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Vegetarian, South and mountains

Green tian with spinach and rice

A green tian with spinach and rice is a baked dish of greens, rice, and eggs bound with parmesan, for 4 people. It takes 65 minutes and is easy to make, for €2.30 per serving. The key is pressing the cooked spinach and chard well so the tian holds together and doesn't turn watery.

Tonight, a green Provençal tian, a bake of spinach, chard, and rice bound with eggs and parmesan, with a salad on the side.

Green tian with spinach and rice
Total time
1 h 05
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.30
Calories per person
610 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring, Fall, Winter
The kids
They generally like it

A green tian is the dish that wins over even kids who usually turn their nose up at spinach and chard. The texture sits somewhere between a bake and a crustless tart, soft inside, lightly golden and crisp on top thanks to the parmesan. Rice gives it body, eggs bind everything together, and almost none of the earthy taste sometimes blamed on cooked greens comes through.

It's a weeknight dish that can be made a day ahead if needed, and it works just as well on a Sunday evening as for a lunch with guests. Mon Chou suggests it in fall, winter, and spring, when spinach and chard are at their best. A simple green salad on the side turns it into a full, meat free meal.

The ingredients

4 people

Fruits and vegetables

  • Fresh spinach 600 g
  • Chard 300 g
  • Onion 1
  • Garlic 2 cloves
  • Green salad 1

Pantry

  • Riceoften in the pantry 150 g
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Eggs 4
  • Grated parmesan 80 g

Allergens Eggs, Lactose

The step by step recipe

  1. Cook the rice halfway in salted water, then drain it. 8 min

    Rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking.

  2. Cook the chopped spinach and chard with the onion and garlic in the oil, then press them. 12 min

    Press them in a strainer with the back of a spoon, water should come out.

  3. Mix the vegetables, rice, beaten eggs, and half the parmesan.

    Taste the raw mixture, it should be well seasoned.

  4. Pour into an oiled baking dish, sprinkle with the remaining parmesan, and bake at 180 degrees. 35 min

    The tian is done when the top is golden and the center is firm.

  5. Let it rest for 5 minutes, cut into portions, and serve with the green salad. 5 min

    A warm tian cuts more cleanly and shows off its flavors better.

Our tips to get it right

  • Chop the spinach and chard finely before pressing them, they'll release more water and the tian will hold together better when sliced.
  • Use a wide, shallow dish rather than a deep one, the tian cooks more evenly and browns more on top.
  • If you double the quantities, extend the baking time by 10 to 15 minutes and check that the center is firm before taking it out.

The variations

  • Swap the chard for more spinach if you can't find any, the result stays close in taste and texture.
  • For a richer version, stir a spoonful of heavy cream into the mixture before baking.
  • For kids, cut the tian into small squares once warm, it eats like a savory pastry and goes down even easier.

What to serve it with

  • Green salad with vinaigrette
  • Roasted Provençal tomatoes
  • Toasted country bread

Storage

The tian keeps 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. It freezes well, already cut into portions, for up to 2 months. Reheat it in the oven rather than the microwave so the top crisps back up.

Questions about this dish

Can rice be replaced with quinoa or bulgur?

Yes, use the same cooked quantity. The tian will be slightly less soft with quinoa, but it will still hold together when sliced.

Do the spinach and chard really need to be pressed?

Yes, this step keeps the tian from turning soggy. Press firmly in a strainer until barely any water comes out.

Can the tian be made ahead?

Yes, you can bake it the day before and reheat it in the oven the next day. It even slices more cleanly once cooled and reheated.

Can parmesan be swapped for another cheese?

Yes, grated Comté or tomme both work well. Pick a cheese that melts nicely and has some character so the flavor doesn't fall flat.

How long does it take to make a green tian with spinach and rice, served with a green salad?

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

How many calories are in a green tian with spinach and rice, served with a green salad?

About 610 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 green tian with spinach and rice, served with a green salad cost?

About €2.30 per serving, or €9.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

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

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