Horta
Boiled greens dressed simply with lemon and olive oil.
Ingredients
- 600 g Spinach
- 1 Lemon
- 4 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp Salt
Method
- Boil the greens in salted water until tender, then drain well.
- Dress generously with lemon and olive oil and serve warm.
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About Horta
Horta is the Greek tradition of boiled wild or leafy greens, dressed with nothing more than lemon and olive oil, and it is about as elemental as cooking gets. The name simply means 'greens,' and historically it meant whatever edible foliage could be foraged from hillsides and field edges, though cultivated greens like spinach, dandelion, or chard stand in easily. The greens are boiled in salted water until fully tender, drained well, and dressed warm. That is the entire dish, and its plainness is the point.
What makes horta satisfying is the interplay of the greens' faint bitterness with the acidity of lemon and the grassy richness of a generous pour of extra-virgin olive oil. It is soft, warm, clean-tasting, and deeply nourishing, a staple of Greek meze tables and Lenten fasting cooking alike. Serve it warm or at room temperature as a side to grilled fish or roast meat, or make a light meal of it with feta, olives, and bread. The trick is draining the greens thoroughly so the dressing coats rather than dilutes.
Horta: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Horta?
A serving has about 158 calories — 4.3g protein, 6g carbs, 14.4g fat, 3.3g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Horta gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Horta has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
How long does Horta take to make?
About 18 minutes start to finish, but only around 3 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
How many servings does Horta make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.