Spanakopita, a traditional Greek dish, is a mouthwatering savory pastry featuring layers of crispy filo dough filled with a delectable mixture of spinach, feta cheese, herbs, and seasonings. This versatile dish can be served as an appetizer, main course, or side dish, and it's a popular choice for picnics, potlucks, and special occasions. In this article, we'll provide you with two irresistible Spanakopita recipes: a classic version and a vegan alternative. Both recipes use simple, fresh ingredients and offer step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process of creating this culinary delight. So, gather your ingredients and let's embark on a delicious journey as we explore the art of making Spanakopita!
Here are our top 15 tried and tested recipes!
SPANAKOPITA (GREEK SPINACH PIE)
This is an authentic, really rich pie stuffed with spinach, onions, cheeses and herbs that are all enfolded by crispy, flaky phyllo dough.
Provided by SILVERWOLF
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Time 1h30m
Yield 5
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly oil a 9x9 inch square baking pan.
- Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion, green onions and garlic, until soft and lightly browned. Stir in spinach and parsley, and continue to saute until spinach is limp, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- In a medium bowl, mix together eggs, ricotta, and feta. Stir in spinach mixture. Lay 1 sheet of phyllo dough in prepared baking pan, and brush lightly with olive oil. Lay another sheet of phyllo dough on top, brush with olive oil, and repeat process with two more sheets of phyllo. The sheets will overlap the pan. Spread spinach and cheese mixture into pan and fold overhanging dough over filling. Brush with oil, then layer remaining 4 sheets of phyllo dough, brushing each with oil. Tuck overhanging dough into pan to seal filling.
- Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until golden brown. Cut into squares and serve while hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 494.1 calories, Carbohydrate 31.5 g, Cholesterol 100.3 mg, Fat 34.7 g, Fiber 7.4 g, Protein 18.2 g, SaturatedFat 11.5 g, Sodium 893.9 mg, Sugar 5.4 g
SPANAKOPITA (SPINACH TRIANGLES OR PIE)
Provided by Food Network
Categories appetizer
Time 1h25m
Yield 60 triangles or 1 (9 by 13inch
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large saute pan, add half of the spinach and saute until spinach wilts, tossing with tongs, about 2 minutes. Remove spinach and squeeze out excess liquid, then chop roughly. Repeat with remaining spinach, using 1 more tablespoon of olive oil. Pour off any liquid from the pan, and add remaining olive oil. Add scallions and saute until soft, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the spinach to the scallions, along with the parsley, salt and pepper. Cook over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes, then remove from heat to cool. (This part can be done ahead and kept refrigerated).
- Stir the feta and as much beaten egg to moisten the cooled spinach mixture.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush a baking sheet with some of the melted butter.
- Unroll the filo dough on a flat surface and keep it covered with waxed paper and a damp towel so it doesn't dry out and become brittle. Using a sharp knife, cut the filo into 3 by 11 inch strips, and recover with the towel. Use a pastry brush to brush a strip of filo with melted butter. Place a small spoonful of spinach filling 1 inch from the end of the pastry. Fold the end over the filling to form a triangle, then continue to fold up the strip in triangles, like folding up a flag. Continue with remaining strips of dough, placing filled triangles on the baking sheet and keeping them covered with a towel until all are ready to bake.
- Brush the triangles lightly with butter, then bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Serve hot. (These may be frozen before baking, layering waxed paper between layers of triangles to keep them from sticking. Bake frozen triangles an extra 10 minutes.)
SPINACH PIE IN PUFF PASTRY (SPANAKOPITA)
Modified from a recipe by Ina Garten. We've made this a few times for dinner, and it turned out delicious as well as beautiful. The puff pastry is much easier to work with than phyllo dough, so this comes together fairly quickly.
Provided by MindiLouWho
Categories Vegetable
Time 55m
Yield 1 large pie, 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375. Line a baking sheet with parchment (preferable) but you can use aluminum foil with a light spray of cooking oil.
