Spanakopita
Total Time
1 hour and 5 minutes
Prep Time
40 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Rating
4.96 out of 5 stars
(69)
Ingredients
4 servings
- 300g/10oz English spinach leaves
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 175g/6oz Greek feta (, crumbled)
- 1/2 cup Greek yoghurt
- 2 green onions / scallions (, finely sliced)
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp mint (, finely chopped)
- 1 tbsp dill (, finely chopped)
- 1/2 tsp lemon zest
- 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 garlic cloves (, finely chopped)
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg (, freshly grated)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 16 sheets filo pastry (Note 2)
- 120g/ 8 tbsp butter (, melted)
- 60g / 2/3 cup Greek Kefalotyri cheese (, finely grated (sub parmesan, Note 3)
- 1/2 tsp white sesame seeds (or more black)
- 1/2 tsp black sesame seeds (or more white)
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Preparation
Step 1
Preheat oven to 220°C/430°F (200°C fan). Line a tray with baking paper / parchment paper.
Step 2
Filling:
Step 3
Sweat spinach: Place spinach in a large colander or bowl. Sprinkle with salt, toss through. Leave for 10 minutes to sweat.
Step 4
Wring out water: Place a handful of spinach in a tea towel, then wring out tightly to remove excess water.
Step 5
Filling: Place spinach in a bowl with remaining Filling ingredients. Mix well to combine.
Step 6
Assembly:
Step 7
Trim filo: Cut 16 sheets of filo pastry into 32 x 25cm / 13 x 10" (pictured) or 26cm / 10.5" square.
Step 8
8 base layers: Layer 8 sheets of filo pastry on the tray, brushing each layer with melted butter.
Step 9
Filling: Spread filling on filo pastry. Smooth surface and leave a 2.5cm / 1" border.
Step 10
8 Filo topping layers (Note 4): Cover spinach with a sheet of filo pastry. Brush with butter, sprinkle with Kefalotyri. Repeat for Sheets #2 to #5. Then cover with filo sheets #6 to #8, brushing with butter in between, but do NOT sprinkle with cheese (neater finish).
Step 11
Seal: Press edges down to seal. Crimp and trim if desired (see process steps in post or video) or just leave the edges flat on the tray.
Step 12
Sesame seeds: Brush the top with butter, sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Step 13
Bake: Bake 25 minutes, or until golden brown on the surface.
Step 14
Serve! Serve immediately! It is at its absolute prime fresh out of the oven, though still good as long as its hot (~15 min or so). The base does lose crispiness as it cools.
Step 15
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