Braised Wild Greens And Sweet Onion Pita Hortopita Recipes

HORTOPITA

Steps:

• For the crust: In a large bowl or food processor, mix the flour and salt. Add the oil and liquid and mix briefly, until a dough forms. Pour the dough out onto a floured board and knead until the dough is smooth, about 5 minutes. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
• Preheat a pot of canola oil to 375 degrees F.
• For the filling: In a large pot, briefly boil the greens until wilted. Remove and strain the excess water.
• Heat a saute pan on medium heat. Add 4 ounces of the olive oil. When the oil is hot add in the spring onions and cook until translucent. Add the scallions, and continue to saute until they are tender. Add the wilted greens and parsley and saute for 3 minutes more. Remove from heat and add the dill and salt, to season. Set aside to cool.
• Divide the dough into 4 pieces. On a floured surface, roll 1 piece out into a large rectangle. Trim the edges if needed. Brush both sides of the dough with olive oil and place a generous portion of the filling on 1 end of the dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Roll the dough in a cylinder and then shape into a coil. Continue with the other dough pieces and repeat the process. Fry them one at a time. Cut in half and serve warm or room temperature.

QUICK-BRAISED GREENS WITH BACON AND SWEET ONIONS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. When water boils, add greens and cook until wilted and tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Place bacon in a large frying pan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until browned and fat is rendered, about 3 minutes. Add onion and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add greens and turn to coat well. Add broth - it should cover greens and let cook until broth is reduced and greens are very tender, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and serve.

HORTOPITA

Steps:

• Put the pumpkin in a colander, salt lightly and toss. Weight the pumpkin with a plate and weights (some canned food will do), and drain for about an hour. Trim, wash, drain and coarsely chop the greens and herbs.
• Preheat the oven to 350. Squeeze the pumpkin to get rid of as much liquid as possible. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet (or wide pot), and cook the pumpkin until it wilts and most or all of its liquid has evaporated. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Wipe the skillet clean, and heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in it; cook down the leek and onions, stirring, until wilted. Transfer to the bowl with the pumpkin.
• Heat another 2 tablespoons of oil in the skillet, and wilt the chard and spinach; add to the bowl. Add the remaining greens and herbs to the bowl, and season to taste with a generous amount of salt and a little pepper. Reserve 8 tablespoons of olive oil; stir what remains into the greens mixture.
• Lightly oil a 15-inch round pan or a shallow, rectangular roasting or sheet pan (16 inches by 12 inches). Roll out the first dough ball on a lightly floured surface, using the shape of your pan as the guide. For round pans, roll out to a circle about 18 inches in diameter; for rectangular pans, roll out to a rectangle about 3 inches larger than the perimeter of the pan. Place the dough inside, leaving about 2 inches hanging over the edge. Brush with two tablespoons of olive oil. Repeat with the second piece of dough. Brush that too with olive oil. Spread the filling evenly over the phyllo.
• Repeat the rolling process for the third sheet, placing it over the filling and pressing down gently. Brush with olive oil. Finally, roll out the last piece of dough to a slightly smaller piece, and place it over the surface of the pie. Join and fold in the bottom and top overhanging dough, rolling it around the perimeter of the pan to form a pretty rim. Brush the top of the pie generously with olive oil. Score into serving pieces (do not cut through to the bottom).
• Place in the center rack of the oven, and bake for about 40 to 50 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and crisp and the pie pulls away from the perimeter of the pan. Remove, cool in the pan and serve warm or at room temperature.

BRAISED GREENS

Steps:

• Wash the greens and remove tough stems. Cut or break greens into 2-inch lengths.
• Heat a nonstick pan over high heat; reduce heat to medium-high, add the oil and sauté the garlic for 30 seconds. Add the greens, and sauté for 1 minute.
• Stir in the stock, Sherry and hot pepper flakes; cover, and cook 8 to 10 minutes, until greens are soft.