Spanaki Pilafi Recipes

SARAH'S RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a lidded skillet over medium-low heat. Cook and stir orzo pasta until golden brown. Stir in onion and cook until onion becomes translucent, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Mix in the rice and chicken broth. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender, and the liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.

SPANAKOPITA (GREEK SPINACH PIE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly oil a 9x9 inch square baking pan.
• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion, green onions and garlic, until soft and lightly browned. Stir in spinach and parsley, and continue to saute until spinach is limp, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• In a medium bowl, mix together eggs, ricotta, and feta. Stir in spinach mixture. Lay 1 sheet of phyllo dough in prepared baking pan, and brush lightly with olive oil. Lay another sheet of phyllo dough on top, brush with olive oil, and repeat process with two more sheets of phyllo. The sheets will overlap the pan. Spread spinach and cheese mixture into pan and fold overhanging dough over filling. Brush with oil, then layer remaining 4 sheets of phyllo dough, brushing each with oil. Tuck overhanging dough into pan to seal filling.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until golden brown. Cut into squares and serve while hot.

CHICKEN BREAST SPANAKI

Steps:

• Pour olive oil in pot over medium heat and add both types of onion. Saute for 1 minute, and then add spinach. Saute for approximately 10 minutes.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Pour spinach mixture in a bowl and cool. Add dill, eggs, feta and pepper to spinach mixture and mix very well.
• Butterfly chicken breasts and fill with spinach/feta mixture. Close the breast and broil for 10 minutes on each side. After 15 minutes, douse chicken breasts with olive oil, lemon and oregano, and serve.

SPANAKI PILAFI

Steps:

• Place spinach in a saucepan. Simmer over low heat, covered, for 10 minutes. Set aside.
• Place rice in a 2qt saucepan, add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, stir in rice with a fork, then simmer until water is absorbed.
• Add the partially cooked rice to the spinach, stir carefully with a fork to mix. Add salt, pepper and mint. Cover and simmer on low heat for 10-15 minutes, until rice is fully cooked.
• In a frying pan, heat olive oil to the sizzling point. Do not allow to burn.
• Pour holt oil over the rice and spinach, stirring carefully to mix.
• Cover pot. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.
• Serve in a shallow bowl and sqeeze plenty of lemon juice over pilaf.

SPANAKOPIZZA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Stretch out your dough on to a pizza stone or into a pizza pan. Pierce the dough with a fork, drizzle the dough with a touch of extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle it with oregano. Bake dough 10 minutes.
• While the pizza dough bakes, heat a tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil (1 turn of the pan) in a large nonstick skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add butter to the warm oil, then the chicken or turkey. Lightly brown the meat 3 to 4 minutes, then add the chopped red onion, garlic and grill seasoning and cook 5 minutes more. Wring the defrosted spinach dry by twisting it in a clean kitchen towel over your sink. Add it to the meat, separating it with your fingers. Add in feta crumbles.
• Once the pizza has cooked 10 minutes, remove dough and top evenly with meat and spinach mixture. Cover the pizza with shredded mozzarella or provolone, roasted peppers and olives. Bake pizza another 13 to 15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and crust is crisp.
• Remove pizza from oven, top with chopped parsley or arugula, cucumbers and hot peppers and serve.

CHICKEN BREAST SPANAKI

Steps:

• Pour olive oil in pot over medium heat and add both types of onion. Sauté for 1 minute, and them add spinach. Sauté for approximately 10 minutes.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Pour spinach mixture in a bowl and cool. Add dill, eggs, feta and pepper to spinach mixture and mix very well.
• Butterfly chicken breasts and fill with spinach/feta mixture. Close the breast and broil for 10 minutes on each side. After 15 minutes, douse chicken breasts with olive oil, lemon, and oregano and serve.