Horta Vrasta (Greek Boiled Greens with Olive Oil and Lemon)
Classic Greek boiled greens dressed with extra-virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice. Traditional ladera dish made with dandelion, chicory, chard, or a mix of seasonal greens.
Ingredients
For the greens
- 700 g fresh greens -- dandelion, chicory, Swiss chard, vlita, or a combination about 1.5 lb
- 2 liters water
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt for the cooking water
For the dressing
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil up to 5 -- be generous
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice about 1 lemon, plus wedges to serve
- fine sea salt to taste
To serve
- good crusty bread
- olives
- feta cheese
Instructions
- Sort through the leaves and discard any yellowed or damaged ones. Cut away very thick lower stems from dandelion or chicory. Wash thoroughly in two changes of cold water.
- Bring 2 liters of well-salted water to a boil in a large pot. The water should taste pleasantly salty -- similar to pasta water.
- Add greens and cook until completely tender: 5-8 min for spinach/vlita, 8-12 min for Swiss chard, 15-20 min for dandelion/chicory. Taste a thick stem -- it should be fully soft with no resistance.
- Transfer to a colander and press firmly with the back of a spoon to remove as much water as possible. The greens should feel damp, not wet.
- While still warm, arrange in a wide bowl and pour over all the olive oil in a thin, even stream. Squeeze over the lemon juice. Add a pinch of fine salt.
- Toss gently with tongs or two forks. Rest 10 minutes at room temperature before serving.
- Serve with bread, olives, and feta.
Notes
The greens must be fully tender, not al dente. Press well to remove water before dressing -- wet greens dilute the olive oil.
Dress while warm so the olive oil absorbs into the leaves.
Leftovers keep 2 days refrigerated. Bring back to room temperature or warm gently before serving.
Dress while warm so the olive oil absorbs into the leaves.
Leftovers keep 2 days refrigerated. Bring back to room temperature or warm gently before serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 140kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Sodium: 320mg | Fiber: 3g