Recipe: Spanakopita [edit]

Other Names: Spanikopita, Spinach Pie

Photo: Flickr user c3lsius_bb

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Edited by: Sheri, Alisa Escanlar

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Your Everyday Mama: “Spanakopita”

September 05, 2009

Is anyone else as intimidated by Phyllo dough as I am? Just the thought of having to work like a mad woman to avoid Phyllo disaster terrified me...and now ...

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Wikipedia

Spanakopita (; Greek σπανάκι, ''spanáki'', spinach, and πίττα, ''pítta'', pie) is a Greek savoury pastry in the burek family with a filling of chopped spinach, feta cheese (sometimes in combination with ricotta cheese, as it is less expensive), onions or green onions, egg, and seasoning. The filling is wrapped in layers of phyllo (filo) pastry with butter and/or olive oil, either in a large pan from which individual servings are cut, or rolled into individual triangular servings (see burek). Spanakopita is golden in color when baked, the color often enhanced by butter and egg yolk. Other white, fresh, preferably salted cheeses may also mixed with, or substituted for, the feta cheese. It is mostly eaten as a snack in Greece, and it can be an alternative to tyropita. There is a "fasting", or vegan, version of spanakopita, eaten during the Great Lent and other religious fasts, and comprising of spinach, onions or green onions, other green herbs like dill, parsley or celery, olive oil and a little wheat flour, but without eggs or dairy products; the mixture is oven-baked until crisp. Spanakopita is similar to torta pasqualina, a traditional dish from Liguria, that is very common in Argentina and Uruguay.

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Yield: 12 servings

[edit] Ingredients

3	pkg. or 2 lb. fresh spinach or 2 pkg. frozen, chopped
½	cup butter, melted
	Salt
	pepper to taste
	Garlic salt to taste
1	onion, finely chopped
¼	cup olive oil or less
¼	cup grated Parmesan cheese
½	pound feta cheese
1	tall container cottage cheese
4	eggs, slightly beaten
½	teaspoon dill
1	box phyllo pastry

[edit] Preparation

Step 1	Wash spinach, destem and dry. Chop coarsely. Saute onion in oil until golden color. Mix egg with crumbled feta cheese, cottage cheese, spices and Parmesan cheese. Add spinach and mix until well blended together.
Step 2	Line 11 x 14 x 2 inch pan with phyllo sheets. Note: For ease in handling pastry, make sure it's completely thawed.
Step 3	Brush melted butter between each layer (according to directions). Use about 8-10 sheets. Top with spinach mixture.
Step 4	Repeat procedure with another 8-10 pastry sheets. Sprinkle top layer with water, punch a few holes to let steam escape. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 45 minutes or until golden brown.