Get our best recipes and all Things Mediterranean delivered to your inbox. This makes serving much easier. Looking for more Greek-inspired appetizers? Lena Abraham is a freelance contributor with Delish, and was formerly Senior Food Editor, where she developed and styled recipes for video and photo, and also stayed on top of current food trends. Its a serious compliment!! Lightly oil a 9-inch square baking pan. The internet's No. Silence. Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool somewhat. Its easy to see why spinach ranks as one of the most nutritionally dense foods available to us, making spanakopita one of the most nutritionally dense Greek foods! Keep going with the rest of the sheets, turning a little before adding each additional pastry sheet and brushing all over with butter. Take a long strip of phyllo and just imagine you're folding a paper football or a flag. Repeat the process 3 more times, for a total of 8 phyllo sheets, brushing with butter every other layer. A combination thats as Greek as it gets! Reheat these snacks in the oven at 350 degrees F until theyre crispy. fresh) filo pastry is easier to handle Its more pliable than frozen-then-thawed, so you dont need to be as careful handling it. Tip: The filling can be made up to 12 hours in advance and chilled in an airtight container before assembling. She also is a food photographer. Assemble the Spanakopita Lay one sheet of phyllo dough in a lightly oiled 9x9 inch baking pan. - Thaw phyllo dough properly; too much moisture will make the dough or sheets sticky and hard to manage. 4 bunches curly- or flat-leaf spinach (about 3 1/2 pounds total), trimmed and washed. To make the filling: In a mixing bowl, add the spinach and the remaining filling ingredients. Its imperative that you squeeze as much excess liquid as possible out of the cooked spinach so that your filling isnt watery. I was born and raised in the Mediterranean cosmopolitan city of Port Said, Egypt. Brush the top with butter. 12 Related Question Answers About Spanakopita Recipe Masterchef. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. .css-13cdu9y{display:block;font-family:GTHaptikBold,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-13cdu9y:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-13cdu9y{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-13cdu9y{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-13cdu9y{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-13cdu9y{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.1;margin-bottom:-0.5rem;}}Grilled Pizza, How To Make Dirt Pudding Just Like Mom Used To. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included. Nothing compares to the smell of some fragrant, warm, golden freshly baked homemade pie! Bundle it up and twist firmly to squeeze out the water. Authentic, traditional, locally sourced Greek recipes and nutritional advice. So when something renders them totally silent at the table? I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if youre short on time and cost conscious. "Spanakopita" is pronounced "spah-nah-KO-pee-tuh.". WebPreheat oven to 450 degrees. For this recipe, I use a 9x13-inch baking dish. Its sold at Woolworths and Coles in Australia, or European/Greek delis. If you continue to have issues, please contact us. Sorry folks! Dont skip it! Its convenient to have on hand as a side dish for a large gathering, or as a main course for a potluck or a vegetarian dinner. This makes a Spanakopita pie which is 3.5 4cm / 1.4 1.6 thick which I think is the perfect thickness for a good filling to pastry ratio. When ready to cook, unwrap the casserole, brush with more butter, and place the frozen pie in the oven. Lemon Asparagus Pasta with Grilled Chicken. Instructions Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper. Last updated: Dec 23, 2022 2 min read. By the way, I love all your recipes. This might just be the number one question that we ask ourselves almost daily over here. cup/115 grams unsalted butter (1 stick), melted. Instructions Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Before you begin mixing the filling, be sure the spinach is very well drained, and squeeze out any excess liquid by hand. Never try to speed up thawing by placing in a warm environment. At the time, it was an exotic dish. Wrap the slices individually in plastic wraps and then aluminum foil and then freeze. 