- Melt butter and cook onions for a few minutes, until soft. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
- Beat eggs in medium bowl. Add cooked onion, spinach, feta, parmesan, bread crumbs. Add salt, pepper, & nutmeg. Mix well with fork.
- Place one unfolded sheet of puff pastry on the parchment or sprayed aluminum foil. Spread the spinach mixture over the pastry, leaving a border of one inch all around the edges. Keep the spinach flat; do not pile high.
- Brush the edges with the egg wash made with the last egg. Cover with the second sheet of pastry that has been slightly flattened with a rolling pin to one inch bigger than the first sheet. (This ensures all the spinach will be covered). Press edges together with fingertips or fork, making sure mixture is sealed well. Brush just the top with egg wash, careful not to drip any down the sides. Cut a few slits in the top with a sharp knife to allow steam to escape.
- Bake 30-40 minutes, until golden brown. Can be served hot or at room temperature.
SPANAKOPITA (GREEK SPINACH PIE)
Provided by Cat Cora
Categories main-dish
Time 4h15m
Yield about 10 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- In a food processor, pulse the flour and salt until combined. Add the shortening and pulse until the mixture resembles cornmeal mixed with pea-sized bits, about 10 times. While the motor is running, drizzle in the water until a dough forms.
- Form the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease a 9 by 13-inch baking pan. Divide the dough in half; press half the dough up and around the inside of the pan. Set the remaining dough aside covered with plastic wrap.
- Line the pan with foil and fill with dried beans. Bake the dough for 20 minutes and remove the beans and foil. Continue baking the crust until golden brown, about 10 minutes more. Let the pan cool on a rack.
- Meanwhile, make the spinach filling: Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Add the spinach, little by little (adding more as the previous batch wilts), and cook, stirring, until completely wilted. Season with the salt and pepper and stir in the parsley, dill, and scallions.
- Drain the spinach mixture in a colander in the sink and let cool.
- Once the spinach is cool, stir in the feta and spread the mixture into the crust. Roll the remaining dough out on a well-floured surface, into a rectangle large enough to cover the baking pan. Top the spinach with the dough and pinch around the sides to seal. Score the top of the pie in the center, brush the surface of the dough with egg wash, and bake until golden brown, about 40 minutes.
- Remove the pie from the oven, let cool, cut into squares and serve.
SPANAKOPITA (GREEK SPINACH AND FETA PIE)
You can make this recipe with fresh spinach or three boxes of frozen chopped spinach; fresh spinach will have a better flavor and texture, but it takes much longer to wash and stem. Baby spinach works very well and requires less work, if you don't mind paying the extra price.
Provided by Abby Falck
Categories Savory Pies
Time 1h
Yield 8-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375º F.
- (For fresh spinach) Working in batches, wash and drain the spinach. Discard any large stems and chop the leaves coarsely. Combine the spinach, parsley, dill, green onions and salt. Let stand in a colander for 15 minutes and then press out the liquid. (For frozen spinach) Thaw the spinach and squeeze out most of the water, leaving just a little to prevent it drying out in the oven. Combine with the parsley, dill, green onions and salt.
- Heat the olive oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, then add the onions and saute until transparent.
- Adjust the heat to medium, add the spinach mixture in batches and saute until the spinach and herbs are wilted.
- Turn off the heat and stir the feta and black pepper into the mixture.
- Butter a 10"x17"x2" baking pan and lay 8 filo sheets in the bottom, brushing each layer with butter or spraying it with oil.
- Spread the spinach mixture into the baking pan.
- Cover with the remaining filo sheets, brushing each layer with butter or spraying it with oil.
- Bake until the top is golden brown, about 30 minutes.
SPANAKOPITA (SPINACH PIE)
Provided by Food Network
Yield 7 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a medium heated saute pan, add butter (all except 6 tablespoons), onion, and scallion. Cook until translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
- In a sauce pot, boil spinach in water until tender. Strain and pat dry until all water is out. In a large mixing bowl, mix spinach, onion-scallion mixture, parsley and dill together. Add cheese, eggs, salt and pepper. Mix well. Add back into sauce pot and boil for five minutes. Place aside.
