Spanakopita: the simple, tasty recipe for making Greek Spinach Pie (2024)

Spanakopita: the simple, tasty recipe for making Greek Spinach Pie (1)

Ingredients

spinach, frozen and thawed

300 g (10 oz)

Feta cheese

300 g (10 oz)

goat cheese

120 g (4 oz)

butter, melted

1/2 cup

Eggs

2

Ground black pepper

1/2 tsp

Looking for great vegetarian comfort food? Then you have to try this delicious Greek Spinach Pie, also known as Spanakopita. Layers of crispy, flaky phyllo dough are filled with a creamy, flavorful spinach mixture. Baked until golden, you have crunch in every bite!

While it might look like a difficult recipe, it’s actually very easy. You make the filling, and simply layer it with phyllo dough. It couldn’t be easier! Serve them warm as a vegetarian main with a side salad, or as a side to a lamb roast. You can even serve the cold Spanakopita as an appetizer! It just so happens to be Mediterranean-diet approved, so you can have a second bite! Grab the phyllo dough, spinach, and cheese, and get ready to impress your guests.

Spanakopita: the simple, tasty recipe for making Greek Spinach Pie (2)

What is Spanakopita?

Spanakopita (pronounced spah-nah-KO-pee-tah) is a Greek savory pie made from phyllo pastry stuffed with spinach and cheese.

Typically, feta is used, but goat’s cheese and ricotta is can also be used. Other ingredients include onions, eggs, or scallions.

Spanakopita Ingredients

Spinach – you can use frozen and thawed spinach for this recipe, but fresh spinach will give you the best results.

Cheese – using Feta is key for a great spanakopita! Traditionally a Greek cheese called kefalotyri is also used, but since it might be harder to find, you can also use goat’s cheese or parmesan.

Eggs – don’t skip the egg, because it acts as a binder.

Spanakopita: the simple, tasty recipe for making Greek Spinach Pie (3)

How To Make Spanakopita

If you’re using frozen spinach, you only need to thaw it first and then drain it properly. Fresh spinach needs to be cooked and then squeezed to remove excess moisture. You can process the spinach in a food processor until fine. Mix with the remaining filling ingredients until everything is fully combined.

Tips for Greek Spinach Pie

Phyllo pastry can be very fiddly, so handle it very carefully. If using frozen phyllo pastry, remember to thaw it in the fridge overnight.

Serve the Spanakopita fresh out of the oven with your favorite side salad. Or you can serve it as a side to a main meal, or with a yogurt dip as an appetizer!

Phyllo pastry is low in fat, so this is a healthy recipe too! If you’re in a pinch, you can use puff pastry, but it will be more buttery!

Make pretty appetizers, by cutting them into Spanakopita triangles or squares.

Spanakopita: the simple, tasty recipe for making Greek Spinach Pie (4)

Can you make Spanakopita ahead of time?

Spanakopita can be made the day before. Assemble the layers, cover tightly, and place in the fridge. Bake before serving, allowing an extra 10 minutes.

How to store Spanakopita

Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Heat in a low oven until warmed through.

You can also portion out cooked spanakopita leftovers and freeze them for later. They can be placed directly in the oven without defrosting them in advance.

Instructions

Spanakopita: the simple, tasty recipe for making Greek Spinach Pie (5)

Step 1

Step 1

Preheat oven to 190C/375F. Butter a square 20x20 cm (8x8 inches) baking pan. Combine both cheeses with spinach, egg and a little bit of pepper.

Preheat oven to 190C/375F. Butter a square 20×20 cm (8×8 inches) baking pan. Combine both cheeses with spinach, egg and a little bit of pepper.

Spanakopita: the simple, tasty recipe for making Greek Spinach Pie (6)

Step 2

Step 2

Place a layer of phyllo sheet in the baking tin and add some of the spinach filling.

Place a layer of phyllo sheet in the baking tin and add some of the spinach filling.

Spanakopita: the simple, tasty recipe for making Greek Spinach Pie (7)

Step 3

Step 3

Use the back of a spoon to spread it around. Continue with the layers, making sure to brush each sheet of phyllo with a little bit of melted butter.

Use the back of a spoon to spread it around. Continue with the layers, making sure to brush each sheet of phyllo with a little bit of melted butter.

Spanakopita: the simple, tasty recipe for making Greek Spinach Pie (8)

Step 4

Step 4

Finish spanakopita with a sheet of phyllo brushed with butter. Make square cuts all over the pie, making sure to cut straight to the bottom.

Finish spanakopita with a sheet of phyllo brushed with butter. Make square cuts all over the pie, making sure to cut straight to the bottom.