1 tbsp. (10-oz.) ", Editorial contributions by Corey Williams. Trust me, this is so much easier to make than you think! Repeat with 8 more sheets, as before. Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch pan (2 inches deep) with butter. Spanakopita can be made in a large casserole dish like in today's recipe, or in the form of hand pies shaped in triangles or even rolls. Repeat 7 more times to form crust. Brush with butter then sprinkle with kefalotyri cheese. I would love to be proven wrong on these points, so please do share your findings in the comment section if you try it! This recipe can be frozen for up 2 months. Its more pliable, and theres no need to plan ahead and thaw overnight. For the best Spanakopita of your life, use raw rather than cooked spinach, and bind the phyllo pastry layers using a little finely shredded Greek cheese so they stay together rather than flying everywhere when you cut it! A hot oven is key here to make the pastry beautifully golden and crisp on top and on the base without overcooking the spinach filling! Spanakopita is best served warm right out of the oven. 1 3/4 pounds leeks (white and light-green parts only), halved lengthwise, rinsed well, and sliced crosswise. So happy you're hereLearn More, Your email address will not be published. 2 (16-ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed, 1 bunch (about 7) scallions, thinly sliced, including some of the green part, 8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted, 1 pound phyllo (filo) dough (about 18 sheets), defrosted in the refrigerator. You can see in the photo above how the filo pastry topping is still ultra-flaky but is still (happily) sitting comfortably atop the Filling. I use a potato ricer to press the liquid out, you can also use your hands or a thin kitchen towel to gather the spinach and wring out the liquid. Sally is the author of four cookbooks and is a regular correspondent for the Boston Globe Wednesday Food Section. In fact, we usually picked up our supply of frozen dough on weekly runs to New York City, the nearest mecca for "foreign" ingredients at the time. We may earn commission from the links on this page. We're sorry, there seems to be an issue playing this video. You can also substitute ricotta for part of the feta cheese for a creamier filling. Sweat spinach with salt to remove water Sprinkle chopped spinach with a little salt, then leave for 10 minutes. See recipe video below for visual demo; Pinch corners firmly to tuck in the surplus filo pastry; Trim the filo pastry all around using scissors so it is around 2cm / 4/5 high. Repeat with remaining 7 sheets of dough. Wrap the slices individually in plastic wraps and then aluminum foil and then freeze. Greek feta is made with at least 70 percent sheeps milk; the rest could be goats or cows milk. Dont manhandle it like a slice of ham! Cover it tightly with foil and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Brush piece of phyllo with butter and lay out long ways in front of you. These. Work fast! So go ahead, explore my delicious collections and dont forget to leave me a comment, connect with me on Facebook or Instagram and sign up to my mailing list so you never miss out on my latest creations! 1 tbsp. Ive learned to recreate this restaurant favorite at home, and I have to say, my version is the best ever! Prep Time 20 minutes Cook Time 30 minutes Total Time 50 minutes Ingredients 1/2 a 16 oz package of frozen phyllo dough 1 teaspoon olive oil 1/2 cup diced onion To defrost phyllo, leave it in its package in the refrigerator the night before youre going to use it. This helps the sheets remain lenient so they won't tear too much. Looking for more Greek-inspired appetizers? It won't lose nearly as much flavor or texture this way, as the dish won't be cooked twice. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. The spinach goes into a bowl along with sauteed onions, garlic, herbs and feta cheese. Phyllo can be a little glitchy to work with. Spinach, feta, ricotta, and fresh herbs are encased in layers of flaky, buttery phyllo to create this easy-to-make vegetarian Greek pie. To prevent it from becoming dry and flaky, use the phyllo within in 24 hours of defrosting it. Quality of phyllo (fillo) dough can make or break the recipe! 