PHOODIE’S SIMPLE SPANAKOPITA 4

One of my favourite Greek dishes of all time and one of my most requested recipes from friends is Spanakopita. Adored by young and old. Jam-packed with gorgeous spinach and perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack – I can see why this phabulous pie is so loved!

I’ve posted a recipe for Spanakopita on the blog before, but that recipe used Filo (paper thin) pastry and was far more time consuming! This is the new and improved version, using puff pastry and a bucketload more cheese in this version too – yumbaroo!

Phoodie’s Simple Spanakopita 

(I make this in a baking dish – 25cm wide x 40 cm long x 8cm high – Serves 6 for lunch)

INGREDIENTS

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 large bunch spring onions – chopped

1 medium white onion – finely chopped

2 cloves garlic – minced

2 LARGE bunches of English spinach or 2 plastic grocery bags filled with baby spinach leaves from supermarket  (abouttttttttttt 600 grams)

2 tablespoons fresh dill – finely chopped

250 grams cottage cheese

250 grams tasty cheese grated

400 grams feta – strong – crumbled

3 eggs

2 sheets puff pastry (rolled out to 25cm x 40cm each)

100 grams unsalted butter – melted

METHOD

Place onion, spring onions and garlic in a frying pan with the oil. Gently sauté, ’til onions are transparent. Add the spinach and cook, stirring, til moisture has boiled away. Remove pan from heat. Squeeze mixture to make sure all water has gone. Place into a large bowl.

Add dill, cheeses and  eggs and mix well.

Melt butter. Grease a shallow baking dish. Place first layer of pastry down and top with spinach mixture. Place other layer of pastry on top (heart cutout on top optional!- see pics) Generously cover with butter (using pastry brush).

Bake in 170 deg cel. oven for approx 45 minutes / until top is golden golden brown.

Serve with Tzatziki.

STEP BY STEP SNAPS

Prep onions, garlic and spring onions. Sauté in oil.

Add in the spinach and cook until wilted down. Turn off heat and Drain.

Add dill, cheeses and eggs and mix well.

Add melted butter and one layer of pastry to the dish. Place filling on top.

Flatten filling and top with other sheet of pastry (and a cut out shape if you like!) Paint with butter.

Into the oven and……. voila!

YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMY!