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Vegetarian, Americas

Brazilian palm heart pie with green salad

Torta de palmito is a savory Brazilian pie filled with palm hearts, tomatoes and olives in a béchamel, sealed between two pastry crusts. It serves 4 people, takes 1 hour 5 minutes, has a medium difficulty level, and costs about €2.40 per person. Success depends on well drained palm hearts and a pre baked bottom crust that stays crisp.

Tonight, a torta de palmito, a creamy Brazilian pie with palm hearts, tomatoes and olives.

Brazilian palm heart pie with green salad
Total time
1 h 05
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€2.40
Calories per person
530 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Torta de palmito plays on the contrast between a golden, crisp crust and a creamy, almost melting filling. Palm hearts bring a tender texture and a mild, slightly tangy flavor that the béchamel wraps around without smothering. Tomatoes and green olives add a bright bite to every forkful, and parsley keeps the filling tasting fresh even after baking.

Kids tend to like it because it has the reassuring shape of a classic savory pie, while introducing them to an ingredient they might not know yet. Make it for a weeknight dinner when you have a bit more time than usual, or for a Sunday meal when you can take care with the pastry. Mon Chou suggests it as a break from the usual pies without surprising anyone at the table.

The ingredients

4 people

Dairy

  • Pie crust 2
  • Milk 25 cl
  • Butter 30 g
  • Eggs 2
  • Sour cream 10 cl

Pantry

  • Canned palm heartsoften in the pantry 800 g
  • Pitted green olives 80 g
  • Flouroften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Vinegaroften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 1
  • Tomatoes 2
  • Green salad 1
  • Parsley 0.5 bunch

Allergens Gluten, Lactose, Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Roll out one crust into a pie dish, prick it, and pre bake it at 190°C. 10 min

    Line it with parchment paper and dried beans on top to keep it from puffing up.

  2. Melt the butter, add the chopped onion, dust with flour, then whisk in the milk to make a thick béchamel. 10 min

    Pour in the milk in three batches to avoid lumps.

  3. Stir the drained, sliced palm hearts, diced tomatoes, olives, parsley, salt and pepper into the béchamel.

    Drain the palm hearts very well, otherwise the filling turns watery.

  4. Off the heat, stir in one egg, spread the filling in the dish, cover with the second crust, brush with the other beaten egg, and bake. 35 min

    Cut a small vent in the center to let steam escape.

  5. Let it cool for ten minutes and serve with the salad dressed in oil and vinegar.

    Resting lets the slices hold their shape.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick whole canned palm hearts rather than pre sliced ones, they release less water once drained and sliced yourself.
  • Let the béchamel thicken fully before adding the filling, it should coat the spoon, otherwise the pie turns soggy once unmolded.
  • Prick the pre baked bottom crust a second time if it puffed up during blind baking, so it stays flat under the filling.

The variations

  • Swap the green olives for black olives for a milder, less salty flavor that works well for younger kids.
  • For a faster version, use a single crust and make an open pie with no top, cutting the baking time by ten minutes.
  • Stir sweet corn into the filling for a sweeter version that kids tend to love even more.

What to serve it with

  • Green salad with vinaigrette
  • Plain white rice
  • Fresh fruit juice

Storage

Torta de palmito keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes well once baked, in individual portions. Reheat it in the oven rather than the microwave so the crust stays crisp.

Questions about this dish

Can you use fresh palm hearts instead of canned?

Fresh palm hearts exist but are rare outside Brazil and firmer than canned ones. If you find some, cook them for a few minutes before adding them to the filling to soften them.

Can you make torta de palmito ahead of time?

Yes, you can bake it the day before and reheat it in the oven the next day. The filling can also be made a day ahead and assembled with the pastry just before baking.

Why blind bake the bottom crust before filling it?

The filling is creamy and moist, it would soak into a raw crust. A ten minute pre bake creates a barrier that keeps the bottom crisp during the final baking.

Does torta de palmito work for kids who don't like olives?

You can cut the amount of olives in half or leave them out entirely, the béchamel and palm hearts already carry plenty of flavor on their own.

How long does it take to make a Brazilian palm heart pie with green salad?

Count 1 h 05 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “medium”.

How many calories are in a Brazilian palm heart pie with green salad?

About 530 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a Brazilian palm heart pie with green salad cost?

About €2.40 per serving, or €9.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose, eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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