Recipe: Chard and Feta Phyllo Bundt

published Oct 11, 2016
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Credit: Jerrelle Guy
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(Image credit: Jerrelle Guy)

Do you know (and love) the Greek dish of spanakopita? Flaky layers of phyllo dough with soft greens and sharp feta in between — pastry and flavor in every bite. It’s a favorite here, but I don’t usually have the time or patience to prepare a full tray.

If you pull out the Bundt cake pan, however, you can make one giant rolled spanakopita that can be cut into neat slices when you’re ready to serve. It’s much easier to assemble, but you still get all the crispy, buttery layers enveloping the tasty filling of greens and cheese.

Skip the Spinach

Spinach is the classic spanakopita filling, but I like to change it up with a bunch of Swiss chard instead. I like sautéing the sweet chard stems along with the onion to get a little more texture to the filling, and it’s a great way to use this easy-to-find cold-weather green.

(Image credit: Jerrelle Guy)

Hot Butter Is Better

When working with thin phyllo dough, you want to brush butter between every layer so that it bakes up nice and flaky, but you don’t want so much butter on there that it bakes up greasy. Make sure your butter is hot, as it will brush on in a more even, thin layer than butter that’s cooled and is starting to thicken up. Rewarm the butter as needed as you’re assembling the phyllo layers.

After the phyllo Bundt is baked and flipped out of the pan, just cut it into slices and serve. It’s a great appetizer or a light meal when paired with a green salad or tabbouleh.

Chard and Feta Phyllo Bundt

Serves 12 as an appetizer

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch

    white Swiss chard (about 12 ounces), washed and dried

  • 1/2 bunch

    scallions (3 to 4)

  • 2 tablespoons

    olive oil

  • Kosher salt

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • 8 tablespoons

    unsalted butter, melted and still hot

  • 2

    large eggs, lightly beaten

  • 1 cup

    crumbled feta cheese (about 4 1/2 ounces)

  • 2 tablespoons

    coarsely chopped fresh dill leaves

  • 10

    (14x18-inch) phyllo sheets (about 8 ounces), thawed if frozen

Instructions

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  1. Cut the stems from the chard. Cut the stems crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick pieces and set aside. Stack the leaves and cut into 1-inch pieces; keep separate from the stems. Thinly slice the scallions.

  2. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the scallions and chard stems, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes. Add the chard leaves, season with salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until completely wilted, about 6 minutes.

  3. Transfer the mixture to a fine-mesh strainer set over a bowl. Place in the refrigerator and stir occasionally until cooled to room temperature, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 400°F. Brush the sides and tube of a 10-cup Bundt pan with melted butter; set aside.

  4. When the chard mixture is cooled, pick it up by the handful, squeeze out the excess moisture, and place on a cutting board. Finely chop the mixture, then transfer it to a large bowl. Add the eggs, feta, and dill, and mix to combine.

  5. Lay one sheet of phyllo on a work surface, positioning a long end to face you. (Don't worry if the phyllo rips — just patch it back together.) Keep the remaining phyllo covered with plastic wrap, wax paper, or a damp kitchen towel. Brush the phyllo with a thin layer of melted butter. Repeat with the layers of phyllo, brushing each layer, until all the phyllo is used up, making sure to brush the top layer of phyllo with butter. (Rewarm the butter as needed to be able to brush a thin layer.) Season the surface of the phyllo with salt and pepper.

  6. Spread the chard mixture thinly on the phyllo, leaving a one-inch border. Starting from the end closest to you, roll the phyllo tightly up like a jelly roll. Brush the entire outside of the roll with butter. Pick up the roll and place it seam-side up in the Bundt pan, winding it around the tube and making the ends meet.

  7. Bake until flaky and golden-brown, about 40 minutes. Immediately flip it out onto a wire cooling rack set over a baking sheet. Let cool 10 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and cut into 12 slices with a serrated knife.

Recipe Notes

  • Phyllo: Defrost frozen phyllo dough overnight in the refrigerator.
  • Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheated in a 300°F oven until warmed through, 10 to 12 minutes.