Spanakopita is a traditional Greek dish made with layers of filo pastry filled with a mixture of spinach, feta cheese, and herbs. It is a versatile dish that can be served as an appetizer, main course, or side dish. This article features two variations of spanakopita: a classic spanakopita recipe and an air fryer spanakopita recipe.
The classic spanakopita recipe uses a combination of fresh and frozen spinach, along with feta cheese, onions, garlic, and herbs like dill and parsley. The mixture is then wrapped in layers of filo pastry and baked until golden brown. The result is a crispy, flaky pastry with a flavorful spinach and cheese filling.
The air fryer spanakopita recipe is a healthier alternative to the classic recipe. It uses a combination of fresh and frozen spinach, along with feta cheese, onions, garlic, and herbs. The mixture is then wrapped in filo pastry and cooked in an air fryer. This method results in a crispy, flaky pastry with a flavorful spinach and cheese filling, without the added fat of deep frying.
Both recipes are easy to follow and provide step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process. They also include helpful tips and variations to customize the dish to your preference. Whether you are a fan of traditional Greek cuisine or simply looking for a delicious and versatile dish, these spanakopita recipes are sure to satisfy your taste buds.
SPANAKOPITA
Greek spinach pie.
Provided by Bea Gassman
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Time 1h50m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Place spinach in a steamer over 1 inch of boiling water, and cover. Cook until tender, about 2 to 6 minutes. Drain and press to remove all water. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion until tender, but do not brown. Stir in cooked spinach and continue cooking until all moisture has evaporated. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
- In a large bowl combine feta cheese, Swiss cheese, Parmesan cheese, eggs, parsley and cinnamon. Stir in spinach and onion mixture.
- Brush the bottom of a 17x11 inch jelly roll pan with butter. Place 1 sheet of dough in the bottom of the pan; brush with butter. Continue to layer 13 more sheets of dough, brushing every other sheet with butter. Spread spinach and cheese mixture over dough. Continue layering with remaining dough, brushing every other sheet with butter. Tuck edges of dough under. Brush top sheet with butter and, using a sharp knife, score top layer into diamonds.
- Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 496.1 calories, Carbohydrate 31.1 g, Cholesterol 125.2 mg, Fat 34.5 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 17.2 g, SaturatedFat 20 g, Sodium 816 mg, Sugar 3.2 g
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 BITES
For an easy spanakopita, try this version that is made in a pan, then cut into squares. It has all the wonderful taste of the classic version-buttery phyllo with a spinach-cheese filling-but is so simple to do. -Barbara Smith, Chipley, Florida
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Appetizers
Time 55m
Yield 10-1/2 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, mix egg, spinach and cheeses. Brush a 15x10x1-in. baking pan with some of the butter., Place 1 sheet of phyllo dough in prepared pan; brush with butter. Layer with 7 additional phyllo sheets, brushing each layer. (Keep remaining phyllo covered with a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.) Spread top with spinach mixture. Top with remaining phyllo dough, brushing each sheet with butter., Freeze, covered, 30 minutes. Using a sharp knife, cut into 1-in. squares. Bake 35-45 minutes or until golden brown. Refrigerate leftovers.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 21 calories, Fat 2g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 6mg cholesterol, Sodium 40mg sodium, Carbohydrate 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.
EASY SPANAKOPITA APPETIZERS
I love having appetizers on hand in the freezer, especially when the holiday season is fast approaching. This easy spanakopita recipe is one of my all-time favorites. Everyone loves them, they're easy to prep and they bake up in about 20 minutes. —Shannon Dobos, Calgary, Alberta
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Appetizers
Time 1h
Yield 2-1/2 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425°. In a large bowl, mix the first 9 ingredients. Place 1 sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface; brush with butter. Layer with 2 additional phyllo sheets, brushing each layer. (Keep remaining phyllo covered with plastic wrap and a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.), Arrange 3/4 cup spinach mixture in a narrow row along the long end of phyllo to within 1 in. of edges. Fold bottom edge of phyllo over filling, then roll up. Brush end of phyllo dough with butter and press to seal. Repeat 4 times with phyllo sheets, butter and the spinach mixture. Place rolls on a parchment-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pan, seam side down., Cut rolls diagonally into 2-in. pieces (do not separate). Brush tops with remaining butter. Bake until golden brown, 12-15 minutes. If desired, serve with tzatziki sauce, lemon wedges and dill sprigs. , Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked rolls on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet until firm. Transfer to a freezer container; return to freezer. To use, bake rolls on a parchment-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pan in a preheated 375° oven until heated through and golden brown, about 25 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 96 calories, Fat 8g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 29mg cholesterol, Sodium 155mg sodium, Carbohydrate 5g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.
