Olive-Oil Toasts With Greens, Pine Nuts, and Raisins

Ingredients for Olive-Oil Toasts With Greens, Pine Nuts, and Raisins

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

• 1 baguette, cut into 24 slices (1/4-inch thick)

• 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

• 1 bunch chard, kale, or spinach leaves, stems reserved for another use

• 45ml extra-virgin olive oil, divided

• 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped

• 3/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

• 1/4 teaspoons red-pepper flakes, plus more to taste

• 3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts

• 3 tablespoons raisins (preferably golden), soaked in hot water for 30 minutes, drained and chopped

• Scant 40g grated parmesan or Pecorino Toscano

Preheat oven to 177°C. Brush 1 tablespoon oil evenly on a large rimmed baking sheet. Arrange bread slices on top; brush them with remaining tablespoon oil and season with salt. Place baking sheet in oven and toast for 6 minutes. Rotate the pan front to back and bake the toasts until golden brown all over with no pale patches, a few minutes more. (The toasts will probably not all be done at the same time, so remove the ones that are, and keep toasting). Remove toasts from the baking sheet to a separate container and let cool to room temperature.

To wash the chard leaves, throw them into a big bowl of water and swish around with conviction to get rid of any dirt. Lift out the greens (don't pour them out or the dirt will just go right back on), and transfer to a colander to drain. Don't spin the greens dry—it's good to have some water clinging to the leaves to help them steamily cook.

Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat and add 2 tablespoons oil. Add the onion and 1/4 teaspoons salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until very tender and just slightly coloured, about 15 minutes. Add the garlic and red-pepper flakes and stir until the garlic is fragrant, but not browned, about 2 minutes.

Add the chard leaves with 1/2 teaspoons salt and let them begin to wilt. Toss and flip with tongs, adding salt, oil, or water as needed so the garlic does not burn, until chard is tender but not mushy, 8 to 10 minutes.

Stir in the pine nuts and raisins and then spoon the mixture onto a cutting board to cool for a couple of minutes. Chop the chard, then scoop into a medium bowl and mix in the cheese and the remaining tablespoon of oil. Top toasts with chard mixture and serve warm or at room temperature.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.