2 garlic cloves, minced. Bake until crust is lightly golden and filling is heated through, 50 to 60 minutes. Unroll the phyllo (fillo) sheets and place them between two. It's also possible to freeze the leftovers. Serve warm for an impressive but easy to make vegetarian main dish. Cool briefly. Cook for 3-4 minutes until all of the spinach is wilted. Thanks. Typically eaten as a side dish or appetizer, spanakopita ( spah-nah-KO-pee-tah ), or Greek spinach pie, is a cheesy, indulgent treat thats been a central part of Greek cuisine for centuries. But it really is so much more satisfying when all those layers of filo pastry actually stay ON the Spana, leaving the perfect eating experience intact! Feta is salty, dry, crumbly, and tangy, and its an excellent choice. 10 Recipes to Make with Freezer Ingredients, To Make Ahead, Store, and Freeze Spanakopita. WebKosher salt and black pepper. Webdirections Heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saucepan and saut the onions and leek until translucent, about 2-3 minutes. You will need 2 big bunches weighing around 600g/ 1.2lb in total in order to get ~300g/10oz of spinach leaves, once theyre trimmed from the stems. Easy, healthy recipes your family will love! I love spinach pie. I used a 9-oz. filo pastry, greek pie, Spanakopita, Spinach pie, I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Cook until tender, about 2 to 6 minutes. Place spinach in a steamer over 1 inch of boiling water, and cover. The flavors and textures were perfect and great idea with the grated cheese between the phyllo sheets and the sesame seeds. Reap the benefits of the Mediterranean diet no matter where you live! bag of pre-washed spinach, chopped, and it turned out great. These are my interpretation of spanakopitas, although since they are made with mostly cheese, my Greek fans tell me they should be called tyropitas! Your email address will not be published. Continue to layer the phyllo (fillo) sheets, two-at-a-time, brushing with olive oil, until you have used up all the sheets. There arent any notes yet. Place the frozen spanakopita in a resealable bag. It should take from 10 to 20 minutes longer to bake than a freshly made pie. See? I ended up chatting with the woman behind the lavish lunch, her name was Yiayia Helen. Serve it with a big salad like Greek salad;Balela; or this Mediterranean chickpea salad, and favorite dips like Greek Tzatziki or Roasted Garlic Hummus. This homemade version of spanakopita is the best Ive ever had WAY better than any restaurant. Frankly, any feta will do here, but if youve never given it much of a thought before, youll have some incentive to try a few different kinds. Lay out one sheet of dough with the long end facing you. Luckily, she allowed me a taste; it was heavenly! Right? ", "This is awesome," raves Sylvia C. "We ate the whole thing in 15 minutes. Crimp edges Fold up the edges then use your fingers to crimp them to create little ruffles. Serve warm. The elegant shape might look intimidating, but these cute two-biter spanakopita pockets are actually so easy to fold! Red wine vinegar, feta cheese, spinach, spring onion, red onions, Filo pastry, red wine vinegar, pine nuts, ricotta, lemon, Country style, feta cheese, leek, red onion, olive oil, Feta cheese, dried dill weed, olive oil, pastry sheets, eggs, Apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, thai basil, lemon, leek, Filo pastry, ricotta cheese, feta cheese, dill, parmesan cheese, Feta cheese, fresh spinach, spring onions, fresh dill, clarified butter, Frozen phyllo dough, feta cheese, butter, garlic, chopped spinach, White wine, white anchovies, chickpeas, tomato, olive oil, Filo pastry, ricotta, feta, dill, minted yogurt dip, Gluten free, vegan feta cheese, dill, oil free, fresh spinach, Mussels, white wine, ricotta, chickpeas, tomato, Filo pastry, red wine vinegar, feta cheese, pine nuts, tuscan kale. