Greek Islands Spinach Pie Food

EASY GREEK SPINACH PIE FOR BEGINNERS (SPANAKOPITA)

Steps:

• If you choose to prepare this Greek spinach pie recipe with commercial phyllo dough, it is important to thaw completely the phyllo dough by putting it in the fridge from the previous day. For the beginners at working with phyllo, check the handling tips before start making the spanakopita.
• Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6.
• To prepare this spinach pie recipe, sauté the onions in a large knob of butter until soft and turning golden. Add the garlic and cook for a couple of minutes. Add the spinach in batches and cook until wilted. Cool, then tip into a bowl (leaving behind any excess liquid from the spinach) and mix in the nutmeg, feta, eggs, spring onion and season. This will be the filling of the spanakopita.
• For this spinach pie recipe you will need a non stick baking pan, about 20-22cm. Put the first sheet of filo in the pan and brush with butter, letting the excess hang over the sides. Keep going with the rest of the sheets, turning a little before adding each additional pastry sheet and brushing all over with butter. When all the pastry is used up, tip in the filling of the spanakopita and fold over the excess pastry to cover. If you like to prepare a larger pan of spanakopita for a big crowd, double the ingredients for the filling and use a 25*35 cm baking dish. Layer the 4-5 phyllo sheets to form the bottom of the spanakopita, tip in the filling and top with 4-5 more phyllo sheets.
• Butter the top of the spinach pie with melted butter and scar with a sharp knife. Bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes until the filo is crisp and golden.
• Leave the spanakopita cool down for 10-15 minutes before cutting into pieces. Serve the spinach pie with Greek feta salad. Enjoy!

GREEK SPINACH PIE-SPANAKOPITA

Steps:

• Thaw the spinach.Place a large pan over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp olive oil. Add the scallions and sauté until they soften. Add the spinach. Sauté until it softens a little, 1-2 minutes. Add another tbsp of olive oil if you feel it is needed. Remove spinach to a colander to drain the liquids.
• Preheat oven to 375 F.Combine the flour, olive oil, and a pinch or two of salt. Gradually add warm water to the flour, about 2 cups. Mix dough well, cover with a damp kitchen towel, and let it rest while you finish making the filling.
• Transfer spinach to a bowl. Add the mint, dill, dry oregano, and cheese. Add the eggs-season with sea salt and pepper to taste.
• Mix everything well -I like using my hands- but don't overwork the mixture
• Divide the dough to four pieces, 2 a little bigger than the other two since you are going to use them to cover the sides and bottom of your pan.Oil the bottom and sides of your pan with olive oil.Roll out the two larger pieces of dough into a size about 2 inches larger than your pan. Cover the pieces you are not using with a damp towel, so they don't dry out.
• Place one of the dough sheets to the bottom of the pan, press gently to cover all the sides. Brush a little olive oil. Add the other piece. Brush a little olive oil all over.
• Add the filling evenly all over.
• Roll out the rest of the dough into two pieces, a size similar to your pan. Cover the filling with one piece. Brush olive oil all over. Add the other piece on top. Press gently to cover everything and the sides of the pan that are exposed. With pair of scissors trim the dough to the edge of the pan. Roll the extra dough back in to create a trim for your pie.Brush some olive oil all over. Score gently with a sharp knife.
• Bake in the middle rack of your oven for 50-60 min or until it's golden on top.

SPANAKOPITA (GREEK SPINACH PIE)

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.

TIP'S SPANAKOPITA (SPINACH PIE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F In a saute' pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Saute the onions until golden in color. Add scallions and sauté 2-3 minutes. Add the parsley, dill, salt & pepper. Stir in spinach. Blend thoroughly. Remove from heat and cool before proceeding further.
• Place cooled spinach mixture in electric mixing bowl using the paddle (or large bowl if mixer is unavailable). On low speed, add eggs, one at a time. Add feta, and cream cheese (in chunks).Mix well, but do not over mix.
• Carefully unroll phyllo sheets. Place 9x13x2 casserole dish over phyllo and using sharp knife, cut phyllo to fit pan. Grease bottom and sides of casserole pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• Place 8-10 sheets of phyllo, one sheet at a time on bottom of pan, spraying each sheet individually with cooking spray (while layering). Add spinach mixture, spreading out evenly over phyllo sheets. Top with remaining phyllo sheets, again, spraying each sheet with cooking spray as was done for the bottom of pan.
• Brush on the melted butter over top of casserole. With a sharp pointed knife, score the top layers of phyllo into serving portions. (triangle shape is traditional). Bake at 325°F for 45 minutes. Watch phyllo for burning. Color should be a light golden brown. Remove from oven and let stand about 15 minutes before serving.