Best Kale Or Chard Pie Recipes

LIGURIAN KALE PIE (TORTA DI VERDURA)

Steps:

• Place the greens in a large pot. Add 3 cups of water, cover and set over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until wilted. Transfer to a colander. Once cool, wring out the greens to remove as much water as possible.
• Using a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix the flours and 2 teaspoons salt until combined. Add 1 cup cold water and 1/4 cup olive oil and mix on medium speed for 8 minutes. (You can also mix by hand: Using a wooden spoon, combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl, then stir in the wet ingredients until combined. Transfer to a floured board and knead for 10 minutes.) Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces and let rest for at least 10 minutes. (The dough can be refrigerated for up to 1 day.)
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place half of the greens in a food processor and pulse until the pieces are about the size of a grain of rice. Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Repeat with the remaining greens. Process the scallions and herbs to a rough paste and mix into the greens. Stir in the egg, cheeses, 3 tablespoons olive oil and nutmeg. Season to taste with salt.
• Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Flour a flat surface and roll one of dough balls into a circle about 16 inches in diameter, 1/8- to 1/16-inch thick, and lay it on the cookie sheet. Scoop the filling onto the dough and spread it evenly to 3/4 inch from the edge. Add more flour to the surface, roll out the second ball of dough and drape it across the filling. Trim the top layer so it hangs over the filling by 1/2 inch. Pinch together the layers. (If the dough doesn't stick, moisten the edges with a little water.) Slash two vents into the top of the pie and brush with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil.
• Bake until the pie is slightly puffy in the center and the filling has set, 40 to 50 minutes. If the top crust browns too quickly, cover it with foil. Cool before eating. It will keep 3 to 4 days at room temperature. If refrigerated, warm the slices in a skillet before eating.

GREEK 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 (I like to use a ceramic dish for this). 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. If you are not using phyllo dough for this, remove 2 tablespoons of the beaten eggs, for brushing the crust, and crumble or blend in the feta. Toss with the greens, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Line the pie dish with two-thirds of the dough, or 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. For pie dough, roll out the other piece of the dough and place over the filling. Crimp the bottom and top edges together, then pinch an attractive fluted edge all the way around the rim of the pie. Brush the top with the beaten egg you set aside, and make a few slashes in the top crust 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.