Spanakopita – spinach, onion, and herbed Feta cheese in between layers of Phyllo dough create a simple and scrumptious Greek dinner that you just’ll like to serve everybody.
After we lived in Rhode Island, we turned extraordinarily shut buddies with a household throughout the road. It’s not usually that every member of the family will get together with each member of one other household. However that is the best way it was with my and Mary’s household. All of us had a rare bond, a lot in order that we turned household.
At some point, with a three-year-old by my aspect and a one-year-old on my hip, I answered the door and noticed a girl standing on our entrance steps with an attractive three-year-old boy. She launched herself and her son and stated that they had bought the house throughout the road. They hadn’t moved in but and have been dwelling about 40 minutes away.
I invited her in, and we talked at size whereas the youngsters performed fairly properly collectively. She stated she wasn’t feeling effectively, had just lately discovered she was pregnant, and wished to lie down earlier than driving again residence. I made a decision I’d take the three youngsters to the playground down the road to present her some peace and quiet.
Now, in the event you’ve ever had a “intestine feeling” about somebody, or really feel such as you’ve identified an individual perpetually despite the fact that you’ve already met them, then what I’m speaking about. There was an instantaneous connection between our households, and Mary and I felt utterly comfy with one another.
So comfy with one another, the truth is, that I allowed a stranger to relaxation in my residence with out me being there, and he or she allowed a stranger to take her son to the park! I do know it appears somewhat weird, however neither of us had any issues. There are some issues in life you “simply know.” And this was considered one of them. Our first assembly all the time jogs my memory of a Bible verse:
“Don’t forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing, some individuals have entertained angels with out understanding it.”
Hebrews 13:2 (NIV 1984 ed.)
Sure, Mary was, and nonetheless is, an angel. Her household got here into our lives at precisely the right time. All through the years, we shared many tears, an limitless quantity of laughter, and numerous hours enjoying playing cards after we had put the youngsters to mattress. We are going to all cherish many recollections for the remainder of our lives
Each of our households moved away from the outdated neighborhood, our children have grown up, married and moved away, and we don’t see one another each day as we did when the youngsters have been little.
However there’s one factor that’s all the time sure, each time we do communicate of get collectively, it’s as if no time has handed. We will all the time decide up the place we left off.
Mary made this recipe usually and our household cherished it instantly. I feel yours will, too.
To my “sister”, thanks not solely to your Spanakopita however for being you. I’m blessed to have you ever in my life, and can cherish our relationship all the time.
The place did Spanakopita come from?
Spanakopita, also referred to as Greek spinach pie, is a savory pie that has been a part of Greek delicacies for a really very long time. It’s also intently associated to the same Turkish dish referred to as ispanakli. Whereas the precise origins are tough to hint, most spanakopita recipes are derived from the northwest area of Greece. It’s a very fashionable dish in Greece and might be discovered all through the world at present!
Is Spanakopita served heat or chilly?
There are actually no guidelines as to find out how to eat this scrumptious major dish! You’ll be able to serve it heat out of the oven, at room temperature, and even out of the fridge for leftovers!
What components do I want for this straightforward Spanakopita recipe?
Save your self loads of time and an enormous headache by buying pre-made phyllo sheet dough. Along with that, you’ll want the next components:
- 2 16 oz packages of frozen spinach
- One very giant purple onion
- Three 6-ounce packages of tomato and basil spiced feta cheese – if I can’t discover it, I exploit the Mediterranean mix which is simply as scrumptious.
- 1 cup plus two tablespoons olive oil
- 5 eggs
- 1 stick unsalted butter, chilly (8 tablespoons)
The right way to make genuine Spanakopita
Preparation: Earlier than making this recipe, it’s essential thaw your phyllo pastry dough and your spinach. Then, take away any extra moisture out of your spinach. Both put it right into a clear, damp towel and squeeze the water out, or if in case you have a potato ricer, you’ll be able to place it in there and squeeze the surplus water out that means. Don’t neglect to preheat the oven to 350 levels F!
Make the Spinach Filling: Warmth a big pot on the stovetop over medium-high warmth. Warmth 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then add minced onion and sauté till delicate. Add the spinach and blend earlier than eradicating it from the warmth to chill.
