Greek Spinach Cheese Rolls Food

EASY SPANAKOPITA APPETIZERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. In a large bowl, mix the first 9 ingredients. Place 1 sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface; brush with butter. Layer with 2 additional phyllo sheets, brushing each layer. (Keep remaining phyllo covered with plastic wrap and a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.), Arrange 3/4 cup spinach mixture in a narrow row along the long end of phyllo to within 1 in. of edges. Fold bottom edge of phyllo over filling, then roll up. Brush end of phyllo dough with butter and press to seal. Repeat 4 times with phyllo sheets, butter and the spinach mixture. Place rolls on a parchment-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pan, seam side down., Cut rolls diagonally into 2-in. pieces (do not separate). Brush tops with remaining butter. Bake until golden brown, 12-15 minutes. If desired, serve with tzatziki sauce, lemon wedges and dill sprigs. , Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked rolls on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet until firm. Transfer to a freezer container; return to freezer. To use, bake rolls on a parchment-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pan in a preheated 375° oven until heated through and golden brown, about 25 minutes.

GREEK SPINACH & CHEESE QUICHE SQUARES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Bake butter in 9-inch square baking dish in 2 min. or until melted. Remove dish from oven; brush butter onto bottom and sides of dish.
• Beat eggs with mixer in large bowl. Add flour, milk and baking powder; mix until blended. Stir in spinach, cheeses and onion. Spoon into prepared dish.
• Bake 35 min. Let stand 15 min. before cutting into squares to serve.

SPANAKOPITA CRESCENTS

Steps:

• Dice Onion into small pieces.
• Place Onion and Chicken Stock in a saute pan and cook on medium until Onions become translucent.
• Add Dill and Spinach, continue to cook until all liquid is evaporated.
• Remove Spinach and Onion mixture from heat and allow to cool.
• Once cooled, stir in Feta Cheese into filling mixture.
• Open packages of Crescent Rolls and unroll onto cutting board.
• Using a pizza cutter or a knife, cut each Crescent into 2
• Place 1 tsp of the filling at the widest end of the Crescent and roll up dough "jelly roll style" around filling.
• Place Cresents 3 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake at 425 for 12 - 14 minutes until golden brown.
• *filling may be prepared and refrigerated up to 2 days in advance.
• ** Cresents may be baked earlier in the day and then reheated before serving.

GREEK SPINACH CHEESE ROLLS (APPETISERS)

Steps:

• If using a store bought bread dough, allow the bread to thaw according to the package directions. Spray a standard Muffin Pan with nonstick spray. Roll out dough lightly with flour to 15X9 inch rectangle.
• Combine spinach, cheeses, green onions, and seasonings in a large bowl. Mix Well.
• Sprinkle spinach mixture evenly over the dough to within 1 inch of the edeges. Starting with long edge, roll the dough up snugly, pinching the seam close. Place the seam side down, and cut with serrated knife into about 15 slices. Place slices, cut side up, in to the prepared muffin pan.
• Bake the rolls at 375* for 20-25 minutes or until golden. Seve warm or at room temperature.
• The rolls can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

SPANAKOPITA EGGROLLS

Steps:

• Preheat a deep fryer to 350 degrees F.
• In a bowl, blend the spinach, onions, feta cheese, dill, salt and pepper, mixing well and crumbling the feta during the process.
• To build the rolls, in the center portion of each wrapper, add a tablespoon of filling. Then trace the cornstarch paste around the edges of the wrapper. To seal, fold the bottom tip over the filling, and then bring the left and right sides into the center. To finish, simply roll to bring the top until the roll is closed.
• Drop the spanakopita rolls into the fryer. Lower them slowly into the oil so they set. Once crisp, after about 2 minutes, remove from the fryer. Remember they will continue to cook two shades darker. Put on paper towels to absorb the grease.
• Season the eggrolls and serve with tzatziki sauce, aioli or other sauce.

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.

GREEK SPINACH CHEESE ROLLS

Steps:

• Spray 15 muffins cups with nonstick cooking spray & set aside.
• Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to 15x9" rectangle.
• Position dough so long edge runs parallel to edge of work surface.
• Combine spinach, cheeses, green onions & spices in large bowl & mix well.
• Sprinkle spinach mixture over dough within 1" of long edges.
• Starting at long edge, roll up snugly, pinching seam closed.
• Place seam side down & cut roll with serrated knife into 1" wide slices.
• Places slices cut side up into prepared muffin tins.
• Cover with plastic wrap & let stand 30 minutes in warm place until rolls are slightly puffy.
• Bake in preheated 375° oven 20 to 25 minutes or until golden.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Rolls can be stored in fridge, in an airtight container up to 2 days.
• Makes 15 rolls.

SPANAKOPITA PINWHEELS

Steps:

• In a small skillet, saute onion in oil until tender. Add oregano and garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add spinach; cook 3 minutes longer or until liquid is evaporated. Transfer to a large bowl; cool., Add feta cheese and eggs to spinach mixture; mix well. Unfold puff pastry. Spread each sheet with half the spinach mixture to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style. Cut each into twelve 3/4-in. slices. Place cut side down on greased baking sheets., Bake at 400° for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

GREEK PHYLLO SEAFOOD ROLLS

Steps:

• Squeeze the spinach with your hands to remove excess liquid.
• Put the spinach in a large bowl with ricotta, feta, lemon zest, dill weed and pepper.
• Stir to mix well.
• Heat the olive oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat.
• Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add the garlic and stir 20 to 30 seconds.
• Add the onion-garlic mixture to the bowl with the spinach; stir until well mixed.
• Stir in the shrimp and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Separate 1 sheet of the phyllo dough; lay it on the work surface with the long side toward you.
• (Keep the stack of remaining dough covered with plastic wrap to prevent it from drying.).
• Lightly brush the sheet with a little of the melted butter; lay another sheet evenly on top.
• Lightly brush half of the top sheet with more butter; fold the other half over to make a rectangle 8 x 11 inches.
• Lightly brush with a little more melted butter.
• Spoon a generous 1/4 cup of the filling along the bottom edge, leaving 1 inch of phyllo clear on all sides.
• Lift the bottom end of the sheet and fold it over the filling.
• Fold the sides over and press lightly; gently roll up.
• Set the roll seam-side down on a lightly greased baking sheet (you will need 2 baking sheets).
• Repeat to use the remaining filling and phyllo.
• Brush the tops of the rolls with melted butter.
• Bake until golden, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Serve hot or warm.

CLASSIC GREEK SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in onions, and cook until tender. Mix in spinach. Stir in tomatoes. Allow vegetables to simmer about 5 minutes
• Pour 2 cups water into saucepan, and bring to a boil. Mix in garlic, tomato paste, bouillon cube, salt and pepper. Reduce heat, and cook at a low boil about 15 minutes, until water is reduced by half.
• Stir rice and remaining water into the spinach mixture. Return to boil, reduce heat , and simmer covered 20 minutes, or until rice is tender and fluffy.

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.