Greek Greens & Potato Pie

Introduction

The September sun rose quickly and kept pace with the volume of tourists as we made our way to a few more of the monasteries. As we walked from the car to the the trail that led to the next monastery we walked through vendors selling water, trinkets, and food. I was more curious than hungry when I handed over a few euros for a wedge of spinach pie. This was my introduction into authentic greek pie and I was not expecting what I tasted and from a small cart on the top of a large hill. The crust was crispy and buttery, almost a phyllo, but with more thickness. And the filling was a harmony of greens, onion, ricotta, and potatoes. Sitting in the comfort of our air-conditioned car, and being watched closely by one of the local cats, we questioned if we should get a second wedge. I still can’t replicate the recipe exactly, but have come up with one that satisfies the craving.
Adapted from multiple Greek and Crete recipes.

Recipe

Yields1 ServingDifficultyIntermediate
Prep Time1 hr 5 minsCook Time50 minsTotal Time1 hr 55 mins

Ingredients

Olive Oil Pie Dough
 1 ⅛ cups flour
  tsp salt
  cup olive oil
 ½ tbsp red wine vineger
  cup water
Filling
 ½ lb small potatoes, red or Yukon Gold
 salt
 1 ½ lbs mixed greens (spinach, kale, chard, etc)
 1 tbsp olive oil
 ½ onion, chopped
 1 clove garlic, minced
 ¼ cup Italian parsley, chopped
 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
 fresh ground pepper
 ½ cup ricotta
 1 eggs, beaten
 1 tbsp milk
 ¼ cup gruyer cheese, grated, tightly packed
  cup parmesan, grated
 1 dash nutmeg, freshly grated

Directions

Olive Oil Pie Dough
1

Dissolve the yeast in the water, add the sugar and allow to sit until the mixture is creamy, about 5 minutes.

2

Beat in the egg and the olive oil. Combine 2 cups of the flour and the salt and stir into the yeast mixture. You can use a bowl and wooden spoon for this, or a mixer; combine the ingredients using the paddle, then switch to the dough hook. Work the dough until it comes together in a coherent mass, adding flour as necessary. The dough should be springy and not stick to your hands.

3

Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for a few minutes, adding flour as necessary, until the dough is smooth; do not overwork the dough. Shape into a ball. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise in a draft-free spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

4

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, gently knead a couple of times and cut into 2 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball. Cover the dough loosely with plastic wrap and let rest for 5 minutes, then roll out into thin rounds, as directed in the recipe. If not using right away, freeze the dough to prevent it from rising and becoming too "bready."

Filling
5

Place the potatoes and 2 teaspoons of salt in a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover partly and boil the potatoes until tender when pierced with a knife, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, stem the greens and wash the leaves thoroughly, making sure to remove all sand.

6

When the potatoes are done, remove from the water and set aside until cool enough to handle, then cut in 1/2-inch slices.

7

Bring the water back to a rolling boil and add another teaspoon of salt and the greens. Blanch until just tender, about 2 minutes. Remove from the water with a slotted spoon or deep-fry skimmer and transfer immediately to a bowl of cold water. Drain and squeeze dry. It is not necessary to remove every drop of water. Chop coarsely and set aside.

8

Heat the oil over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Stir in the greens, parsley and basil and gently toss together. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and transfer to a large bowl.

9

Set aside 2 tablespoons of the beaten eggs. In a large bowl mix the ricotta, rest of the eggs. and milk.

10

Add greens to the bowl and mix with the Gruyere and Parmesan, add more salt and pepper and the nutmeg, and combine everything thoroughly. Taste and adjust seasonings.

11

Place filling in refrigerator to cool.

Build Pie
12

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Gently punch down the pastry dough. If making a galette, roll out into a large, thin circle, about 16 inches in diameter. Top with the filling, leaving a 2 1/2-inch edge, and fold the edges in over the filling, draping folds all the way around, leaving an opening in the center. If making a torta, oil a 10-inch pie dish, springform pan or a tart pan with a removable rim. Roll out two-thirds of the dough into a thin circle, and line the pie dish or pan; ease the dough into the edges. There should be some overhang.

13

Line the bottom of the crust with the sliced potatoes.

