Make Ahead

Green Vegetable Tart al la Reggio Emilia

May 12, 2014
4
4 Ratings
Photo by Carina A. Favale
  • Makes 1 tart
Author Notes

This is a rustic, country-style tart filled with seasonal green vegetables that we eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner -- and as a late-night snack. This recipe is my adapted version of a recipe by Mario Batali. —cucina di mammina

Test Kitchen Notes

This tart has the perfect combination of dough and filling. The saltiness of the pancetta wasn't too overwhelming and balanced out the flaky dough. I would definitely wait a day before eating it, as the flavors came out better after the tart had cooled. I had three people try this, including two guys from Reggio Emilia, and all really enjoyed it and went in for seconds. I would definitely make this again. It's no erbazzone, but it's a damn good green veggie tart. —Mulzee

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Ingredients
  • Pastry Dough
  • 2 cups unbleached flour
  • 1/2 cup cake flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 5 tablespoons lard, chilled
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, chilled
  • 12 to 14 tablespoons carbonated water, cold
  • 1 large round pizza tray or pan
  • Filling
  • 5 ounces pancetta, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 medium sweet yellow or red onions, chopped
  • 2 to 2 1/2 pounds swiss chard (white or red), blanched until barely wilted, squeezed of all excess water, and chopped
  • 1 1/2 to 2 cups freshly-grated Parmesan cheese
  • 3 whole eggs
  • Sea salt and pepper to taste
  • Handful of freshly-chopped parsley, if desired
Directions
  1. For the dough: Combine the two flours and salt in a food processor, then add the cold lard and olive oil. Start pulsing slowly until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  2. Add 7 or 8 tablespoons of the cold carbonated water, and continue to pulse. If the mixture looks too dry, continue adding the water by tablespoon until the mixture forms a ball of dough.
  3. Gather the bits of dough into a ball, wrap, and chill at least 30 minutes. When ready to assemble, halve the dough and roll into 2 rounds, each a bit larger than the pizza pan.
  4. Fit one round on a heavily-oiled pizza tray and set aside. Note: You may roll the dough as thin or as thick as you like -- I prefer mine on the thinner side (about 1/4-inch or less) to keep the best balance of flavors.
  5. Put the pancetta in a large skillet with a light drizzle of olive oil over medium-low heat. Cook about 5 minutes, or until the pancetta has rendered much of its fat and is crispy and golden.
  6. Add the onion and garlic and sauté, covered, for 15 minutes, or until softened. Uncover, raise the heat to high, and cook another 6 minutes, or until the alliums turn a rich golden brown.
  7. Add the chopped, blanched swiss chard and sauté 3 to 5 minutes or so, adjusting the heat to prevent from browning too much. If this mixture gets too dry, add a touch of water and deglaze the pan.
  8. Once all the liquid has evaporated, remove the vegetable mixture from the heat and place in a large deep bowl to cool. Set aside.
  9. In a medium bowl, add the eggs and grated cheese and mix well to blend. Once the vegetable and pancetta mixture is cooled, add it to the egg mixture and mix well to combine.
  10. Preheat the oven to 400° F and set the baking rack as close to the bottom of the oven as possible.
  11. Spread the vegetable and egg filling on the pastry-lined pizza tray, being sure to leave a 2-inch border for sealing with the top pastry round.
  12. Dampen the edges of the bottom pastry round with water. Top with the remaining pastry round, then pinch the edges together.
  13. Fold the edges over toward the center of the tart and crimp. Make slashes in the top of the pastry round to allow the steam to escape while baking.
  14. Bake the tart for 20 minutes, then brush with more olive oil if desired.
  15. Continue to bake another 20 minutes or until the tart turns a pale golden color. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
  16. When cool, cut into narrow wedges and serve immediately. Tart reheats well.
  17. Note: Feel free to change up the filling depending on the greens you have on hand. I make a version that uses sautéed broccoli rabe mixed with roasted and crumbled Italian sausage that is wonderful and hearty.

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4 Reviews

Arrxx June 22, 2014
Don't eat lard. Any substitute?
cucina D. June 22, 2014
Yes! Thanks for asking Arrxx, you can substitute vegetable lard (like Crisco) and achieve beautiful results.
Mulzee June 9, 2014
Erbazzone!!! This is one of my favorite foods EVER! I've tried a couple of recipes but I'll have to try yours. Fantastic
cucina D. June 11, 2014
Thanks for your kind comment Mulzee! I grew up eating different variations on this delicious dish, but this one I liked the best. I will tell you it is so much better with organic lard (or lardo)... great texture and flavor