- Moisten filo dough one by one with the remaining butter (melted) with pastry brush. In a baking pan, add five layers of dough to bottom. Next, add spinach mixture. Spread evenly. Add another five layers of dough on top, tucking in corners. Place in oven and bake for approximately one hour.
SPANAKOPITA (SPINACH AND CHEESE PIE)
This is my mother's recipe that she makes every year for Christmas Eve. It's very rich and takes some time, but it is so worth it!
Provided by caetb
Categories Cheese
Time 1h5m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Mix spinach, feta, cottage cheese, onion, parsley, dill and salt.
- Add beaten agges and combine well.
- Brush bottom and sides of a 9x13 baking dish with the softened butter.
- Unfold the filo leaves and cut in half, crosswise.
- Wrap and refreeze one half of the filo.
- Cover the other half of the filo with a damp towel.
- Gently separate one filo leaf from the stack.
- Place it in the baking dish and fold over the edges to fit the bottom of the dish.
- Brush the entire surface of the filo lightly with melted butter.
- Repeat steps 7-9 until you have used half of the filo leaves.
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Spread the spinach mixture evenly over the filo in the dish.
- Layer the remaining filo over the spinach mixture in the same manner as the first half of the filo.
- Cut through the top layers of the filo leaves with a sharp knife, making a diamond pattern (this will make it easier to cut the spanakopita later).
- Cook uncovered until golden, about 35 minutes.
- Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.
SPINACH PIE (SPANAKOPITA CASSEROLE)
Popeye was on to something... Spinach can pack a pretty tasty punch! This spinach pie recipe may look like fancy once it hits the table, but it's relatively easy to prepare... and well worth the effort.
Provided by Jolyn Barrow
Categories Vegetables
Time 50m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- 1. Mix first 8 ingredients together.
- 2. Butter the bottom of 9" X 13" baking pan. Place 4 phylo leaves on bottom, buttering after each leave.
- 3. Place half of the spinach mix on phylo leaves and then place 4 more leaves on top of spinach, buttering after each leaf. Place remainder of spinach and place one more phylo leaf on the very top. (For a thicker and flakier crust, add more phylo leaves on top.) Sprinkle with butter. Turn phylo at edges towards rim of the pan. Bake in moderately hot oven, 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
ATHENA'S SPANAKOPITA (SPINACH AND FETA PIE)
This recipe is from a local Greek restaurant. You can freeze the spanakopita wrapped well in plastic wrap. Bake the spanakopita frozen and increase the baking time by 5 to 10 minutes.
Provided by Member 610488
Categories Savory Pies
Time 1h5m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Place spinach and water in large microwave-safe bowl. Cover bowl with large dinner plate. Microwave on high power until spinach is wilted and decreased in volume by half, about 5 minutes. Using potholders, remove bowl from microwave and keep covered, 1 minute. Carefully remove plate and transfer spinach to colander set in sink. Using back of rubber spatula, gently press spinach against colander to release excess liquid.
- Transfer spinach to cutting board and roughly chop. Transfer spinach to clean kitchen towel and squeeze to remove excess water. Place drained spinach in large bowl. Add remaining filling ingredients and mix. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Using pastry brush, lightly brush 14 by 9-inch rectangle in center of parchment with melted butter to cover area same size as phyllo. Lay 1 phyllo sheet on buttered parchment, and brush thoroughly with melted butter. Repeat with 9 more phyllo sheets, brushing each with butter (you should have total of 10 layers of phyllo).
- Spread spinach mixture evenly over phyllo, leaving 1/4 inch border on all sides. Cover spinach with 6 more phyllo sheets, brushing each with butter and sprinkling each with about 2 tablespoons Pecorino cheese. Lay 2 more phyllo sheets on top, brushing each with butter (these layers should not be sprinkled with Pecorino).