Beat eggs in a big bowl. Add the remaining cup of olive oil and the crumbled feta cheese. Mix the cooled, cooked spinach combination with the egg combination.
Assemble: Use a pastry brush to unfold a small quantity of melted butter on the underside of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Place three Phyllo sheets into the underside of the baking dish. Brush the highest of the dough generously however gently with melted butter. Repeat this course of till half of the phyllo dough is within the baking dish.
Unfold the spanakopita filling over the Phyllo dough. Place three sheets of Phyllo dough over the spinach combination and brush with melted butter. Proceed this course of till all of the dough is within the baking dish.
Bake: Butter the highest layers of dough and sprinkle a small quantity of chilly water on prime. Tuck within the edges of the phyllo dough, then place in preheated oven and bake for one hour or till the highest layer of dough is golden brown, and the filling is heated all through. Use a pointy knife to chop the spanakopita into triangles to serve.
Can I exploit recent spinach on this recipe?
You need to use recent spinach! Nevertheless, it have to be cooked and any extra liquid eliminated. 32 ounces of frozen spinach equals about 4 ½ kilos of recent spinach.
Can I substitute puff pastry for phyllo dough?
No, it’s essential use the phyllo dough for this recipe.
Puff pastry dough and phyllo dough (or filo pastry dough) aren’t interchangeable. Puff pastry is laminated, which suggests butter is folded into the dough to create skinny, ethereal layers. Phyllo dough could be very skinny, principally flour, water, and generally oil.
Why is my Spanakopita soggy?
The draw back of phyllo dough is that it will get soggy shortly. Leftovers are solely good for a day or so, even when saved in an hermetic container within the fridge. The easiest way to reheat leftovers is within the oven for the reason that microwave makes them soggy.
Should you discover your spanakopita is soggy when baking it, you could have an excessive amount of liquid left in your spinach. Ensure you eradicate as a lot extra moisture as doable earlier than baking!
Can Spanakopita be made forward of time and frozen?
Sure, this spinach pie freezes very effectively! The hot button is to freeze it earlier than baking. After layering the phyllo sheets and spinach filling, wrap the dish tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil.
Place it within the freezer, labeled, and freeze it for as much as two months. Once you’re able to bake it, uncover the dish and bake it for about an hour and quarter-hour. Test and bake extra ten minutes if not cooked by way of.
Should you like this, you’ll love these recipes:
Attempt considered one of these different scrumptious Greek-inspired recipes!
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Spanakopita
Spanakopita – spinach, onion, and herbed Feta cheese in between layers of Phyllo dough create a simple and scrumptious Greek dinner that you’re going to like to serve everybody.
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Directions
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Preheat oven to 350 levels F.
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Warmth giant pot on range prime on medium excessive warmth. Put within the 2 tablespoons of olive oil, add minced onion and sauté till delicate. Add spinach and blend collectively. Take away from warmth and put aside to chill.
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In a big bowl, beat eggs. Add remaining cup of olive oil and crumbled feta cheese. Mix cooled, cooked spinach combination with egg combination.
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Brush a small quantity of melted butter on backside of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Place three items of Phyllo dough into the underside of the baking dish.
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Brush gently with melted butter (don’t be shy, however don’t overdo). Proceed with course of till half of the Phyllo dough is on the underside.
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Pour spinach combination over Phyllo dough.
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Place three items of Phyllo dough over combination and brush with butter. Proceed with Phyllo dough and butter. Butter prime layer and sprinkle a small quantity of chilly water on prime. Tuck in edges.
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Bake for 1 hour.
Vitamin
Energy: 425kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 8g | Fats: 35g | Saturated Fats: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 3g | Monounsaturated Fats: 20g | Trans Fats: 0.4g | Ldl cholesterol: 106mg | Sodium: 243mg | Potassium: 408mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 11038IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 143mg | Iron: 3mg
*that is an up to date publish in each format and with footage. The earlier publish was revealed as Day 48 as my unique 365 Days of Baking. It was republished on 11/3/15, and once more on 2/8/23.
