Mini Greens Flans

The mini greens flans are a delicious and refined dish, ideal as an appetizer or a light main course. Let’s look together at the ingredients and the procedure.

Ingredients

• 500 g of greens (Swiss chard, spinach or a mix of leafy green vegetables)
• 200 ml of fresh cream
• 3 eggs
• 50 g of grated Parmesan
• Nutmeg to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Butter for greasing the molds
• Breadcrumbs for sprinkling the molds

Preparation

1. Start by cleaning and thoroughly washing the chosen greens. Drain them and transfer to a non-stick pan with a drizzle of oil and let them wilt for a few minutes.
2. Take the wilted greens, squeeze them to remove excess water and finely chop them with a knife or using a food processor.
3. In a bowl, beat the eggs with the grated Parmesan, add the fresh cream, a pinch of salt, pepper and a grating of nutmeg. Stir to combine all the ingredients.
4. Add the chopped greens to the egg and cream mixture and stir well until you obtain a homogeneous batter.
5. Take the molds (preferably aluminum or silicone) and grease the inside with butter, then sprinkle with breadcrumbs. This will help the flans not stick to the molds and give a crispy crust on the outside.
6. Pour the mixture into the molds, filling them 3/4 full.
7. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 20-25 minutes, until the greens flans are nicely golden and puffed.
8. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly for a few minutes before unmolding.

It is important to let the flans rest for a few minutes before unmolding to prevent them from breaking. Serve hot or warm, optionally accompanied by a cheese-based sauce or a simple vegetable velouté.

Trivia

The flan is a typical preparation of Italian cuisine that can vary in many ways, depending on the vegetables and cheeses used. It can be considered a variation of the more famous French soufflé, with the difference that it does not involve the use of a roux (flour and butter) and is therefore simpler and quicker to prepare.