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Pkhlovani
Pkhlovani: Pshavi mountain pie of beet greens, spinach and herbs
Pkhlovani comes from Pshavi, the high, wooded valleys north-east of Mtskheta, where cooks fill a plain dough with whatever greens the slopes and gardens give: beet tops, spinach, nettles, wild sorrel, with handfuls of coriander and a little crumbled cheese. It is baked as a large round in a pan and cut into wedges at harvest meals and on the long table of a village supra. The filling should taste green and peppery rather than cheesy. The usual mistake is to pack in raw, wet greens; they release water, the base turns soggy and the pie splits. Chef's tip: wring the cooked greens in a clean tea towel until they feel almost dry, which concentrates their flavour and keeps the crust crisp.
- Total time
- 75 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the dough
- 14 oz plain flourplus extra for rolling
- 5 ½ oz matsoni or plain yogurt
- ½ cup warm water
- ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
For the filling
- 14 oz beet greens or chardstalks removed
- 10 ½ oz spinach
- 4 spring onionsfinely sliced
- 1 oz fresh corianderchopped
- ½ oz fresh dillchopped
- ⅛ oz fresh tarragonleaves chopped
- 3 ½ oz Imeretian cheese or mild fetacrumbled; feta is often made with animal rennet, so choose a vegetarian one
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 ⅜ oz buttermelted, for brushing
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Method
0/9 doneStep 1: Mix 14 oz plain flour, 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda in a bowl. Add 5 ½ oz matsoni or plain yogurt, ½ cup warm water and 2 tbsp sunflower oil and knead for 5 minutes into a soft, smooth dough that no longer sticks to your hands. Cover and rest for 30 minutes.
5 minStep 2: Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Blanch 14 oz beet greens or chard for 2 minutes and 10 ½ oz spinach for 30 seconds, until just wilted. Drain and cool under cold water.
3 minStep 3: Squeeze the greens hard in a clean tea towel until no more water runs out, then chop finely. Common mistake: leaving them wet; the base never crisps.
Step 4: Mix the greens with 4 spring onions, 1 oz fresh coriander, ½ oz fresh dill, ⅛ oz fresh tarragon, 3 ½ oz Imeretian cheese or mild feta, ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper. Taste: it should be well seasoned.
Step 5: Heat the oven to 400°F (fan 350°F) and butter a 28 cm round tin or ovenproof frying pan.
Step 6: Divide the dough in two, one piece slightly larger. Roll the larger piece into a 34 cm circle and line the tin, letting the edges hang over.
Step 7: Spread the filling evenly, roll the second piece into a 28 cm circle, lay it on top and fold the overhanging edge over it, pinching to seal. Cut a small hole in the centre for steam.
Step 8: Brush with half of ⅔ oz butter and bake for 30–35 minutes, until deep golden and the base sounds hollow when tapped.
35 minStep 9: Brush with the rest of ⅔ oz butter as soon as it comes out, rest for 10 minutes and cut into wedges.
10 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 340 kcal
- Protein
- 12 g
- Carbs
- 40 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pkhlovani take?
- About 75 minutes in total: 40 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of matsoni or plain yogurt?
- Sour cream or buttermilk, same amount.
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