Skip to main content
Epicurious
Cookbooks

Nonna Lisa’s Tiella Filling of Escarole, Olives, and Capers

Ingredients

2 pounds or more escarole
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped garlic
1/3 cup small capers, drained
1/3 cup Gaeta olives, pitted
1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt or kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon peperoncino flakes, or to taste

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Trim off the base of the escarole, separate the leaves, and discard any that are wilted or blemished. Rinse and drain the leaves, and chop them into shreds about an inch wide.

    Step 2

    Pour 1/4 cup of the olive oil in the big skillet, set it over medium-high heat, and stir in the garlic. Cook for a minute or so, until sizzling, then pile in all the escarole, and tumble the shreds over and over with tongs, over high heat. Scatter the capers and olives on top, season with the salt and peperoncino, and toss. Pour 1/2 cup water into the pan, and cover tightly.

    Step 3

    Steam the escarole for about 5 minutes. Uncover the pan, and continue cooking over medium heat, stirring frequently, until all the moisture has been cooked off and the filling is condensed and fairly dry, about 20 minutes more. Near the end of cooking, drizzle over it the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and toss.

    Step 4

    Cool the filling before assembling the tiella.

From Lidia's Italy by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich. Copyright (c) 2007 by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich. Published by Knopf. Lidia Bastianich hosts the hugely popular PBS show, "Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen" and owns restaurants in New York City, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh. Also the author of Lidia's Italian Table and Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen, she lives in Douglaston, New York.
TagsCasseroleItalianEuropeanEscaroleChicoryLeafy GreensVegetableOliveMainDinnerNut FreeVegetarianVeganCookbooks
Read More
The Most-Saved Recipes in the Epicurious App This Week
Like Greek lemon potatoes and gochujang chicken stir-fry.
Golden Mushroom Soup With Orzo & a Pat of Butter
This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.
The Only Frittata Recipe You’ll Ever Need
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Gochujang Chicken Stir-Fry
Chicken breasts reach their full potential in this spicy, saucy stir-fry with blistered green beans.
Gingery Pork and Sugar Snap Pea Stir-Fry
Thinly sliced and cooked hot and fast, pork tenderloin is the juicy, cook-quicking weeknight champion of this vegetable-heavy stir-fry.
Caramelized Onion Pasta
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Cottage Cheese Caramelized Onion Dip
Add a bag of potato chips and you've got yourself a party.
The Most-Saved Recipes in the Epicurious App in April
Like fattoush salad and strawberry shortcake roll.