SPANAKOPITA
Spanakopita, the classic Greek savory pie, is elegant and impressive, yet easy to make. The star ingredient is spinach, and lots of it (two pounds to be exact). This pie tastes best when made with fresh spinach, though you could also use the same amount of frozen spinach - just be sure to thaw completely and squeeze out all the excess water before using. This recipe can be baked a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator overnight, then rewarmed at 400 degrees until heated through, about 15 minutes. Cut into small squares or triangles to serve as an appetizer, or for a more complete meal, serve larger squares of the pie alongside soup or salad.
Provided by Kay Chun
Categories casseroles, vegetables, main course
Time 2h
Yield One 9-by-13-inch pie
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a large pot, heat oil over medium. Add onion, scallions and garlic, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 minutes.
- In batches, stir in spinach until wilted, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Strain spinach mixture through a sieve, pressing out excess liquid to prevent a soggy crust. Transfer to a large bowl and cool for 5 minutes. Add eggs, feta, Parmesan and parsley and stir until combined.
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch pan (2 inches deep) with butter. Lay one half sheet of phyllo dough in baking dish. Using a pastry brush, brush dough with butter. Repeat 7 more times to form crust. Spread spinach mixture evenly over crust. Brush one half sheet of phyllo dough with butter and lay on top of filling, butter side up. Repeat with remaining 7 sheets of dough. Using a serrated knife, lightly score top layer of dough into squares (this will make it easier to cut once baked). Bake until crust is lightly golden and filling is heated through, 50 to 60 minutes. Serve warm.
SPANOKOPITA
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Heat the olive oil in a saute pan and add the scallions. Cook for 5 minutes or until soft. Meanwhile, squeeze most of the water out of the spinach and place it in a bowl. Add the scallions, dill, eggs, feta, salt, and pepper and mix together.
- Keep the phyllo dough sheets covered with a damp kitchen towel. Unfold 1 sheet of the phyllo dough. Brush the sheet with melted butter and sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Repeat the process by laying a second sheet of phyllo dough over the first sheet, brush it with melted butter and sprinkle with breadcrumbs until all 10 sheets have been used. Spoon 3/4 cup of the spinach mixture into a sausage shape along one edge of the phyllo dough. Roll it up. Brush the top with butter and score the roll into 1-inch rounds. Place it on an oiled baking sheet. Repeat until all the pastry and filling have been used.
- Place in the oven and bake for 12 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Serve warm.
SPANAKOPITA
Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Place oven rack in center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.
- Preheat a small pan over medium to medium high heat. Add oil and onion and saute 5 minutes. Place onion in a bowl. Add chopped dry, defrosted spinach and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Add feta to the bowl and combine it with spinach. Add beaten egg and sour cream to the bowl and combine with cheese, spinach and onion.
- On a large work surface, place 1 sheet of phyllo. Paint half of the sheet with a little melted butter, paying extra attention to your perimeter. Fold sheet in half. Pile 1/4 of your spinach mixture into a log shape working 2 inches from bottom and each side. Tuck bottom up and fold both sides in, then roll and wrap upwards until you reach the edge of the dough sheet. Each pastry will resemble an egg roll. Paint the seam and the ends of the roll with butter and set roll seam side down on a cookie sheet. Repeat and make 4 rolls. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly golden all over and serve.
Tips:
- Use fresh spinach: Fresh spinach is more flavorful and has a better texture than frozen spinach. If you do use frozen spinach, be sure to thaw it completely and squeeze out as much water as possible before using.
- Don't overcook the spinach: Overcooked spinach will be mushy and lose its flavor. Cook the spinach just until it is wilted, about 2 minutes.
- Use a good quality feta cheese: Feta cheese is the key ingredient in spanakopita, so it's important to use a good quality cheese. Look for a feta cheese that is firm and crumbly, with a sharp, salty flavor.
- Use phyllo dough that is at room temperature: Phyllo dough is very delicate, so it's important to let it come to room temperature before using. This will help to prevent the dough from tearing.
- Brush the phyllo dough with melted butter: Brushing the phyllo dough with melted butter will help to keep it moist and flaky. Be sure to brush both sides of the dough.
- Bake the spanakopita until it is golden brown: Spanakopita should be baked until the phyllo dough is golden brown and the filling is hot and bubbly. This will take about 45 minutes.
Conclusion:
Spanakopita is a delicious and versatile dish that can be served as an appetizer, main course, or side dish. It's also a great way to use up leftover spinach. With a little planning and effort, you can easily make a delicious spanakopita at home. So next time you're looking for a new recipe to try, give spanakopita a try. You won't be disappointed!
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