Spanakopita recipe

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Rating:

4.5/ 5 stars 64 Votes
  • Cuisine: Greek
  • Serves 8

Dimitra Alfred shares her spanakopita recipe with Food Safari's Maeve O'Meara.

For tasty variations on spanakopita, try Lyndey Milan's spanakopita recipe or Georgia Sakelos' spanakopita recipe. Also, browse our Greek recipes for more gourmet inspiration.


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 180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.


If you enjoyed this Spanakopita recipe then browse more Greek recipes, vegetarian recipes and our most popular hainanese chicken rice recipe.

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Comments (15)

Previous 1 | Page 2 | Next
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
Agree(0 people agree)
Disagree(0 people disagree)
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.
Agree(0 people agree)
Disagree(1 people disagree)
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(4 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(34 people disagree)
28 Nov 2008 06:39 AEST
Heather
Holbrook
A new family favourite
Easy to prepare and it looked and tasted wonderful. Everyone wanted a second serve and a copy of the recipe.
Agree(6 people agree)
Disagree(0 people disagree)
30 Oct 2008 01:14 AEST
Dorothy Martin
Eltham Nth. Vic.
Delicious vegetarian meal.
Delicious. I used young silverbeet leaves out of the garden. Not difficult to make. Enjoyed by my young grandchildren 31/2 & 2 . Leftovers ( not much) , full of flavour the next day. DCM
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