Content
Nettle pie is a good alternative to baking with spinach or cabbage. This plant, well known to everyone since childhood, has an impressive range of vitamins and micronutrients that are so necessary for the body after a long winter.
Cooking features
Despite its unassuming appearance, this weed is a real storehouse of useful substances. In its leaves you can find vitamins B, A and C, organic acids, flavonoids, potassium, iron, calcium, boron and selenium.
Only the leaves of the young plant, which are distinguished by their smaller size and light green color, are used for food. To get rid of the characteristic pungency that formic acid gives, the leaves are washed, doused with boiling water and poured with cold water for 1 minute.
Nettle can also be added to salads, borscht, teas and sauces
If the plant is an adult, then it is blanched for 3 minutes in boiling water, and then washed in clean cold water.
Nettle stems are not used in cooking because they are too tough. This plant itself does not have a pronounced taste; it gives the dish the necessary freshness and sets the structure of the filling.
Another feature of this type of greenery is the versatility of its combinations. Nettle is mixed with cheese, cottage cheese, meat, eggs, and other types of vegetables and herbs.
The second name for nettle, which was given to it because of its high protein content, is “vegetable meat.” In terms of nutritional value, this plant is not inferior to beans.
Best Recipes
Pie with nettles is a traditional village dish of Russian cuisine. Having many options for filling, you won’t get tired of it, even if you cook it every day.
Pie with nettle and egg
Pie with nettles and eggs is a classic option that is distinguished by its simplicity of execution.
The cheese in the recipe can be replaced with unsweetened cottage cheese
Required:
- ready-made dough (puff pastry without yeast) – 400 g;
- young nettle – 250 g;
- cheese (hard) – 120 g;
- egg – 6 pcs.;
- sesame (black or white) – 5 g;
- salt.
Step by step process:
- Blanch the greens in boiling water for 1-2 minutes, squeeze well and chop finely.
- Boil 5 eggs, then grate them and hard cheese on a coarse grater.
- Mix all ingredients, add egg and salt, mix everything well.
- Thaw the dough and cut into 8 equal strips.
- Place the filling in each strip, pinch the edges and form a “sausage”.
- Place the sausages in a round silicone mold in the form of a twisting spiral.
- Brush the pie with yolk or milk, sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Place in the oven (180-190°C) for 20-25 minutes.
Pie with sorrel and nettles
Rosemary and suluguni will add zest to this pastry, and sorrel will add piquant sour notes.
Filo can be replaced with regular yeast-free dough
Required:
- fresh sorrel – 350 g;
- nettle – 350 g;
- suluguni cheese – 35 g;
- phyllo dough – 1 package;
- butter – 120 g;
- salt;
- rosemary.
Step by step process:
- Wash the greens, sort and chop finely, add spices.
- Cut suluguni into cubes.
- Grease the mold with oil and line it with dough.
- Place in several layers: herbs, cheese, phyllo.
- Grease each gap with butter (the pie should be closed).
- Place in the oven at 180-200°C for 25 minutes.
Serve with fresh sour cream.
Pie with nettles, spinach and cottage cheese
This pie is a great example of a savory bake that can be made as soon as the first greens appear.
To make the pie more flavorful, add fresh basil and cilantro to the filling.
Required:
- yeast dough (ready) – 400 g;
- cottage cheese – 350 g;
- nettle greens – 150 g;
- spinach – 150 g;
- egg – 1 pc.;
- green garlic feathers - 5-6 pcs.;
- spices - to taste.
Step by step process:
- Place the yeast mixture and leave it at room temperature until it doubles in size.
- Beat the egg and mix it with the cottage cheese.
- Finely chop the garlic leaves and add them to the curd mass.
- Chop the scalded and washed nettle leaves, mix with chopped spinach and add to the curd-garlic mixture. Mix everything well, adding spices.
- Grease the bottom of the fireproof dish with oil.
- Carefully place the yeast mixture around its entire perimeter, forming small sides.
- Cover the dough with the curd mixture.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C and place the pie in it for 30-35 minutes.
Serve with red wine, coffee or tea.
The cottage cheese used in the recipe can be either homemade or low-fat.
Nettle and cheese pie recipe
Any greens go well with dairy products, such as cheese. Young nettle was no exception.
Leeks can be replaced with regular onions
Required:
- flour – 220 g;
- baking powder – 5 g;
- butter 82% - 100 g;
- egg – 4 pcs.;
- young nettle – 350 g;
- white part of leek – 100 g;
- vegetable oil – 30 ml;
- feta cheese or feta cheese – 120 g;
- any type of hard cheese – 170 g;
- cream 20% - 210 ml.
Step by step process:
- Add baking powder, half a teaspoon of salt and 1 egg, beaten with a fork, to the flour. Then add softened butter.
- Knead the dough, roll it into a ball and put it in the refrigerator for 1-1.5 hours.
- Then roll out the dough, place in a greased form and cover with parchment and bake with dry beans or any other weight that holds the shape for 7 minutes at 200 ° C.
- Scald young nettle leaves with boiling water, rinse in cold water, give away and chop finely.
- Chop the leek into small rings, fry in vegetable oil (preferably olive oil) and mix with nettles.
- Grate the hard cheese, beat the remaining 3 eggs with cream. Mix all.
- Combine green and cream cheese mixtures. Add spices to taste.
- Place the filling on the half-finished crust, crumbling feta or cheese on top.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes at 190-200 °C.
Serve the pie cooled as an appetizer with wine.
Quiche with nettles and brisket
The brisket will give the pie a piquant aroma and a richer taste.
In the dietary version, instead of brisket, you can use boiled chicken breast
Required:
- egg – 3 pcs.;
- flour – 170 g;
- sour cream 20% - 20 g;
- butter – 120 g;
- brisket – 270 g;
- nettle – 150 g;
- any type of hard cheese – 170 g;
- sprig of rosemary.
Step by step process:
- Mix softened butter with 1 beaten egg and flour.
- Knead the dough and put it in the refrigerator for 30-40 minutes.
- Chop the brisket into thin strips.
- Pour boiling water over the nettles, rinse and chop coarsely.
- Fry the brisket until golden brown, mix with nettle leaves and rosemary.
- Beat the remaining eggs with sour cream, add pre-grated cheese and mix well.
- Pour the egg-cheese mixture over the brisket and nettles, seasoning with spices.
- Take out the dough, carefully distribute it over the pan, placing the prepared filling on top.
- Place in the oven for 30-35 minutes at a temperature of 180-190 °C.
Conclusion
Nettle pie will delight you not only with its amazing fresh taste, but also with its benefits. It is easy to prepare, and the variety of combinations allows you to experiment with a wide variety of fillings.
