With its vibrant green filling and flaky, golden crust, spinach pie in puff pastry, or spanakopita, is a delectable dish that captivates taste buds and hearts alike. Originating in the culinary traditions of Greece and the Balkans, this savory pie has become a beloved delicacy enjoyed worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned cook or an enthusiastic beginner, embarking on a culinary journey to create this delectable treat promises an unforgettable gastronomic experience.
Here are our top 9 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
SPINACH IN PUFF PASTRY
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Heat the butter in a saute pan and cook the onions over medium-low heat for 5 to 7 minutes, until tender. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Meanwhile, squeeze most of the water out of the spinach and place it in a bowl. Add the onion mixture, scallions, Gruyere, Parmesan, eggs, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and pignolis. Mix well.
- Unfold one sheet of puff pastry and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread the spinach mixture in the middle of the pastry, leaving a 1-inch border. Brush the border with the egg wash. Roll out the second piece of puff pastry on a floured board until it's an inch larger in each direction. Place the second sheet of pastry over the spinach and seal the edges, crimping them with a fork. Brush the top with egg wash but don't let it drip down the sides or the pastry won't rise. Make three small slits in the pastry, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the pastry is lightly browned. Transfer to a cutting board and serve hot.
PUFF PASTRY SPANAKOPITA
In this dish, Greek spanakopita (a phyllo, spinach, and feta pie) is re-imagined as a buttery, flaky puff pastry turnover.
Provided by Laraine Perri
Categories Main Course
Yield 9
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and heat the oven to 375°F.
- Heat 2 tsp. of the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add a batch of spinach and toss with tongs until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Transfer with tongs to a colander set over a bowl, and let drain. Repeat with the remaining spinach (don't add more oil).
- Wipe the pan dry, reduce the heat to medium, and add the remaining 2 Tbs. oil. Add the onion and scallions and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute more. Remove from the heat and let cool.
- In a large bowl, lightly beat the 3 whole eggs. Season with 1/2 tsp. salt, a generous grind of black pepper, and the nutmeg. Stir in the dill, parsley, and pecorino. Gently stir in the feta.
- Squeeze handfuls of the spinach to release as much liquid as possible; then pull apart the clumps with your fingers. Add the spinach and the onion mixture to the eggs and stir gently to combine.
- Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment. Without unfolding, cut one pastry sheet crosswise into thirds (refrigerate the other sheet). On a lightly floured work surface, unfold a third of the pastry, cut it into thirds, and roll each piece into a 4-inch square. Transfer the squares to the baking sheets. Repeat with the 2 remaining thirds to yield 9 squares. Spread about 1/2 cup of the filling over each square in an even layer, leaving a 3/4-inch border on all sides.
- In a small bowl, whisk the 2 egg yolks and 2 tsp. water. Lightly brush the egg wash over the pastry borders. Cut the other pastry sheet as above, but roll each piece into a 5-inch square. Place the squares over the filling and press the top and bottom edges of the pastries together to seal.
- Brush the top of each with the remaining egg wash and cut a small vent to allow steam to escape. Bake, swapping and rotating the baking sheets' positions halfway through baking, until a knife inserted into the filling comes out clean and the pastry is puffed and deep golden, about 20 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet for 15 minutes, cut each square in half on the diagonal, and serve.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 9, Calories 490 kcal, Fat 300 kcal, SaturatedFat 9 g, TransFat 34 g, Carbohydrate 37 g, Fiber 5 g, Protein 13 g, Cholesterol 130 mg, Sodium 670 mg, UnsaturatedFat 23 g
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
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.
MAMA VOULA'S SPANAKOPITA
Provided by JoAnn Cianciulli
Categories Cheese Dairy Leafy Green Vegetable Appetizer Vegetarian Kid-Friendly Dinner Feta Leek Spinach Phyllo/Puff Pastry Dough Sugar Conscious Pescatarian Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher Small Plates
Yield Serves 12
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and coat with the 3 tablespoons of oil. When the oil is hazy, add the leeks and garlic; cook and stir until fragrant and very soft, about 4 minutes. Add the spinach in handfuls, folding the leaves under with a spoon as you add each batch. Let the spinach wilt and cook down before adding more. Once all the spinach is in the pan, season with the pepper.
