Feta Spinach Melts Food

FETA, DATE & SPINACH PASTRIES

Steps:

• Put the spinach in a pan with 2 tbsp water over a low-medium heat and cover. Stir the spinach a couple of times until wilted, about 4 mins, then drain. When cool enough to handle, firmly squeeze the excess water from the spinach with your hands, then roughly chop.
• Heat 10g of the butter and all of the oil in a large frying pan. Add the onion and cook over a medium-low heat until pale and softened. Add the drained spinach and garlic, season and cook for about 5 mins, stirring occasionally. Leave to cool.
• Transfer the spinach mixture to a bowl, then mix in the spring onions, dates, parsley, mint, pine nuts, feta and egg. Season.
• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Unroll the filo pastry and cut it into strips 9-10cm wide. Melt the rest of the butter, then brush one strip with some of it before putting another strip on top and brushing that too. Keep the remaining pastry covered with a tea towel as you work. Put two heaped teaspoonfuls of the filling at the end of the strip nearest to you. Fold the bottom corner of the pastry diagonally over the filling, so that what was the bottom edge now meets the right-hand edge of the pastry. Fold over the filled triangle and keep going like this with the whole strip, brushing with butter as you go, until you have a neat triangular filo package. Repeat the process with all the pastry and filling. Brush the top of each one with butter, then put onto baking sheets. Sprinkle with the black sesame seeds and bake for 25-30 mins, or until the pastry is golden brown.

SPINACH AND FETA RUGELACH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Set the frozen spinach out on a plate at room temperature to soften slightly.
• Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is soft and translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and a few turns of black pepper and cook until fragrant, 1 more minute. Add the flour and stir to combine, then stir in the spinach and a good pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until the spinach is heated through and the mixture is combined. Stir in the feta, heavy cream, lemon juice and hot sauce, then remove it from the heat. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
• Roll out half of the pie dough on a lightly floured surface until it is a large round, about 1/4 inch thick. (If using store-bought pre-rolled dough, simply unroll it onto your surface.) Spread on half the spinach mixture in an even layer so that it covers the dough. Using a pizza cutter or knife, cut the dough like a pizza into 8 triangular wedges. Roll up each section starting at the wide end. Transfer the rugelach to the lined baking sheets, placing them 1 inch apart. Repeat with the other half of the dough and spinach filling.
• Lightly brush the tops with egg wash and sprinkle with sea salt.
• Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly and enjoy. Store leftovers in the fridge and reheat in a toaster oven.

FETA-AND-SPINACH BUNS

Steps:

• For the dough: Warm the milk and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan over low heat to about 100 degrees F (but no more than 110 degrees F). Remove the saucepan from the heat, and sprinkle the yeast over the liquid. Sprinkle a pinch of the sugar over the top, and let sit without stirring until foamy, about 5 minutes. Then whisk in the butter and egg yolk.
• Whisk together the flour, remaining sugar and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center, and stir in the yeast mixture with a wooden spoon until you have a thick, sticky dough. Turn the dough onto a floured work surface, and knead until soft and elastic, about 6 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball.
• Brush the inside of a large bowl with butter. Add the dough ball, turning to coat lightly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, trace a circle the size of the dough ball on the plastic and note the time. Let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Turn the dough out of the bowl, and knead briefly to release excess air. Re-form it into a ball, and return it to the bowl. Lightly butter a large piece of plastic wrap, and lay it on the dough. Cover the entire bowl tightly with the rest of the plastic, and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight to let the dough proof.
• For the filling: Melt the butter in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped shallots, and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the spinach, and cook until it is cooked through and nearly all the liquid has evaporated, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat, and stir in the feta, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan, lemon zest, nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Transfer the filling to a medium bowl, and let cool completely. (The filling will firm up a bit, but if it's too warm, it will be difficult to form the buns.)
• To fill and form the buns: Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with 2 tablespoons softened butter. Turn the dough onto a floured work surface, and press it flat. Roll it into a 10-by-18-inch rectangle, with a long side facing you. Spread the filling evenly over the dough, leaving about a 1-inch border on the side opposite you. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan evenly over the filling. Starting from the side facing you, roll the dough up into a tight roll. Lightly brush the 1-inch border with water, and continue rolling to seal the roll. Fold the ends in just a bit, and if any spots look thicker than others, even out the roll with your hands.
• Cut the roll every 1 1/2 inches with a serrated knife, to make 12 buns. Place the buns cut-side down (except for the end pieces) in the prepared pan, spacing them 1 inch apart. Cover them loosely with plastic wrap, and set in a warm place to rise until the buns double in size, leaving no gaps in between, 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours.
• For the topping: Stir together the butter, dill, lemon zest and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a small bowl; set aside.
• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Bake the buns until they're golden brown and the tops spring back when pressed lightly, 25 to 30 minutes. Spread the topping evenly over the buns, and return them to the oven until the butter is melted and the topping is fragrant, 5 minutes more. Let them cool in the pan for 10 minutes before serving.

