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Swiss chard and leek flan with melting mozzarella

17/11/2023

The Swiss chard and leek flan with melting mozzarella is a rich and flavorful dish that can be served as an appetizer or as a main vegetarian course. Here’s how to prepare it:

Ingredients

  • 500 grams of Swiss chard
  • 2 medium-sized leeks
  • 200 grams of mozzarella (buffalo mozzarella is preferred for its stringiness)
  • 3 eggs
  • 100 grams of grated Parmesan cheese
  • Breadcrumbs as needed
  • Salt and pepper as needed
  • Extra virgin olive oil as needed
  • Grated nutmeg (optional)
  • Butter for greasing the baking dish

Preparation

  1. Start by cleaning the Swiss chard; separate the leaves from the stalks, wash them and boil separately in salted water: stalks first for about 10 minutes and then add the leaves and continue cooking for another 5 minutes.

  2. Clean the leeks by removing the greener part, slice them into rings and wash under running water. Sauté the leeks in a pan with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt until they are tender.

  3. Drain the Swiss chard and leeks, squeezing them well to remove all excess water. Transfer the vegetables to a large bowl.

  4. Cut the mozzarella into cubes and add it to the vegetables.

  5. Beat the eggs in a separate bowl, add the Parmesan, a pinch of salt, pepper, and grated nutmeg to taste.

  6. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables and mozzarella, and mix until you get a homogeneous mixture.

  7. Prepare a mold (or several individual molds) by greasing it with butter and sprinkling the bottom and edges with breadcrumbs.

  8. Transfer the mixture into the mold, level with a spatula, and sprinkle the surface with more breadcrumbs.

  9. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 30-40 minutes or until the surface of the flan is golden and the mozzarella inside is well melted.

  10. Allow to cool for a few minutes before unmolding and serving.

Fun Fact

The flan is a versatile dish that allows many variations; you could, for example, add a touch of color and flavor with some sun-dried tomatoes or use other seasonal vegetables to your liking. Moreover, the use of buffalo mozzarella provides a consistency and a flavor that pair particularly well with the sweetness of the leeks.

Remember to let the flan rest for a few minutes before unmolding to prevent it from breaking. Enjoy your meal!