My Big Fat Greek Spinach Pie Recipes

SPANAKOPITA (GREEK SPINACH PIE)

Steps:

• Heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saucepan and sauté the onions and leek until translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Add the spinach and saute until the leaves have wilted and the liquid has cooked off, about 8-10 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool somewhat. When cool enough to handle, finely chop the spinach and place in a large bowl.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Lightly oil (always use olive oil!) a 12 inch in diameter, metal baking pan (you can use a larger baking pan - you will just have a thinner pita, but don't use a smaller one), or a 10 x 15 inch rectangular baking pan.
• Add dill and feta cheese to the spinach. Add salt and pepper to taste (careful with the salt - the feta will add quite a bit of its own). Pour the eggs over and give a stir to combine well.
• Open up the phyllo pastry and place on a work surface. If using the country style pastry proceed, if using the thinner phyllo; cover with a damp cloth. (Continue to cover the pastry sheets with the damp cloth each time you remove one as you prepare the pie.).
• Layer the phyllo in the pan, allowing the edges to hang over the sides of the pan, brushing each phyllo layer generously with olive oil.
• Use up half the phyllo sheets to make the bottom pastry layer, allowing excess pastry to drape over edge of pan.
• Put the spinach mixture in and press the top down gently to smooth filling. Tuck in the pastry draping over the edges.
• Repeat layering with the remaining phyllo, oiling each sheet generously.
• Using a sharp knife, score the upper layers of pastry into the size pieces you will want to serve once the pie is baked- BE CAREFUL NOT TO CUT THROUGH BOTTOM PASTRY.
• Bake the pie in the middle of the oven for approximately 40-45 minutes until it is golden brown. For the last 15-20 minutes, I put my baking pan directly on the oven floor to crisp it better.
• Cool till just warm (we never, but never eat this hot! The flavours just wouldn't come through properly). Cut into serving pieces and serve either just warm or at room temperature.
• Note: If my spinach filling appears to be too 'wet', I often take 2 of the phyllo sheets and use them as a 'layer' between the spinach filling; these sheets absorb the extra liquid (they must not be brushed with oil).
• It's also worth noting that Greeks love their olive oil! I have used olive oil with a lighter hand than most Greeks in this recipe - but it may still be too much for you. Feel free to add the amount you feel most comfortable with, but be aware that flavour may be compromised.

A LOT MORE THAN PLAIN SPINACH PIE (GREEK BATSARIA)

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a deep 9x9 inch baking dish.
• Beat the eggs in a mixing bowl, then stir in the spinach, leeks, green onions, feta cheese, parsley, dill, spearmint, sugar, milk, and 3/4 cup of olive oil until evenly mixed. Season to taste with salt and pepper; set aside. Whisk together the all-purpose flour, semolina flour, and 1 pinch of salt in a mixing bowl. Stir in 1/4 cup of olive oil and the water until no lumps remain. Pour 2/3 of the batter into the prepared 9x9 inch pan, and spread out evenly. Spoon the spinach filling over the batter, then spoon the remaining batter overtop. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese, butter pieces, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the bottom crust and top has firmed and nicely browned, about 1 hour.

IMPOSSIBLE GREEK SPINACH PIE

Steps:

• Cook onions in butter.
• Mix in spinach.
• In a greased dish layer spinach and cottage cheese.
• Put last 7 ingredients in a blender and mix well.
• Pour over casserole.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for about 35 minutes, until knife comes out clean.

GREEK SPINACH PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Coat 12x8-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Beat 4 eggs; stir in spinach, feta, scallions, and seasoning. Transfer to baking dish.
• On lightly floured surface, roll puff pastry sheet into 13x10-inch rectangle. Cut into 3/4-inch-wide strips; brush with the 1 beaten egg. Arrange pastry in lattice over filling. Bake 25 minutes or until golden.

MY MUM'S GREEK SPINACH PIE (SPANAKOPITA)

Steps:

• For the filo: Put in a big bowl the flour, the salt and start adding the water until you have a hard dough that doesn't stick to the fingers. Knead for 2-3 minutes.
• (I usually make the dough one day before and I put it in a plastic bag in the fridge. That way it is easier to work it into the filos the next day.).
• Divide the dough in 5 pieces for 5 filos. Place one ball on a dusted-with-flour counter and roll into a big circle, a little bigger than the pan you are using. It's hard work, I know! Start using each filo in the pan and then work with the other piece of dough.
• Filling: Mix the spinach, the sping onions, the leek, the dill and the parsley. Add one teaspoon of salt and start rubbing by hand for 3 - 4 minutes. The greens start getting softer and their liquids start running. Drain them and then add the feta cheese, the pepper and the rice or couscous. Rice helps to absorb the extra liquid.
• Lighty oil a 14 inch in diameter, round baking pan. Layer one filo in the pan, allowing the edges to hang over the sides of the pan. Brush the filo with olive oil and repeat with another filo.
• Put the spinach mixture in and add the olive oil of the filling. Tuck in the pastry draping over the edges.
• Repeat layering with the remaining 3 filos, oiling each one gernerously.
• Using a knife, score the pie into the size pieces you prefer, but avoid cuting through the bottom.
• Brush the pie with some more olive oil.
• Bake at 375°F for 1 hour.

MY BIG FAT GREEK OMELET

Steps:

• Heat a 12-inch non-stick skillet over low heat. (Use a 10-inch skillet if you halve the recipe to serve 2 instead of 4.) Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix tomatoes, 1/2 tsp. oregano, 1/4 tsp. salt, and pepper to taste. Stir in feta.
• In a medium bowl, whisk eggs together, then stir in spinach, 1/2 tsp. oregano, 1/4 tsp. salt, and pepper to taste. A few minutes before cooking omelet, add oil to the pan, and increase heat to medium-high. Heat until wisps of smoke start to rise from the pan. Add the egg mixture to the skillet. Using a plastic or wooden spatula to push back the eggs that have set, tilt the pan and let the uncooked egg mixture run onto the empty portion of the pan. Continue pushing back cooked eggs, tilting the pan and letting uncooked egg mixture flow onto the empty portion of the pan until omelet is moist but fully cooked, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low; pour the tomato mixture over half of the omelet. Using a slotted, flat spatula or turner, carefully fold the untopped half over the filling. Use the turner to slide the omelet onto a cutting board. Let stand a minute or two for the filling to warm.
• Cut the omelet into 4 wedges and serve immediately.

YUMMY GREEK SPINACH PIE (SPANAKOPITA)

Steps:

• Saute onion, green onions and garlic, salt and pepper to taste, until soft in 3 or 4 tablespoons of olive oil.
• Stir in spinach and parsley,until spinach is limp.
• Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• in a bowl mix together eggs, ricotta, and feta.
• Stir in spinach mixture.
• Lay 1 sheet of phyllo dough in a 9x9 in baking dish and brush lightly with melted butter.
• Lay another sheet of phyllo dough on top, brush with butter, and repeat with four more sheets of phyllo.
• Spread spinach and cheese mixture into pan and place another 6 sheets of phyllo in the same process as before.
• Place in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes.
• Serve while hot.

LOW CARB CRUSTLESS GREEK SPINACH PIE

Steps:

• Stir together ingredients and bake in a greased glass pie pan for 45-50 minutes at 375°F or until firm and lightly browned.
• Cool 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.