Tropical Silverbeet Chard Phyllo Recipes

SILVERBEET ( SWISS CHARD) AND MUSHROOM PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over a moderate heat. Saute the onion and garlic for 5 mins or until soft.
• Add the mushrooms and saute for another 2 minutes
• Add the silverbeet, nutmeg and season. Cover the saucepan and cook until the silverbeet wilts.
• Remove from the heat, stir the silverbeet through the mushrooms and drain any excess moisture.
• Transfer the silverbeet mixture into a large 6 cup capacity baking dish.
• Whisk the eggs and cream together, season and stir through the grated cheese, then pour the egg mixture over the silverbeet mixture, swirl the egg mixture through the silverbeet using a fork.
• Bake the pie for 40 mins or until golden and set. Allow to cool slightly before slicing.

SWISS CHARD PHYLLO PIE

Steps:

• Grate the Comte cheese.
• Peel and grate the potato.
• Fill a large pot with water and put on high heat to boil.
• Wash the Swiss chard and remove the stems.
• Rip or chop up the chard.
• Add the chard to the water for about 4 minutes (until tender).
• Chop the onion while the chard cooks.
• Drain the chard and run under cold water.
• Squeeze out the excess water from the chard.
• Mix chard, onion, potato, cheeses and oregano in a large bowl (optional: add salt and pepper to taste).
• Add lightly beaten eggs (or use egg-beaters to avoid cholesterol like I do).
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Lay out one phyllo dough sheet on a non-stick baking sheet, lightly brush with olive oil.
• Place another phyllo sheet on top of the first, brush with oil.
• Repeat until you have used about five sheets of phyllo dough.
• Spoon the chard mixture onto the middle of the pile of phyllo sheets and spread it out (about 1/2 inch from edges).
• Layer the last five phyllo dough sheets (one by one, brushing each with oil) over the chard mixture.
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes (phyllo crust should be light brown on edges, and very flaky).

SILVERBEET (SWISS CHARD) - OR SPINACH - LEEK & GARLIC QUICHE

Steps:

• Use pastry to line the base and sides of a 2.5cm deep, 26cm (base) fluted, loose-based flan pan.
• Trim excess pastry.
• Place pan and pastry in the freezer for 15 minutes or until firm.
• In a small pan, shaking the pan frequently, toast the pine nuts until lightly browned; remove from the pan and set aside.
• Or you can use the same larger pan that you then use for steps 3-5.
• Place the bacon in a large non-stick pan over a medium-high heat and cook, stirring often, for 4 minutes or until light golden.
• Add the leek and garlic to the pan and cook for 2 minutes or until they have softened.
• Add the silverbeet - or spinach - and toss all the ingredients until they are well-combined; remove the pan from the heat and set aside for 3 minutes or until the silverbeet - or spinach - has wilted and completely cooled.
• Place a baking tray in the oven and preheat the oven and tray to 200°C.
• Place the flan pan on the hot tray and bake the pastry case for 10 to 12 minutes or until it is lightly golden.
• Remove the flan pan and pastry case from the oven and reduce the heat to 180°C.
• Spread the silverbeet mixture over the pastry base, top with cheese and pine nuts.
• With a fork, beat the eggs, cream, milk and salt and pepper to taste, in a jug; and pour over the egg mixture the cheese.
• Cook the quiche for 25 to 30 minutes or until it has set in the centre.
• Serve warm or at room temperature with a salad and crusty rolls.
• Notes: If using baby spinach leaves, you may want to leave them whole. Some people remove the stalks, but I always find baby spinach leaves, stalks and all, so tender that I leave the stalks on. IT's a bit of a timesaver too!