My Big Fat Greek Spinach Pie Food

SPANAKOPITA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 220°C/430°F (200°C fan). Line a tray with baking paper / parchment paper.

MY BIG FAT GREEK SPINACH PIE

Steps:

• THAW phyllo dough according to package directions; PLACE oven rack in lower third position; PREHEAT oven to 425°F ; SELECT a 14 x 9 deep metal baking sheet pan; SPRAY inner baking sheet surface with non-stick cooking spray; INSERT and fit a large sheet of parchment paper (not waxed paper!) into sheet pan; PRESS parchment paper in firmly.
• RINSE spinach and transfer into a large microwave-safe bowl containing 1/2 cup water; COVER bowl with a large plate; MICROWAVE on high power for 5 minutes. LET stand 1 minute; WEARING oven mitts, remove bowl from microwave; REMOVE plate from bowl; CAREFULLY drain spinach in colander placed in sink; PRESS spinach against colander to extract excess water; PLACE drained spinach on cutting board; COARSELY chop spinach; PLACE chopped spinach onto center of clean kitchen towel; SQUEEZE out as much moisture as possible into sink.
• TRANSFER spinach into a large mixing bowl; ADD the remaining filling ingredients; STIR mixture until thoroughly combined.
• LAY one sheet phyllo into baking dish, and brush thoroughly with melted butter; REPEAT procedure with 9 more phyllo sheets, brushing each with butter.
• SPREAD spinach mixture evenly over phyllo, leaving a one-quarter inch border free on all sides.
• COVER spinach with one phyllo sheet, brushing with butter; SPRINKLE buttered phyllo sheet with 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese; LAY another 2 sheets phyllo on top of cheese-sprinkled layer; BRUSH with butter (do not add cheese to the following two sheets); REPEAT with one more phyllo sheet.
• PRESS layers gently with hands to release residual air pockets; SCORE the pie using a sharp knife through the top 3 phyllo layers into 9-12 equal pieces.
• BAKE for 20-25 minutes, or until phyllo is golden brown and crispy; COOL pie at least 10 minutes.
• LIFT out and slide parchment insert containing pie carefully onto a cutting surface; SLICE along scores, lifting pie from parchment with a sharp spatula before serving.
• SERVE and enjoy!

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.

IMPOSSIBLE GREEK SPINACH PIE

Steps:

• Cook onions in butter.
• Mix in spinach.
• In a greased dish layer spinach and cottage cheese.
• Put last 7 ingredients in a blender and mix well.
• Pour over casserole.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for about 35 minutes, until knife comes out clean.

LIGHTER SPANAKOPITA

Steps:

• Pack the spinach into a large heatproof bowl. Pour boiling water over and press the spinach down with a wooden spoon. Leave for 1 min to wilt, stirring a couple of times so all the leaves are submerged. Tip into a large colander and place under running cold water to cool quickly. Drain well - squeeze out any excess water by pressing the spinach down with the wooden spoon, then squeezing with your hands. Using kitchen paper, pat the spinach dry into a compact shape, lay it on a board and roughly chop, then set aside.
• Heat 2 tsp of the oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Add the shallot, spring onions and garlic, and fry over a high-ish heat for 3-4 mins, stirring often, until softened and just starting to brown. Lower the heat, tip in the spinach and stir for 1 min only to finish drying. Season with pepper and a good pinch of nutmeg, and leave to cool.
• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and put a baking sheet in to heat up. In a bowl, stir the ricotta into the beaten egg and mix in the 2 tbsp dill, the chives and mint. Season with pepper and a pinch of salt.
• Lightly oil a 20cm square x 4cm deep cake tin. Mix the remaining oil with the 1 rounded tsp dill. Lay the filo pastry sheets on a large board. Brush the top one with a little of the dill oil, then carefully lower it into the tin to line the base and 2 of the sides, with an overhang on both sides. The pastry doesn't have to fit in smoothly - a few wrinkles and folds in it are fine. Brush a bit more oil over the second pastry sheet and this time lay it down in the tin the other way round, so it drapes over and lines the base and the other 2 sides. The tin should now be completely covered, with a pastry overhang all round. Repeat the criss-cross layering with 2 more oiled filo sheets.
• Stir the ricotta mixture into the spinach, then crumble in the feta. Lightly stir it in so you leave a few chunky pieces. Spoon this filling into the lined tin and level it. Bring the pastry sides up and over the filling, then brush a little oil over them. Brush the remainder of the oil over the last filo sheet on the board. Cut the sheet in half widthways and lay one half over at a time, in big folds, to cover the filling and give you a pastry topping.
• Place the tin on the heated baking sheet and bake for 25-30 mins until the pastry is crisp and golden. Leave to cool for 10-15 mins. Remove the tin and transfer to a serving plate. If your tin doesn't have a loose bottom, carefully upturn it onto a flat board, then flip it over onto the serving plate. Serve warm or cold with minted yogurt dip and a tomato, cucumber & pepper salad (see below), if you like.

BROCCOLI-SPINACH PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Saute the onion and green onions in the oil until golden brown.
• Add the broccoli and spinach, and cook for about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the cheese, eggs, chives, dill, parsely and black pepper. Remove from heat to cool a bit.
• Using a pastry brush, butter a 9" x 10" baking dish and begin layering the first 12 phyllo sheets, brushing each with a little butter as you go.
• Drain the excess liquid from the broccoli-spinach mixture and spread it over the 12 layers of phyllo dough.
• Cover this with the remaining 12 phyllo sheets, repeating the buttering process as you add each sheet. You made need to melt a little more butter if you run out.
• Cut the pie into 10 (or more) pieces, using a very sharp pointed knife.
• Bake uncovered for about 1 hour, or until golden brown. You may need to tent this with aluminum foil towards the end of cooking, if the top layer of phyllo is getting too brown.

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.

FLAKY CRUST SPINACH PIE

Steps:

• Heat butter and oil in large skillet.
• Add onions and sauté until soft about 5 minutes.
• Add spinach to onions and continue cooking for about three minutes until the water has evaporated from spinach.
• Season spinach with a dash of nutmeg.
• In large bowl combine spinach, eggs and all the cheeses.
• Season with salt and pepper if desired.
• Pile mixture into unbaked pie crust.
• Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for one hour or until golden brown on top.

SPANOKOPITA (GREEK SPINACH PIE)

Steps:

• 1.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.