Torta co’ Bischeri agli Spinaci: Tuscan Sweet Spinach Pie
This specialty of Tuscany’s Lucca and Camaiore provinces dates to the middle ages. There are many sweet vegetable dishes like thinly sliced zucchini sweetened with sugar and baked in a pasta frolla piecrust, that are still found in Tuscany today.
The pie’s ground almond-spinach filling is light and satisfyingly spongy -- almost soufflé-like. As with zucchini bread and carrot cake, the spinach contributes an earthy undertone, moistness, and an unusually brilliant color.
This pie not only has an unusual ingredient, but unusual name too: Torta co’ Bischeri. The word “bischeri” actually has three meanings.
#1: Bischeri are the tuning frets on stringed instruments like guitars and violins. The points on the pie crust mimic that shape.
#2: In Florentine dialect, bischero is slang for a fool, someone easily taken advantage of, especially in money matters.
The derivation is old and fascinating. In the 13th century Florence, when land was being assembled for the magnificant Duomo, there a single holdout, a noble family who stalled so long for the best possible price that they failed to sell it at all. Their name was Bischeri.
(When you visit Florence you can still find a marble slab that reads “Canto de Bischeri” near their old property on Via dell-Oriuolo).
#3: It’s also slang for penis. The inclusion of pine nuts is a little wink at that meaning.
Serves 8
For the crust:
In a large bowl, in a food processor, or on a clean work surface, mix the flour, butter, and sugar until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Add the egg yolks, baking powder, zest and salt and mix until dough forms. Roll the dough into a disc, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before rolling out.
Lightly butter a 10-inch deep-dish pie pan. Roll out 2/3 of the dough, making it large enough to hang well over the sides. If you like, make a series of “fret” shapes along the outer edge of the dough. To do that, fold the edges of dough over, and cut into the edges and gently press “fret” shapes by pinching the dough between thumb and forefinger at a distance of about 1/2 inch apart.
Using a fork poke holes throughout the entire bottom and sides of the crust. Roll out the remaining dough to form lattices over the top of the filling. Refrigerate all the dough, covered in plastic wrap, until ready to use.
For the filling:
Cook the spinach in lightly salted water until tender. Allow to cool. Squeeze out all the cooking liquids, and finely chop in a mini food processor. Reserve.
In food processor, grind the almonds until they resemble coarse sand. Reserve.
In a bowl, beat the yolks with 1/3 cup of the sugar until creamy and light yellow. Add the almonds and beat until well combined. Add the spinach, candied peel, and liqueur and mix until well combined.
In a separate bowl, beat the whites until soft peaks form, then add in the remaining 1/3 cup of sugar and beat until it forms a glossy meringue.
Slowly fold the meringue into the yolk mixture. Pour into the prepared pie crust. Sprinkle with the pine nuts and top with the remaining dough in a lattice pattern.
Bake for about 1 hour, until golden. Allow to cool to room temperature, then serve sprinkled with confectioners’ sugar.
Recipe and photo courtesy of Pinella Orgiana of I Dolci di Pinella