14

Pour the greens mixture into the pie or galette and spread evenly. If making a galette, leave 1/2 inch border to stretch and fold over the filling.

15

Roll out the other piece of dough into a circle, and place on top of the filling. Fold the edges of the bottom crust over the top crust, and crimp the dough all the way around the edge. Gently score the top of the dough with a paring knife. Brush the torte or galette with the reserved egg.

16

Bake until the top is golden brown, 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Serve hot or warm.

Ingredients

Olive Oil Pie Dough
 1 ⅛ cups flour
  tsp salt
  cup olive oil
 ½ tbsp red wine vineger
  cup water
Filling
 ½ lb small potatoes, red or Yukon Gold
 salt
 1 ½ lbs mixed greens (spinach, kale, chard, etc)
 1 tbsp olive oil
 ½ onion, chopped
 1 clove garlic, minced
 ¼ cup Italian parsley, chopped
 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
 fresh ground pepper
 ½ cup ricotta
 1 eggs, beaten
 1 tbsp milk
 ¼ cup gruyer cheese, grated, tightly packed
  cup parmesan, grated
 1 dash nutmeg, freshly grated

Directions

Olive Oil Pie Dough
1

Dissolve the yeast in the water, add the sugar and allow to sit until the mixture is creamy, about 5 minutes.

2

Beat in the egg and the olive oil. Combine 2 cups of the flour and the salt and stir into the yeast mixture. You can use a bowl and wooden spoon for this, or a mixer; combine the ingredients using the paddle, then switch to the dough hook. Work the dough until it comes together in a coherent mass, adding flour as necessary. The dough should be springy and not stick to your hands.

3

Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for a few minutes, adding flour as necessary, until the dough is smooth; do not overwork the dough. Shape into a ball. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise in a draft-free spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

4

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, gently knead a couple of times and cut into 2 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball. Cover the dough loosely with plastic wrap and let rest for 5 minutes, then roll out into thin rounds, as directed in the recipe. If not using right away, freeze the dough to prevent it from rising and becoming too "bready."

Filling
5

Place the potatoes and 2 teaspoons of salt in a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover partly and boil the potatoes until tender when pierced with a knife, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, stem the greens and wash the leaves thoroughly, making sure to remove all sand.

6

When the potatoes are done, remove from the water and set aside until cool enough to handle, then cut in 1/2-inch slices.

7

Bring the water back to a rolling boil and add another teaspoon of salt and the greens. Blanch until just tender, about 2 minutes. Remove from the water with a slotted spoon or deep-fry skimmer and transfer immediately to a bowl of cold water. Drain and squeeze dry. It is not necessary to remove every drop of water. Chop coarsely and set aside.

8

Heat the oil over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Stir in the greens, parsley and basil and gently toss together. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and transfer to a large bowl.

9

Set aside 2 tablespoons of the beaten eggs. In a large bowl mix the ricotta, rest of the eggs. and milk.

10

Add greens to the bowl and mix with the Gruyere and Parmesan, add more salt and pepper and the nutmeg, and combine everything thoroughly. Taste and adjust seasonings.

11

Place filling in refrigerator to cool.

Build Pie
12

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Gently punch down the pastry dough. If making a galette, roll out into a large, thin circle, about 16 inches in diameter. Top with the filling, leaving a 2 1/2-inch edge, and fold the edges in over the filling, draping folds all the way around, leaving an opening in the center. If making a torta, oil a 10-inch pie dish, springform pan or a tart pan with a removable rim. Roll out two-thirds of the dough into a thin circle, and line the pie dish or pan; ease the dough into the edges. There should be some overhang.

13

Line the bottom of the crust with the sliced potatoes.

14

Pour the greens mixture into the pie or galette and spread evenly. If making a galette, leave 1/2 inch border to stretch and fold over the filling.

15

Roll out the other piece of dough into a circle, and place on top of the filling. Fold the edges of the bottom crust over the top crust, and crimp the dough all the way around the edge. Gently score the top of the dough with a paring knife. Brush the torte or galette with the reserved egg.

16

Bake until the top is golden brown, 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Serve hot or warm.

Greek Greens & Potato Pie

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