Authentic Greek Spinach Pie called Spanakopita

Recipe from my Greek Neighbor! Authentic Greek Spinach Pie called Spanakopita is a savory Greek pie made of crispy layers of phyllo dough and a delicious filling of spinach and feta cheese in the middle.

I am fortunate to be living next door to a wonderful Greek family that has been cooking in their own restaurants for years.

One of the things that is traditionally cooked for Greek Orthodox Easter is a Spanakopita which is better known to most Americans as a Greek Spinach Pie. Who better to make this tasty pie then Yιαγιά (meaning grandma) which has been making this recipe for 60 years. Now that is a lot of Greek spinach pies!

A Little About Greece

Greece is one of the sunniest places on the planet, it’s no wonder that it is a popular vacation destination for so many around the world. With a population of over 10 million people, Greece is known for its beaches, from the black sands of Santorini to the party resorts of Mykonos.

With 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites to see along with 6000 islands to visit, Greece ranks number 5 as the best destination to visit. What is interesting to me is the United States is the 2nd country with the largest Greek population in the world. I have always been able to find a Greek neighborhood which where I live right now is Tarpon Spring, Florida.

How do people celebrate Greek Orthodox Easter?

Most Greek families will roast lamb on a spit or as the Greek say, "souvla," this is often on the menu for Easter. According to the Apostle John, Jesus is the Lamb of God so eating lamb on this day honors his sacrificial death.

In addition, many Greeks dye their eggs red to represent the blood from Christ’s tomb. This is sometimes baked into a sweet bread known as ‘Tsoureki 'or just a hard boiled egg dipped in a red food dye.

How to Make Authentic Greek Spinach Pie

This recipe comes from Yιαγιά herself to make a smaller pie for just one sheet pan. It's very simple and easy to make just need a little time and a love of cooking from scratch!

Spinach Mix

1. Wash spinach and cut stems into small pieces and put in a pot of cold water. 
2. Leave for 2 minutes soaking then drain the spinach in a colander.
3. Place spinach in a bowl, mix 6 eggs to pour into the spinach and mix.
4. Put 2 tablespoon of butter and saute onions and parsley in a pan. Once it is translucent, pour over the spinach and mix.
5. Crumble the feta over the spinach mix, add cooked rice, then mix everything together. Add pepper as desired to the mix.

Assemble the Spinach Pie

1. Melt the butter and mix with olive oil in a bowl.
2. Prepare a 9 ½" X 13" baking dish and brush the bottom and sides of the dish with butter mix.
3. To assemble, line the baking dish with two sheets of phyllo (fillo) letting them cover the sides of the dish then brush with butter mix. Add two sheets in the same way and brush them with the butter mix. Repeat until two-thirds of the fillo box is used.
4. Evenly spread the spinach and feta filling over the crust. Tap it down to make it nice and firm. Top with two more sheets, and brush with butter mix.
5. Continue to layer the phyllo (fillo) sheets, two-at-a-time, brushing with butter mix, until you have used up all the sheets. Brush the very top layer with butter mix.
6. Enjoy!

Ways to Serve

This is great to serve with a tomato salad and a variety of olives to pick. I also like to put our a variety of cheese on a platter with sliced oranges to eat. It's a wonderful lunch or brunch for spring and summer. Can be eaten cold or warm but either way it's delicious.

Tips

One of the things things that my neighbor said to do when you can't find curly spinach and just have baby spinach sold at the market, add 2 leeks chopped to the mix.

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Authentic Greek Spinach Pie called Spanakopita

Authentic Greek Spinach Pie called Spanakopita is a savory Greek pie made of crispy layers of phyllo dough and a delicious filling of spinach and feta cheese in the middle.

Course Lunch

Cuisine Greek

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Servings 12

Calories 678 kcal

Author Lizzy Loves Food

Ingredients

• 1 lb Filo dough
• 2 cups butter
• 1 cup olive oil
• 1 cup Feta
• 4 oz cottage cheese
• 6 eggs
• 1 onion chopped
• 3 scallions chopped
• ½ cup parsley chopped
• ¾ cup rice cooked
• 24 oz spinach chopped

Instructions

Spinach Mix

1. Wash spinach and cut stems into small pieces and put in a pot of cold water.
2. Leave for 2 minutes soaking then drain the spinach in a colander.
3. Place spinach in a bowl, mix 6 eggs to pour into the spinach and mix.
4. Put 2 tablespoon of butter and saute onions and parsley in a pan. Once it is translucent, pour over the spinach and mix.

5. Crumble the feta over the spinach mix, add cooked rice, then mix everything together. Add pepper as desired to the mix.

Assemble the Spinach Pie

1. Melt the butter and mix with olive oil in a bowl.
2. Prepare a 9 ½" X 13" baking dish and brush the bottom and sides of the dish with butter mix.
3. To assemble, line the baking dish with two sheets of phyllo (fillo) letting them cover the sides of the dish then brush with butter mix. Add two sheets in the same way and brush them with the butter mix. Repeat until two-thirds of the fillo box is used.
4. Evenly spread the spinach and feta filling over the crust. Tap it down to make it nice and firm. Top with two more sheets, and brush with butter mix.
5. Continue to layer the phyllo (fillo) sheets, two-at-a-time, brushing with butter mix, until you have used up all the sheets. Brush the very top layer with butter mix.
6. Fold the flaps or excess from the sides and brush the folded sides well with the butter mix.
7. Puncture with a paring knife on the top a few times to let it vent while cooking.
8. Bake at 325 degrees for 45-60 minutes, or until the fillo crust is crisp and golden brown.
9. Remove from the oven and cut into squares and serve. Enjoy!

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

One of the things that my neighbor said to do when you can't find curly spinach and just have baby spinach sold at the market, just add 2 leeks chopped to the mix of the baby spinach.

Nutrition Facts

Authentic Greek Spinach Pie called Spanakopita

Amount Per Serving (12 g)

Calories 678 Calories from Fat 504

% Daily Value*

Fat 56g86%

Saturated Fat 25g156%

Trans Fat 1g

Cholesterol 176mg59%

Sodium 706mg31%

Potassium 450mg13%

Carbohydrates 33g11%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 11g22%

Vitamin A 6688IU134%

Vitamin C 21mg25%

Calcium 162mg16%

Iron 4mg22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.