03/07/2012
this is such a treat, i love it! it's one of those whole meal in a one dish. everyone loves it. i think it's the hint of sugar from the sweet potatoes.
the flaky fillo dough add a gourmet texture and looks wonderful on the table. you can substitute the beef with ground turkey or mushrooms with the zucchini.
here's the list of ingredients and how to:
1 lb Pkg Fillo Dough, thawed
1 1/2 lbs Ground Beef, seasoned & fried
3 Medium Sweet Potatoes, sliced & sautéed
1 Small Onion, chopped & sautéed
2 Bunches Fresh Spinach, chopped &sautéed
2 Small Zucchinis, sliced & sautéed
2 Cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
Salt to taste
1/2 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
1 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon Allspice
3 dashes Dry Dill
3 Eggs, whisked
1 cup Heavy Cream
3/4 cup Butter, melted
1/2 cup Olive Oil
1. Preheat oven to 350°F .
Sauté the sliced sweet potatoes in frying pan with olive oil and salt to taste until golden brown around the edges and the potatoes have softened, about 15 minutes. Once browned, place sweet potatoes in a glass bowl and set aside for later to build the layers of the tart.
2. While potatoes are sautéing, sauté the chopped onion with olive oil and salt in a frying pan. Once transparent, add the ground beef, all spice, 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, and black pepper. Mix until meat is brown, about 15 minutes. Once meat has browned and there is no liquid from the fat, place in a glass bowl and set aside.
3. Add 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan and heat over medium, add the fresh, chopped spinach. Sauté with a pinch of salt for 10 minutes. The spinach will shrink to half the original amount. To spice it up, add a few dashes of dry dill. This dry herb gives the spinach an earthy flavor. Once mixed, set aside in a glass bowl as well.
4. Do the same process with the sliced zucchini. Sauté them until they are gold brown along the edges. Add a couple dashes of salt and black pepper. Sauté for 10 minutes.
5. Roll out the thawed and room temperature fillo dough and line a heavily buttered 9-inch square or 14 x 14 inch rectangular baking dish with your fingers, press firmly to secure the corners. Use kitchen scissors to cut off the excess dough hanging over from the sides. Place the excess fillo dough evenly into the dish so as not to waste it and also to give it more crunch. Prick the whole buttered fillo dough with a knife to allow an even heat pe*******on while baking and also to let out some of the steam from the baked dough. Pour any left over melted butter into the dish but leave enough to brush all four edges of the fillo dough so they don't burn.
6. Now it's time to build the tart. The first layer is the sweet potatoes. Lightly mash them and spread them into an even layer in the bottom of the baking dish. Repeat this process with the ground beef, sprinkling a little ground nutmeg over the beef. Then spread the sautéed spinach over the beef.
7. Whisk 3 eggs with a cup of heavy cream in a bowl. Pour the entire liquid over the tart. This will bind everything together.
8. Add the shredded mozzarella cheese and level evenly. Add a pinch of ground nutmeg over the cheese. This spice adds such a delicious smell and nutty flavor to the tart.
9. Finally, lay the sautéed zucchini in a nice line or use your imagination and get creative to appeal to the eyes as well as the nose and stomach. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the edges of the fillo dough are golden brown and the center is set. Serve with a fresh garden salad or a creamy yogurt and cucumber salad too. Enjoy!!
1 lb Pkg Fillo Dough, thawed 1 1/2 lbs Ground Beef, seasoned & fried 3 Medium Sweet Potatoes, sliced & sautéed 1 Small Onion, chopped & sautéed 2 Bunches Fre...