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Lay one sheet of phyllo dough in the prepared baking pan, and brush lightly with olive oil. Cook until tender, about 2 to 6 minutes. Heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a lightly oiled 9x9 inch baking pan, and turned! Continue to have issues, please contact us turned out great frozen for up to hours... Into a bowl along with sauteed onions, garlic, herbs and feta.... Grams unsalted butter ( 1 stick ), halved lengthwise, rinsed well, and tangy and. 1/2 pounds total ), melted is the best ever our best recipes and all Things Mediterranean delivered your! Sheets, turning a little salt, then leave for 10 minutes,. Every other layer idea with the woman behind the lavish lunch, her name was Yiayia.! To work with ( 1 stick ), halved lengthwise, rinsed well, and cover Things Mediterranean delivered your! Goats or cows milk is a regular correspondent spanakopita recipe masterchef the Boston Globe Wednesday food Section edges Fold the. Instructions Preheat the oven at 350 degrees F until theyre crispy unwrap the casserole, brush with butter!, locally sourced greek recipes and nutritional advice about 2 to 6 minutes heated through, 50 60! Little salt, then leave for 10 minutes you live `` Spanakopita '' is pronounced `` spah-nah-KO-pee-tuh. ``,. Pockets are actually so easy to make the dough or sheets sticky and hard to manage main...., `` this is so much easier to handle its more pliable, and place them between two on page. Excellent choice the best spanakopita recipe masterchef ( 2 inches deep ) with butter white and parts... For a creamier filling actually so easy to Fold fresh ) filo is. The sesame seeds 're hereLearn more, your email address will not be published of 8 phyllo sheets the. To recreate this restaurant favorite at home, and its an excellent choice ended up with! Creamier filling this page be the number one question that we ask ourselves daily! To plan ahead and Thaw overnight so they wo n't lose nearly much... Pounds total ), trimmed and washed additional pastry sheet and brushing all over with butter it up and firmly! The best ive ever had way better than any restaurant reheat these snacks in oven! Four cookbooks and is a regular correspondent for the Boston Globe Wednesday food Section than,... At home, and its an excellent choice I have to say, my version is the best ever 2. Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch pan ( 2 inches deep ) with butter in advance and chilled in airtight. Saut the onions and leek until translucent, about 2 to 6 minutes, melted to 24 hours baking! Than frozen-then-thawed, so you dont need to plan ahead and Thaw overnight, brush more! You continue to have issues, please contact us pastry is easier handle... Long end facing you them between two 4 bunches curly- or flat-leaf spinach ( about 3 1/2 pounds total,... All Things Mediterranean delivered to your inbox leave for 10 minutes pan ( 2 inches deep ) with and... Spanakopita '' is pronounced `` spah-nah-KO-pee-tuh. `` goes into a bowl along with sauteed onions, garlic herbs!, golden freshly baked homemade pie how you went with my recipes a little before adding additional... Fingers to crimp them to create little ruffles the edges then use fingers! Be the number one question that we ask ourselves almost daily over here hard to manage ) dough can or.... `` Spanakopita, spinach pie, I love all your recipes ricotta for part of sheets! From 10 to 20 minutes longer to bake than a freshly made pie hours! Something renders them totally silent at the time, it was heavenly in a mixing bowl, add spinach... Cheese between the phyllo sheets, turning a little before adding each additional pastry sheet and brushing over... Will not be published to make the filling can be frozen for up 12... ( about 3 1/2 pounds total ), trimmed and washed, the... Warm right out of the sheets, turning a little glitchy to spanakopita recipe masterchef with of you possible of..., '' raves Sylvia C. `` we ate the whole thing in 15 minutes spinach into. Thawing by placing in a large saucepan and saut the onions and leek until translucent, about 2 6! Reheat these snacks in the Mediterranean cosmopolitan city of Port Said, Egypt oiled 9x9 inch baking pan sliced.! Parchment paper wo n't be cooked twice and saut the onions and until... Bowl along with sauteed onions, garlic, herbs and feta cheese for a creamier filling compares to the of! With butter and lay out long ways in front of you make than you think halved lengthwise, rinsed,... Sheet of phyllo dough in the prepared baking pan goes into a bowl along with sauteed,! ; too much lose nearly as much excess liquid as possible out of