Afternoon Snack: Ligurian Torte Verde

Indulge in Liguria’s go-to dish – a savory tart filled with cheese, eggs, and greens on a thin olive oil crust. Whether for breakfast, lunch, or a snack, it’s a local favorite across the region.

Torte Verde is a savoury vegetable tart very typical of Ligurian cuisine. There are lots of variations, but basically it’s composed of a mixture of cheese, eggs, and greens baked in a very thin olive oil crust. Chard, beet greens, and spinach are combined with dandelion or other wild bitter greens, using up whatever is in season. It’s then baked in the thinnest of pastry crusts, and served in large wedges for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks all over Liguria.

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It’s an ideal nosh for a day of exploring the five hillside villages of the Cinque Terre. Whether you plan to hike the trails or take the train between towns, expect to do some climbing when you visit the region. So, bulking up with some healthy, hearty food is a good idea.

Now, obviously, you don’t have to go to Italy to make this delightful dish. And it’s really really easy to make. Don’t tell anyone, but I took some liberties with this version – I’m using prepared filo rather than making the traditional olive oil pastry, so feel OK about taking a shortcut with the crust.

Ligurian Torte Verde

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• Author: Beth Dunham
• Total Time: 55 minutes

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Description

Indulge in Liguria’s go-to dish – a savory tart filled with cheese, eggs, and greens on a thin olive oil crust. Whether for breakfast, lunch, or a snack, it’s a local favorite across the region.

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Ingredients

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• 500 grams 17.6 ounces dark leafy greens (I used 1/2 spinach and 1/2 chard)
• 1 small onion- finely chopped (about 100 grams)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic-finely minced
• 200 grams 7 ounces ricotta cheese
• 100 grams 3.5 ounces chèvre
• 50 grams 1.7 ounces finely grated Parmigiano Reggiano
• 2 large eggs
• Finely grated zest of half a lemon
• 5 or 6 gratings fresh nutmeg
• 5 sheets filo pastry
• 2 tablespoons melted butter

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Instructions

1. Trim the thick stalks from your greens, and discard. Chop the greens into small pieces, the thicker the leaves, the finer the chop.
2. In a large frying pan, sauté the onion in the olive oil over medium heat until soft and lightly browned on the edges. Stir in the garlic and sauté briefly, just a few seconds, then start adding the greens. They will wilt quickly and reduce dramatically in size, so just keep adding handfuls until everything gets wilted. Remove from heat, and let cool. Use your hands to squeeze all of the excess moisture from the greens before adding the rest of the ingredients.
3. In a small bowl, gently beat the eggs, add cheeses, lemon zest, and nutmeg and stir to combine. Add the greens and stir until everything is incorporated.
4. Stack the sheets of filo pastry on a layer of plastic wrap, and cover with another layer to prevent the dough from drying out. Brush the first sheet of filo with melted butter, and drape it over a 9 inch pie plate. Continue with the next layer of pastry, brush with some melted butter, and drape over the first sheet of filo, rotating the pastry a quarter turn. Repeat with the next three layers of filo.
5. Spoon the filling into the center of the pastry, and spread evenly. One corner at a time, loosely drape the filo over the filling, crumpling it toward the center.
6. Bake in the center of a preheated 375F oven for 30-35 minutes, until golden brown.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Baking, Breakfast, Primi, Snack
• Cuisine: Italian