Spanakopita, a traditional Greek dish, is a delightful combination of flavors and textures that celebrates the vibrant Mediterranean cuisine. This savory pie features layers of crispy filo pastry encasing a flavorful filling of spinach, feta cheese, and aromatic herbs. The spinach provides a vibrant green hue and a slightly bitter taste, while the feta cheese adds a salty and tangy contrast. Fresh herbs like dill, mint, and parsley add a refreshing aroma and depth of flavor, making each bite a delightful journey through the senses.
The article includes two variations of this beloved dish: a classic spanakopita recipe that showcases the traditional flavors and a vegan spanakopita recipe that offers a plant-based interpretation of this culinary delight. Both recipes provide step-by-step instructions, detailed ingredient lists, and helpful tips to ensure success in the kitchen. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a beginner looking to explore new culinary horizons, this article has everything you need to create a delicious and authentic spanakopita that will impress your family and friends.
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
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.
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
EASY SPANAKOPITA
A great finger food for get togethers. Easy to make and so good with flaky phyllo dough and spinach.
Provided by Allybee Z
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 1h15m
Yield 16 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Cook the onions in a saute pan with 1 tablespoon each of butter and olive oil until soft and translucent (4 minute on medium).
- Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about another 2 min.).
- Combine onions, garlic, spinach, salt and pepper, hot sauce, egg, feta, Parmesan, and cottage cheeses together in a mixing bowl.
- In a separate bowl, combine the remaining 3 tablespoons each of melted butter and olive oil.
- Grease a 9x13 inch casserole dish.
- Place one sheet of phyllo on the bottom of the dish brush with the butter mixture.
- Top with another sheet of phyllo dough and brush with butter mixture.
- Repeat this process until you have a total of seven sheets of phyllo dough.
- Spread all of the spinach mixture over the top of the last layer of dough.
- Then repeat the process of layering the remaining Place one sheet of phyllo over the spinach mixture and paint it with the oil mixture.
- Repeat with the remaining seven sheets of dough, brushing each new layer with the butter mixture, making sure to butter the top layer.
- Bake at 375°F until the top is golden brown (about 45 minutes).
- Cut spanakopita to make little triangles.
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.
SPANOKOPITA (GREEK SPINACH PIE)
This is an authentic greek recipe' that i thought i would share with the community. it is a family recipe the we have enjoyed for many years. i hope you guys like it as well as we do.
Provided by JIM GILBERT AKA JIM
Categories Greens
Time 1h
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- 1.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 297.1, Fat 20.7, SaturatedFat 6.5, Cholesterol 77.4, Sodium 426.6, Carbohydrate 18.9, Fiber 3.6, Sugar 2.6, Protein 11.2
Tips for Making the Best Spanakopita
- Use fresh spinach. Fresh spinach has a more vibrant flavor and color than frozen spinach. If you must use frozen spinach, thaw it completely and squeeze out all of the excess water before using it.
- Sauté the spinach. Sautéing the spinach helps to remove excess moisture and concentrate the flavor.
- Use a variety of cheeses. A combination of feta, ricotta, and Parmesan cheeses gives spanakopita a rich and complex flavor.
- Use filo dough that is at room temperature. This will make it easier to work with and less likely to tear.
- Brush the filo dough with melted butter before baking. This will help to create a golden brown crust.
- Bake the spanakopita until it is golden brown and the filling is hot and bubbly.
Conclusion
Spanakopita is a delicious and versatile dish that can be served as an appetizer, main course, or side dish. It is a great way to use up leftover spinach and cheese, and it is also a popular dish to serve during Lent. With its flaky filo dough, creamy spinach filling, and flavorful cheeses, spanakopita is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
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