- Remove from the heat and transfer the spinach mixture to a colander over the sink. Using the back of a spoon, gently press out all of the excess liquid. Set aside to cool; the filling needs to cool down a bit to prevent the dough from becoming soggy. Once the mixture is cool, add the feta, dill, mint, and eggs. Fold the ingredients together until well combined.
- Brush the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with oil. Working with 1 sheet at a time, lay the dough on a lightly floured surface and roll it out slightly to fit the pan. Line the bottom of the dish with the first piece of dough, pressing into the corners. Trim off any excess with a paring knife. Spread the spinach filling evenly over the dough. Cover with the second sheet of dough, trimming around the edges of the dish. Brush the top with oil.
- Bake until the top is puffed and golden brown, about 30 to 35 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting into squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.
GREEK SPANAKOPITA
This classic spinach pie is made with phyllo dough.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Pie & Tarts Recipes
Yield Makes one 11-by-15-inch pie
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a small saucepan, melt butter and oil together over low heat. Brush an 11-by-15-by-2-inch baking pan with butter-oil mixture. Layer 7 sheets of phyllo in pan, brushing each with butter mixture. In a large bowl, thoroughly combine remaining ingredients, except phyllo.
- Spread about 2 cups spinach filling over phyllo in pan. Cover with 2 sheets phyllo, brushing each with butter mixture. Repeat layering 2 cups filling and 2 sheets phyllo, brushing each with butter mixture, until all filling has been used, about 4 more layers.
- Top with 7 more sheets of phyllo, brushing each with butter mixture. Press gently around the edges so layers adhere. Prick surface all over with a toothpick.
- Bake 15 minutes, reduce heat to 300 degrees and continue baking until pastry is golden, about 1 hour. Let stand 1 hour before serving.
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.
EASY PUFF PASTRY SPANAKOPITA
Puff pastry spanakopita, a delicious recipe for Greek spinach and feta pie made easy by using puff pastry instead of phyllo.
Provided by Adina
Categories Appetizer
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Thaw the frozen spinach and squeeze it thoroughly (Note 5).
- Puff pastry: If using frozen puff pastry, thaw and roll it according to the package instructions. If using refrigerated and already rolled pastry, remove it from the fridge about 10 minutes before baking.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F/ 190°C. Brush the baking dish with olive oil.
- Beat the egg in a cup. Remove about ¼ of the egg and keep it separated for later; you will need it to brush the pastry before baking.
- Filling: Place squeezed spinach in a medium bowl. Add the egg (except for what you saved for brushing) finely chopped onions, grated garlic, crumbled feta, dried mint, chopped dill, lemon zest and juice, salt, and black pepper. Combine well and adjust the taste if necessary.
- Drape the dough sheet over the baking dish.
- Spread the feta and spinach filling inside the pastry, then fold in the corners and sides of the dough toward the center. The filling will not be fully covered in the middle. Trim a bit of the dough corners and sides to make the pie look nice.
- Egg wash: Mix the beaten egg you've saved with the milk and brush the pastry with the mixture. Sprinkle it with sesame seeds.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until the pastry is puffed up and deeply golden.
- Let sit for about 5 minutes before slicing.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 slice, Calories 566 kcal, Carbohydrate 37 g, Protein 20 g, Fat 39 g, SaturatedFat 15 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 98 mg, Sodium 1130 mg, Fiber 5 g, Sugar 2 g, UnsaturatedFat 21 g
Tips:
- Use fresh spinach for the best flavor and texture.
- Squeeze the spinach well to remove excess moisture before adding it to the filling.
- Feta cheese is a traditional ingredient in spanakopita, but you can also use other types of cheese, such as ricotta or mozzarella.
- If you don't have phyllo dough, you can use puff pastry instead.
- Brush the spanakopita with egg wash before baking to give it a golden brown crust.
- Serve the 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 a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can make a delicious and satisfying spanakopita that the whole family will love.
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