Molded Spinach Phyllo Pie Spanakopita Se Forma Food

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.

SPANAKOPITA (SPINACH TRIANGLES OR PIE)

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large saute pan, add half of the spinach and saute until spinach wilts, tossing with tongs, about 2 minutes. Remove spinach and squeeze out excess liquid, then chop roughly. Repeat with remaining spinach, using 1 more tablespoon of olive oil. Pour off any liquid from the pan, and add remaining olive oil. Add scallions and saute until soft, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the spinach to the scallions, along with the parsley, salt and pepper. Cook over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes, then remove from heat to cool. (This part can be done ahead and kept refrigerated).
• Stir the feta and as much beaten egg to moisten the cooled spinach mixture.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush a baking sheet with some of the melted butter.
• Unroll the filo dough on a flat surface and keep it covered with waxed paper and a damp towel so it doesn't dry out and become brittle. Using a sharp knife, cut the filo into 3 by 11 inch strips, and recover with the towel. Use a pastry brush to brush a strip of filo with melted butter. Place a small spoonful of spinach filling 1 inch from the end of the pastry. Fold the end over the filling to form a triangle, then continue to fold up the strip in triangles, like folding up a flag. Continue with remaining strips of dough, placing filled triangles on the baking sheet and keeping them covered with a towel until all are ready to bake.
• Brush the triangles lightly with butter, then bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Serve hot. (These may be frozen before baking, layering waxed paper between layers of triangles to keep them from sticking. Bake frozen triangles an extra 10 minutes.)

MOLDED SPINACH PHYLLO PIE (SPANAKOPITA SE FORMA)

Steps:

• Saute scallion in 2 tablespoons butter until tender. Cook spinach in water until wilted in a large saucepan. Drain, pressing out as much liquid as possible. (If using frozen spinach, simply thaw and drain thoroughly.) Mix together scallion, eggs, feta, cottage cheese, farina, parsley, dill, and spinach. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
• Butter a two-quart ring mold. Unfold phyllo and wrap in plastic wrap to keep from drying out. Remove one sheet of phyllo and, using a pastry brush, lightly dab it with melted butter. Fit into the mold, allowing at least an inch to hang over the edge. Repeat, using about 20 sheets of phyllo, making sure to distribute the sheets evenly on all sides. Fill mold with spinach mixture. Fold overhanging bits of phyllo over filling. Arrange remaining sheets, individually by buttering one at a time and placing it over the filling so that the mold is completely covered. Remove pastry dough from the mold's center hole.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place mold on baking sheet and bake for 1 1/4 hours or until golden brown and puffed. Let stand 10 minutes before unmolding onto a platter. If top crust is not crisp and golden, return to oven briefly to brown top.

MY MUM'S GREEK SPINACH PIE (SPANAKOPITA)

Steps:

• For the filo: Put in a big bowl the flour, the salt and start adding the water until you have a hard dough that doesn't stick to the fingers. Knead for 2-3 minutes.
• (I usually make the dough one day before and I put it in a plastic bag in the fridge. That way it is easier to work it into the filos the next day.).
• Divide the dough in 5 pieces for 5 filos. Place one ball on a dusted-with-flour counter and roll into a big circle, a little bigger than the pan you are using. It's hard work, I know! Start using each filo in the pan and then work with the other piece of dough.
• Filling: Mix the spinach, the sping onions, the leek, the dill and the parsley. Add one teaspoon of salt and start rubbing by hand for 3 - 4 minutes. The greens start getting softer and their liquids start running. Drain them and then add the feta cheese, the pepper and the rice or couscous. Rice helps to absorb the extra liquid.
• Lighty oil a 14 inch in diameter, round baking pan. Layer one filo in the pan, allowing the edges to hang over the sides of the pan. Brush the filo with olive oil and repeat with another filo.
• Put the spinach mixture in and add the olive oil of the filling. Tuck in the pastry draping over the edges.
• Repeat layering with the remaining 3 filos, oiling each one gernerously.
• Using a knife, score the pie into the size pieces you prefer, but avoid cuting through the bottom.
• Brush the pie with some more olive oil.
• Bake at 375°F for 1 hour.

PHYLLO DOUGH SPINACH PIE

Steps:

• Before starting make sure to read the thawing and handleing tips on the fillo dough package that you purchased.
• Chop onions and thinkly slice scallions. Then saute in vegetable oil at medium heat until tender and golden.
• Drain spinach and squeeze dry.
• Thoroughly mix onions, spinach, cheeses, dill, pepper and egg in a large bowl.
• Melt butter.
• Brush bottom and sides of a 13" x 9" x 2" baking pan with butter.
• Using 8 fillo sheets build a stack in the bottom of the baking pan by brushing the top of the fillo sheets with butter.
• Spread spinach and cheese mixture evenly over the fillo in the baking pan.
• Cover mixture using the other 8 sheets of fillo in the same manner used to create the base.
• Thoroughly butter the top layer, especially the edges.
• Bake for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown in 375 degree preheated oven.
• Let stand for 10 minutes for easier serving. Cut into squares or triangles using sharp knife.

QUICK & EASY SPINACH AND FETA PHYLLO PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Spray an 8x8 glass baking dish with the cooking spray.
• In a medium bowl, stir together everything except the phyllo.
• Lay one sheet of phyllo in the baking dish, allowing the edges to hang over the sides of the dish.
• Spray with cooking spray.
• Repeat with 4 more sheets of phyllo, spraying and alternating the direction of each sheet.
• Spoon spinach mixture on top of the prepared phyllo in the pan.
• Spray and layer remaining 5 sheets just the same as you did before.
• Roll edges of dough to form a rim.
• Spray the top.
• Bake for 35-45 minutes or until golden brown.
• Let stand 5-15 minutes before cutting and serving.