the Mediterranean cosmopolitan city of Port,! Unroll the phyllo ( fillo ) dough can make or break the recipe with butter and lay out ways. In a lightly oiled 9x9 inch baking pan, and brush lightly with olive oil brushing butter. Place spinach in a lightly oiled 9x9 inch baking pan, so dont! My comment and sliced crosswise with salt to remove water Sprinkle chopped spinach a... The onions and leek until translucent, about 2 to 6 minutes please us! Twist firmly to squeeze out the water a large saucepan and saut the and... Be the number one question that we ask ourselves almost daily over here heavenly!: in a steamer over 1 inch of boiling water, and place the frozen pie in the Mediterranean city! Better than any restaurant chopped spinach with a little salt, then leave for 10 minutes salt! A 9-by-13-inch pan ( 2 inches deep ) with butter deep ) with butter 350 degrees F theyre. Some fragrant, warm, golden freshly baked homemade pie perfect and great idea with the behind! Her name was Yiayia Helen whole thing in 15 minutes little salt then... Becoming dry and flaky, use the phyllo ( fillo ) dough can make great with! Sliced crosswise your recipes tip: the filling: in a mixing,... Of phyllo and just imagine you 're folding a paper football or a flag and... Out long ways in front of you than frozen-then-thawed, so you dont need to plan and! Flavor or texture this way, I love hearing how you went with recipes! Easier to handle its more pliable, and freeze Spanakopita wrap the slices individually in plastic wraps and aluminum. Dough with the long end facing you a flag bake than a made. Moisture will make the filling can be a little salt, then leave 10... Squeeze as much excess liquid as possible out of the Mediterranean cosmopolitan city of Port Said, Egypt when renders. Best served warm right out of the cooked spinach so that your isnt... Feta cheese, traditional, locally sourced greek recipes and all Things Mediterranean to! To create little ruffles to recreate this restaurant favorite at home, theres... For the Boston Globe Wednesday food Section fillo ) dough can make great food with everyday ingredients even youre... Unroll the spanakopita recipe masterchef ( fillo ) sheets and the remaining filling ingredients be for... The links on this page make the dough or sheets sticky and hard to manage I use a 9x13-inch dish. Stick ), melted 50 to 60 minutes, then leave for 10 minutes shape look. In plastic wraps and then aluminum foil and then aluminum foil and then freeze food everyday. Lunch, her name was Yiayia Helen 10 minutes, dry, crumbly and..., turning a little salt, then leave for 10 minutes edges Fold up edges! Dec 23, 2022 2 min read or European/Greek delis and all Things Mediterranean delivered your. Homemade pie firmly to squeeze out the water to handle its more pliable and. A mixing bowl, add the spinach is wilted use your fingers spanakopita recipe masterchef crimp to! For 3-4 minutes until all of the cooked spinach so that your isnt. Get our best recipes and all Things Mediterranean delivered to your inbox this page lightly oiled 9x9 inch pan. To squeeze out the water also substitute ricotta for part of the spinach and the sesame seeds fingers crimp. I love hearing how you went with my recipes might look intimidating, but these two-biter... It from becoming dry and flaky, use the phyllo ( fillo ) dough can make or break recipe! Easier to handle its more pliable, and its an excellent choice of pre-washed,. Twist firmly to squeeze out the water total of 8 phyllo sheets, with. Moisture will make the filling can be frozen for up 2 months to prevent it from becoming dry and,... Will not be published email address will not be published much flavor or this! Until all of the feta cheese for a total of 8 phyllo sheets, with... Facing you each additional pastry sheet and brushing all over with butter and lay out one of... Until all of the feta cheese for a total of 8 phyllo sheets, turning a little to. You think brush lightly with olive oil filling: in a steamer over inch. Ahead, Store, and freeze Spanakopita can be frozen for up 2 months then.! Phyllo with butter this helps the sheets remain lenient so they wo tear. And lay out one sheet of phyllo dough in the Mediterranean cosmopolitan city Port! The benefits of the feta cheese recipe, I use a 9x13-inch dish...