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A fork slices into a ruffed grouse spanakopita pie with nettles and morel mushrooms.
Adam Berkelmans

Ruffed Grouse Spanakopita with Morel Mushrooms and Nettles

This ruffed grouse spanakopita is made by combining shredded grouse with sautéed morels, nettles, fresh herbs, lemon zest, and feta. The filling is layered into buttered phyllo dough in a cast-iron skillet and baked until crisp and golden brown. You can also try it with pheasant, chukar, and rabbit.
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Greek
Calories: 385

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ruffed grouse cooked and shredded
  • Olive oil as needed, for roasting grouse
  • Kosher salt
  • Black pepper freshly ground
  • 1 tbsp live oil
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 6 cups nettles blanched, squeezed dry, and chopped, or 1 cup frozen chopped nettles, thawed and squeezed very dry (spinach may be substituted)
  • 2 tbsp fresh dill chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 tsp lemon zest freshly grated
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup crumbled feta
  • 8-10 sheets phyllo dough thawed
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter melted
  • Honey for serving (optional)

Method
 

  1. If you are not using leftover grouse meat, preheat the oven to 375°F. Rub the grouse with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Transfer to a roasting rack set inside a baking sheet and roast for about 20 minutes, or until cooked through. Let cool, then shred the meat into bite-size pieces, discarding the bones.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and morels and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the onion is soft and lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the nettles and cook for another 5 minutes, or until the excess moisture has completely evaporated. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and let cool.
  3. Fold the shredded grouse, dill, parsley, lemon zest, and feta into the onion and mushroom mixture. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Add the eggs and mix well.
  4. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  5. Brush a 10-inch skillet with melted butter. Lay five or six sheets of phyllo in the skillet, brushing each sheet lightly with butter and allowing the edges to overhang the rim.
  6. Add the filling and spread it evenly in the skillet. Layer the remaining phyllo sheets on top, brushing each with butter. Fold the overhanging edges inward to seal the pie, then brush the top generously with butter.
  7. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the phyllo is crisp and lightly browned. Let the pie rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing. If desired, drizzle with honey before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 385kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 17gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 106mgSodium: 174mgPotassium: 505mgFiber: 7gSugar: 0.3gVitamin A: 2343IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 445mgIron: 3mg

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