Spanakopita

Created by Dimitra Alfred
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Rating:

  • Cuisine: Greek
  • Serves 8

Ingredients

1 bunch (about 320g) English spinach or silverbeet
2 sprigs fresh dill, chopped
4 green shallots, chopped
300g feta cheese
100g ricotta cheese
40g (½ cup) finely grated hard cheese like kefalograviera, parmesan or pecorino
5 eggs
2 tbsp dry breadcrumbs
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
60ml olive oil
Melted butter or olive oil for greasing dish
375g packet fresh (not frozen) filo pastry
185ml melted butter, approximately

Preparation

Trim the roots from the English spinach, or if using silverbeet, remove leaves from tough stems. Wash leaves and drain well. Coarsely shred the leaves and tender stalks of the spinach and set aside.

Place the feta in a large bowl and coarsely mash with a fork. Add the ricotta, kefalograviera, eggs, breadcrumbs, nutmeg, pepper and oil. Mix with the fork to combine. Add the spinach and set aside while preparing the pastry case.

Preheat oven to 180ï‚°C. Lightly grease a 20cm x 30cm x 5cm deep baking dish.

Lay the filo out on a bench. Cover with a dry tea towel then a damp one to keep it from drying out. Line dish with a sheet of filo and butter the filo. Top with another sheet of filo and butter and continue until about half the sheets of filo are used.

Using your hand or a large metal spoon, gently mix the spinach filling until thoroughly combined. Pour into the prepared pastry base and spread evenly. Top with remaining filo, buttering each sheet, ensuring the final sheet is well buttered. Trim any overhanging pastry and tuck in the sides.

Use a sharp knife to mark pastry top into diamonds, allowing the knife to pierce the pastry once or twice to allow air to escape during baking. Sprinkle lightly with water and bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until well browned and set. Gently shake the pan and the spanakopita will slide easily when cooked. Cover with foil if over browning. Cool on rack for 15 minutes before cutting to serve.


Note:
The spinach can be prepared a day ahead. It must be as dry as possible to ensure the spanakopita does not become soggy.

Greek Restaurants

Displaying 10 of 98 Greek Restaurants.

  Restaurant Suburb
1. Cellar 47 Shepparton
2. Vasilis & Yiannis Greek Tavern Abbotsford
3. Saffron Manuka
4. Yots Greek Taverna Larrakeyah
5. Eros Ouzeri Adelaide
6. Estia Henley Beach
7. George's Greek Tavern Malvern East
8. Greek Spot Hawthorn
9. Jim's Greek Tavern Collingwood
10. Kri Kri Mezethopoleion Melbourne

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Comments (10)

Previous Page 1 | 2 | Next
25 Jan 2010 09:59 AEST
Amanda
Cremorne NSW
Nice but not as flavoursome as I'd have liked
I would have liked this to pack more punch in the flavour department. I notice that other recipes use fewer eggs and add parsley or other herbs. I think next time I'll try a different recipe. Loved having the video to watch though. There's an error in the recipe instructions - dill and green shallots are listed as ingredients, but never mentioned in the instructions. It's easy to guess where & when to add them, but it should be included in the text.
Agree (0 people agree)
Disagree (0 people disagree)
16 Jun 2009 05:28 AEST
Catherine
Sunnybank, QLD
Delicious!
So easy to make. I added pine nuts and mint to the recipe.
Agree (2 people agree)
Disagree (0 people disagree)
01 Jun 2009 12:37 AEST
Alan
Donvale
Now I'm a whizz with a pastry brush ...
Have prepared this a few times now and have the puff pastry bit wired. This recipe is superb ... great taste and texture. I am very careful to rinse & drain the leaves very well. And thorough hand mixing with the cheeses really pays off. Also noticed that about 2/3 the butter quantity is adequate.
Agree (0 people agree)
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07 May 2009 01:56 AEST
phoenix
vic
The best I have made
This is now the 2nd time I have made this recipe, and it is the best. Took some to work and everyone wanted the recipe. It couldn't be any easier. Last time I also included some crushed garlic in the melted butter mix and if you like garlic, you would like this approach to the recipe. This is now included in my favorites. Thanks
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06 Apr 2009 06:42 AEST
Amanda
Bendigo, VIC
First attempt - perfect result
This was the first attempt I have made at making spanakopita and therefore had no idea what to expect. It was very simple to put together with easy to find ingredients. The final result was wonderful and everyone was impressed. Definately pleased with the results.
Agree (4 people agree)
Disagree (0 people disagree)
08 Jan 2009 03:14 AEST
Brian
Dulich Hill
Australianising
We enjoyed it so much I took it to work the next day as lunch. However, I was impatient and cracked open the lunch box while driving. The first bite sent me in to ecstatic convulsions, which while commendable as a recipe, is not a great result when you're driving. I wanted to thank Sally for her recommendation. Not being able to hold solids (or walk) after the accident was difficult to face - but not being able to eat this dish ever again, would have crippled my soul. Thanks Sally.
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08 Jan 2009 03:02 AEST
Sally
Campbelltown
Yummo
My husband ate this! And that's saying something!!! Since the accident he hasn't been able to take solid food so I blended this up with some milk and vanilla icecream into a smoothie. He sicked a bit of it up afterwards but I estimate that he managed to keep down 1/2 a cup of it. Now he keeps asking for "vanilla spinach smoothie". Thanks guys.
Agree (2 people agree)
Disagree (0 people disagree)
29 Dec 2008 09:19 AEST
Sarah
Clark
I've converted a picky carnivore!
My brother ate this! That is the highest praise i could ever give a recipe! I thought it was devine. The best spanakopita i've ever cooked. Not wet or soggy. It held its shape perfectly and was a breeze to cut. i used dodoni fetta which was perfect - not too salty. I served it with some spicy tomato relish which complemented it brilliantly.
Agree (4 people agree)
Disagree (30 people disagree)
   

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