- Working from center outward, use palms of your hands to compress layers and press out any air pockets. Using sharp knife, score pie through the top 3 layers of phyllo into 24 equal pieces. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake until phyllo is golden and crisp, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool on baking sheet 10 minutes or up to 2 hours. Slide spanakopita, still on parchment, to cutting board. Cut into squares and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 491.1, Fat 34.3, SaturatedFat 21, Cholesterol 164.4, Sodium 1219.8, Carbohydrate 28.8, Fiber 3.5, Sugar 4, Protein 18.9
GREEK SPINACH & HERB PIE (WITHOUT CHEESE) A.K.A. SPANAKOPITA
Spanakopita can be made with or with out cheese. The no cheese version is as popular with Greeks as the version with cheese, and is a popular Lenten dish. Although the name for this dish is often used for the spinach pie with cheese, traditional spanakopita does not include cheese.**Cooking time does not include the 30 minutes it needs to sit before serving.**
Provided by Debbwl
Categories Vegetable
Time 1h10m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Coarsely chop spinach and place in a colander. Salt lightly and let drain for 10 minutes. Press or squeeze to remove all excess liquid.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine spinach, dill, parsley, garlic, onions, leek, pepper, and mix well until ingredients are well blended.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Spray 9" round or square pyrex plate with cooking spray. When laying the sheets in the pan, leave an overlap of phyllo outside the pan rim all the way around. Lay half the phyllo sheets on the bottom, spraying each one lightly with Pam cooking spray.
- Spoon in the spinach mixture and spread evenly. Fold the extending phyllo in over the mixture. Lay the remaining phyllo sheets on top, spraying each with cooking oil except the top sheet. Tuck or tim eadges. I like to kind of ruffle mine.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45-50 minutes in the middle of the oven. When done, remove from the oven and allow to cool 1/2 hour before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 158.7, Fat 3, SaturatedFat 0.7, Sodium 309, Carbohydrate 27.7, Fiber 4.6, Sugar 1.3, Protein 7.5
SPANAKOPITA, SPINACH PIE
Make and share this Spanakopita, Spinach Pie recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Bergy
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 1h20m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat the washed spinach, do not add water the moisture from washing the spinach is enough.
- Saute until just wilted 3-5 minutes,remove from pan set aside.
- Fry onion in the oil for 10 minutes, add green onion and fry a further 5 minutes In a large bowl mix onions& spinach, add parsley, dill or fennel, nutmeg, cheeses and eggs.
- Stir to combine and check taste for the amount of salt& pepper you want.
- Brush a 12x10" baking dish with butter and line with a sheet of fillo.
- Brush sheet with butter and place in another sheet of fillo continue to brush each sheet until you have 5 layers.
- Pour in the spinach mixture and top with remaining 5 sheets of fillo buttering each sheet.
- Brush top layer with butter and score it with a very sharp knife or a razor blade in serving size squares.
- Sprinkle with water to keep the fillo from curling.
- Bake in 350f oven for about 45 minute, or until it has puffed and is golden.
- allow to sit for 5 minutes and serve.
SPANAKOPITA (SPINACH AND FETA PIE)
You could make small triangles, brush them with butter and them freeze them in a freezer bags if you like, to use them at a later time
Provided by Poppy
Categories Potato
Time 1h10m
Yield 1 Lge Pie
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Combine butter and olive oil in large heavy pan and fry onion and garlic until soft.
- Wash and drain spinach and remove thick stalks, then blanch for a minute or two in boiling water.
- Add blanched spinach to onion and garlic mix and cook for further 5 minutes or so.
- Spinach should be deep green colour and stalks should be tender.
- Add eggs (I use no eggs, but the traditional receipe calls for them) and dill.
- Crumble feta into pan and stir well for a minute or two.
- Eggs should be cooked by then.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Butter baking pan.
- If using phyllo, separate sheets, and brush each sheet individually with melted butter.
- Use 15-20 sheets, and overlap them, making sure that sheets hang well over the edge of the pan.
- If using short-crust or puff pastry, roll out a sheet big enough to line pan with plenty hanging outside.