FETA-SPINACH MELTS

Steps:

• In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine spinach and water. Cover and microwave on high for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes or until spinach is wilted, stirring twice; drain and squeeze dry. Add the feta cheese, tomato, onion, mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, salt and dill weed; set aside., Arrange bread on a baking sheet. Broil 4 in. from the heat for 1-2 minutes or until lightly toasted. Spread each with about 1 tablespoonful spinach mixture. Broil 3-4 minutes longer or until heated through.

SPINACH, FETA, AND TOMATO OMELET

Steps:

• Chop tomatoes. Crumble feta cheese. Thinly slice spinach leaves.
• Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Place 4 dinner plates in oven to warm. In medium bowl, place eggs, water, salt, and black pepper. With fork, beat 25 to 30 quick strokes to blend mixture without making it fluffy. (Overbeating toughens the proteins in the whites.)
• In 8-inch nonstick skillet, melt 1 1/2 teaspoons margarine on medium. When margarine stops sizzling, pour or ladle 1/2 cup egg mixture into skillet.
• After egg mixture begins to set around edges, about 25 to 30 seconds, with heat-safe spatula, carefully push cooked egg from side of skillet toward center, so uncooked egg can reach bottom of hot skillet. Repeat 8 to 10 times around skillet, tilting as necessary, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.
• Cook until omelet is almost set but still creamy and moist on top. Place skillet handle facing you, and layer one-fourth of crumbled feta, spinach leaves, and chopped tomatoes over half of each omelet.
• With spatula, fold unfilled half over filling.
• Shake pan gently to loosen any egg or filling from edge, then slide omelet to edge of skillet. Holding skillet above warm plate, tip skillet so omelet slides onto plate. Keep warm in oven. Repeat with remaining margarine, egg mixture, tomatoes, spinach, and feta to make 4 omelets in all. Serve with toast and a mixed greens salad with balsamic vinaigrette if you like.

EASY GREEK SPINACH AND FETA MELT

Steps:

• Mix the all ingredients ingredients together except the bread.
• Spoon genorous portions on the slice of bread.
• Place the slices on a baking sheet.
• Place under the oven broiler and broil until browned and hot, or place in a toaster oven.

BAKED FETA PASTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F (205°C).
• Place the block of feta in the center of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Arrange the tomatoes around the feta, then drizzle everything evenly with the olive oil and white wine. (I recommend giving the ingredients a brief toss so that they are evenly coated in the oil.) Sprinkle the crushed red pepper flakes evenly over the feta, and season the tomatoes with a pinch of salt and black pepper.
• Transfer the baking dish to the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the tomatoes have burst and are nice and juicy.
• While the tomatoes and feta are baking, heat a large stockpot of generously-salted water until boiling. About 10 minutes or so before the tomatoes and feta are set to finish, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until it is just 1 minute or so shy of al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water and set it aside for later, then drain the pasta.
• Remove the baking dish from the oven. Immediately add the garlic and basil and stir the mixture together until the feta has melted into a creamy sauce. Add in the cooked pasta and spinach and gently toss until the pasta is evenly coated and the spinach has begun to wilt. If the sauce seems too dry, add in some of the reserved starchy pasta water 1/4 cup at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
• Taste and season with extra salt and pepper, if needed.
• Serve warm, garnished with lots of Parmesan cheese, and enjoy!

SPINACH AND FETA MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Cook the damp spinach in a large pan for about 2 minutes-or until it has wilted.
• Drain really well, and chop coarsely.
• Mix the crumbled feta through the spinach.
• Preheat the broiler to medium.
• Place the mushrooms gill side up on a lightly greased baking sheet.
• Season and drizzle over a little oil.
• Grill for 4-5 minutes or until tender.
• Melt the butter in a frying pan and cook the onion until golden.
• Stir in the spinach mixture and season to taste.
• Spoon the mix into the mushroom cups, sprinkle with a little shredded Parmesan and grill until it's golden.

SPINACH AND FETA PUFF PASTRY APPETIZERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400° F.
• Using a cheesecloth, squeeze as much water out as possible of both the spinach and chopped artichokes.
• In a medium-size bowl, combine spinach, artichokes, onions, cheeses, salt/pepper, garlic, butter and 2 beaten eggs.
• Roll each sheet of puff pastry out (separately) to 10 x 10 inches. Using a pizza cutter, divide each sheet of the puff pastry into 9 equal squares giving a total of 27.
• Spray your mini muffin tins with Pam spray. Press each puff pastry square into the bottom and sides of the muffin tins. Place a heaping tablespoon of the spinach mixture into the square. Bring each corner up and twist to seal.
• Brush the additional beaten egg onto each spinach cup.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
• Serve either warm or room temperature.

BUTTERED SPINACH WITH FETA

Steps:

• Wilt the spinach in the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat for a few mins. Once wilted, grate in the nutmeg, stir in the feta and serve straight away.

SPINACH, TOMATO AND FETA MELT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Mix all ingredients except crackers; spoon into 2- to 2-1/2-cup casserole.
• Bake 15 to 20 min. or until heated through.
• Serve as a spread with the crackers.