Chard & Feta Tart

From EatingWell: January/February 2008 — Subscribe Now!

Fragrant lemon zest, briny olives and salty feta balance the bitterness of the dark leafy greens in this Greek-inspired tart. The crackerlike crust is quite sturdy so you can serve this as finger food at your next party or alongside a mixed green salad for a light supper.

READER'S COMMENT:

"This was good, but the crust was a bit too salty, and there was too much chard, so it didn't look at all like the photo - it was much greener. It would have benefited from some sun-dried tomatoes to give it a sweeter taste. "

8 servings

Active Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 2 hours

Nutrition Profile

Ingredients

Crust

3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme, or oregano
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
5 tablespoons cold water

Filling

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 cups chopped chard, (about 1 bunch), leaves and stems separated
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons water
2 large eggs
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese

Preparation

To prepare crust: Combine whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, thyme (or oregano), salt and 3/4 teaspoon pepper in a bowl. Make a well in the center and add 1/3 cup oil and 5 tablespoons water. Gradually stir the wet ingredients into the dry to form a soft dough. Knead on a lightly floured surface until the dough comes together. Wrap in plastic and chill for 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400&ordm;F. Coat a 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom with cooking spray.
Roll the dough into a 12-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Transfer to the prepared pan and press into the bottom and up the sides. Trim any overhanging dough and use it to patch any spots that don’t come all the way up the sides. Prick the bottom and sides with a fork in a few places. Bake the crust until firm and lightly brown, 20 to 22 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes.
To prepare filling: Meanwhile, heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chard stems and cook, stirring, until just tender, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add chard leaves and 2 tablespoons water and cook, stirring, until the leaves are just tender and the water has evaporated, 2 to 5 minutes. Transfer the greens to a sieve over a bowl and let drain and cool for 5 minutes. Whisk eggs, ricotta, lemon zest and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Fold in the greens, olives and feta. Pour the filling into the crust. Bake the tart until the top is lightly browned and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.

Tips & Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Store at room temperature for up to 2 hours. | Equipment: 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom

Nutrition

Per serving: 287 calories; 18 g fat (5 g sat, 11 g mono); 68 mg cholesterol; 21 g carbohydrates; 9 g protein; 2 g fiber; 547 mg sodium; 185 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (40% daily value), Calcium & Vitamin C (15% dv).

1 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 medium-fat meat, 2 1/2 fat