a wok over a medium heat, add the leek, onion, garlic, chilli, preserved lemon, cumin and fennel seeds with a big pinch of salt and cook until the leek and onion are softened and fragrant - about 10 mins. Add the chard, herbs and a good squeeze of lemon juice and season, cook for a few mins until the leaves are wilted but not mushy. Allow to cool, and then squeeze the chard in a sieve to remove any excess moisture.
• Whisk the eggs in a bowl until a little frothy and mix in the ricotta and feta. Stir in the greens mixture until well combined and grate over some nutmeg.
• Remove the filo from the pack. Brush the inside of a 20 x 9cm deep cake tin with a little rapeseed oil, and lay a sheet of filo in it, smoothing over the base and up the sides with your fingers - it should cover the bottom and reach up the sides, overhanging the edge. Brush with more oil to cover the pastry and repeat, laying another sheet to make sure the base is completely covered. Gradually build up the layers, brushing with plenty of oil between sheets, adjusting the positioning of the sheets to get even coverage until the tin is fully lined.
• Fill the tin with the cheese and greens mixture and cover with the filo, brushing with oil between layers and on the top. Add herbs between the layers for a pretty touch. Crumple the filo in the middle of the pie for an extra crispy ruffled texture and scatter with a few more fennel seeds. Bake for 50 mins until golden and the filling is set. Allow to settle for at least 20 mins before removing from the tin. Cool completely and chill in the fridge until ready to serve.

SWISS CHARD PIE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil while you stem and wash the greens. Wash them in 2 changes of water, lifting them from the water so that the dirt stays behind. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, add the chard and blanch for 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon or a skimmer, transfer to the ice water. Let sit just until cool, a few minutes, then drain and squeeze out excess water by taking up bunches of the greens, making a fist around them and squeezing. Chop coarsely and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Oil or butter a 10-inch tart or cake pan or a ceramic dish. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the onions. Cook, stirring often, until tender but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for another 30 seconds to a minute, until the garlic is fragrant. Stir in the greens, herbs, and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and stir the mixture for a minute, until the greens are coated with oil. Remove from the heat.
• Beat the eggs in a large bowl or the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Stir in the cheese. Stir in the greens, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Line the pie dish with 7 pieces of phyllo, lightly brushing each piece with butter or oil and turning the dish after each addition so that the edges of the phyllo drape evenly over the pan. Fill with the greens mixture. If using phyllo, fold the draped edges in over the filling, lightly brushing the folded in sheets of phyllo ,then layer the remaining 5 pieces on top, brushing each piece with butter or olive oil. Stuff the edges into the sides of the pan. Brush the top with the butter or oil, and make a few slashes so that steam can escape as the pie bakes.
• Bake 40 to 50 minutes in the preheated oven, until the crust is golden. Serve hot, warm, or room temperature.
• ADVANCE PREPERATION:
• The blanched greens will keep in the refrigerator in a covered bowl for 3 or 4 days. The dish can be prepared through Step 2 up to a day ahead. Keep the cooked greens in a covered bowl in the refrigerator. You can assemble the pie several hours before baking and keep it in the refrigerator, or freezer. Transfer directly from the freezer to the preheated oven, and increase the baking time by about 10 minutes. The finished tart keeps for a few days, but you must re-crisp the phyllo in a low oven (300º to 325ºF) for 10 to 20 minutes.

HORTOTIROPITA (GREENS AND CHEESE PIE) WITH CHARD

Steps:

• Prepare your dough mixing the ingredients if possible with a food processor.
• Cut the chard in ½ inch small pieces.
• Sautee the leek in the olive oil.
• Add to chard pieces to the leek. Cover and cook for 10 minutes covered.
• Add salt and pepper, incorporate to the greens and continue to stir over medium heat until the greens water is absorbed.
• Do not add any water.
• Keep aside to cool down a little.
• Add dill and mint.
• Crumble the feta cheese into the beaten eggs (but keep ½ beaten egg aside).
• If the greens mixture when cooled has produced a lot of liquid, drain it before adding to the cheese and egg mixture. Season again and mix well.
• Work your dough shortly and prepare your sheet.
• Now you can prepare a big pie or several small pastries.
• For the pie oil the base and the side of the container with olive oil. Coat the bottom of your mold with 2/3 of the dough. Spread your filling and cover with the sheet of the remaining dough.
• For the pastry shape "big ravioli" with the sheet of dough and the filling.
• Brush the beaten egg and decorate with sesame seeds.
• Cook in a preheated oven at 180 grades C for 40 minutes until pie/pastry becomes golden.
• Serve it warm or chilled.