- If making bite-sized pies cut squares approximately 2 1/12" square.
- Drain spinach mixture by pressing lightly and allowing liquid to drain into a cup or bowl.
- The filling should not be too wet or the pastry gets mushy.
- It should also not be too dry or the pie is not juicy enough.
- Put filling into pastry and bring edges up to enclose filling.
- (Fill each bite-size square with a spoonfull or so, fold over pastry into a triangle).
- Seal by crimping, tucking in, or any means that work.
- Score the top lightly, not enough to reach filling, and brush with egg.
- Bake in moderate oven until pastry is golden and done.
- Good hot or cold.
MOLDED SPINACH PHYLLO PIE (SPANAKOPITA SE FORMA)
Steps:
- Saute scallion in 2 tablespoons butter until tender. Cook spinach in water until wilted in a large saucepan. Drain, pressing out as much liquid as possible. (If using frozen spinach, simply thaw and drain thoroughly.) Mix together scallion, eggs, feta, cottage cheese, farina, parsley, dill, and spinach. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Butter a two-quart ring mold. Unfold phyllo and wrap in plastic wrap to keep from drying out. Remove one sheet of phyllo and, using a pastry brush, lightly dab it with melted butter. Fit into the mold, allowing at least an inch to hang over the edge. Repeat, using about 20 sheets of phyllo, making sure to distribute the sheets evenly on all sides. Fill mold with spinach mixture. Fold overhanging bits of phyllo over filling. Arrange remaining sheets, individually by buttering one at a time and placing it over the filling so that the mold is completely covered. Remove pastry dough from the mold's center hole.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place mold on baking sheet and bake for 1 1/4 hours or until golden brown and puffed. Let stand 10 minutes before unmolding onto a platter. If top crust is not crisp and golden, return to oven briefly to brown top.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 386, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 25 grams, Fat 27 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 13 grams, SaturatedFat 15 grams, Sodium 520 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 1 gram
YUMMY GREEK SPINACH PIE (SPANAKOPITA)
This is my take on my mother's and grandmother's Spanakopita. Since they never measured anything (and I have also adopted this wacky cooking style) these are my best approximation on measurements. Enjoy!
Provided by diamonds4heather
Categories Vegetable
Time 55m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Saute onion, green onions and garlic, salt and pepper to taste, until soft in 3 or 4 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Stir in spinach and parsley,until spinach is limp.
- Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- in a bowl mix together eggs, ricotta, and feta.
- Stir in spinach mixture.
- Lay 1 sheet of phyllo dough in a 9x9 in baking dish and brush lightly with melted butter.
- Lay another sheet of phyllo dough on top, brush with butter, and repeat with four more sheets of phyllo.
- Spread spinach and cheese mixture into pan and place another 6 sheets of phyllo in the same process as before.
- Place in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes.
- Serve while hot.
SPANAKOPITA (SPINACH PIE) MUFFINS
Make and share this Spanakopita (Spinach Pie) Muffins recipe from Food.com.
Provided by MissyMuffin
Categories Quick Breads
Time 36m
Yield 12 muffins, 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Grease 12 cup muffin pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, dill, and salt.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, oil, and pesto until well blended. Stir in spinach until blended.
- Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just blended. Gently fold in cheese.
- Divide batter equally among prepared muffin cups.
- Bake in preheated oven for 21 to 25 minutes or until tops are golden. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool.
Tips
- To save time, you can use store-bought phyllo dough. Just make sure to thaw it according to the package directions before using.
- If you're short on time, you can also use frozen spinach. Just be sure to thaw it and squeeze out any excess water before using.
- Feta cheese is a traditional ingredient in spanakopita, but you can also use other types of cheese, such as ricotta or mozzarella.
- To make your spanakopita extra crispy, brush the top with melted butter before baking.
- Serve spanakopita warm or at room temperature.
Conclusion
Spanakopita is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It's also a great way to use up leftover spinach. With just a few simple ingredients, you can make a delicious and satisfying spanakopita that the whole family will love.
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