Spanakopita: the simple, tasty recipe for making Greek Spinach Pie (9)

Step 5

Step 5

Bake for 45 minutes and serve warm or cold, sliced into pieces.

Bake for 45 minutes and serve warm or cold, sliced into pieces.

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Spanakopita: the simple, tasty recipe for making Greek Spinach Pie (2024)

FAQs

Why is my spanakopita soggy? ›

Let's face it, nobody wants to eat a soggy spanakopita. But this doesn't have to be your fate if you follow a few simple tips. Firstly, making sure you squeeze all the excess moisture out of your spinach. This is the case with fresh and frozen spinach.

What is Greek spinach pie made of? ›

Spanakopita is a delicious savory Greek pie made of perfectly crispy layers of phyllo dough and a comforting filling of spinach and feta cheese. I'm sharing my family's favorite spanakopita recipe, complete with tips, video, and step-by-step photos.

Do you have to refrigerate spanakopita? ›

How to store Spanakopita: Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Reheat slices on a cookie sheet in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 -13 minutes, or until heated through. Freeze baked Spanakopita in a freezer-safe dish for up to 2 months.

Are spanakopitas healthy? ›

Spanakopita is a Greek spinach pie typically containing cheese such as feta and/or ricotta. Our version is low in calories while high in fibre, iron and calcium. It's also diabetes-friendly and suitable for vegetarians.

Should I defrost spanakopita before baking? ›

Can I freeze Spanakopita? Yes you can freeze Spanakopita! Just place in an airtight container and it will keep for up to 2 months. You can just pop the Spanakopita in the oven when ready to eat to warm back up, no need to thaw first.

Why is spanakopita so good? ›

Using a combination of tender greens and herbs gives the pie subtle complexity, while making the upgrade from frozen to fresh greens ensures the best flavor. Good olive oil adds richness and depth, giving heartiness to this vegetarian dish.

What is spanakopita in English? ›

Spanakopita (/ˌspænəˈkɒpɪtə, ˌspɑː-, -ˈkoʊ-/; Greek: σπανακόπιτα, from σπανάκι spanáki 'spinach', and πίτα píta 'pie') is a Greek savory spinach pie. It often also contains cheese, typically feta, and may then be called spanakotiropita (Greek: σπανακοτυρόπιτα "spinach-cheese pie"), especially in northern Greece.

How long does spanakopita last in the fridge? ›

How to Store Spanakopita. Store leftover spanakopita in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat in the oven until heated through.

What goes with spanakopita? ›

The best side dishes to serve with Spanakopita are Greek salad, Tzatziki, hummus, Greek yogurt, cheese dip, southwest salad dressing, falafel, roasted vegetables, lemon roasted potatoes, Greek rice, Mediterranean quinoa salad, and orzo salad.

Is Spanakopita bad for cholesterol? ›

It is a bit high in saturated fat. One serving of Spanakopita or Spinach Pie (100g or about 3.5 oz) has 156 calories (75 calories from fat), 8.3g total fat (3.9g saturated fat), 42mg cholesterol, 282mg sodium, 243mg potassium, 15.5g total carbohydrates (1.4g dietary fiber, 1.3g sugars) and 7.2g protein (DV).

Is feta cheese healthy? ›

When it comes to cheese, feta is a healthy choice. Not only is it packed with protein and fat – both essential nutrients for helping you to feel full and energised – it's also good for your gut. Probiotic yeasts in feta may lower the PH in your stomach, which is key for a healthy gut.

How much cholesterol is in Spanakopita? ›

Nutrition Facts
Calories234
Polyunsaturated Fat3.0 g
Monounsaturated Fat5.5 g
Cholesterol88 mg
Sodium481 mg
8 more rows

How to make phyllo crispy again? ›

Whenever we re-warm ours, we flip the pieces over so that the bottom gets crispy again.

How do you moisten dry phyllo? ›

Phyllo dough dries out super fast. Lay a damp (NOT wet) kitchen towel over the phyllo sheets while you are putting together your recipe. Make sure the towel is just slightly damp, enough to give the phyllo dough a little moisture so it doesn't dry out.

How do you keep phyllo dough moist? ›

Keep it Covered

Working layer by layer takes time; keep the rest of the dough tightly wrapped so that it doesn't dry out in the process. Plastic wrap is fine, but a clean, barely damp kitchen towel works best.

How do you fix soggy puff pastry? ›

Problem: Your Pastry is Soggy

Pastry being soggy in the middle is a result of the pastry being undercooked. Don't place the pastry on too high a shelf in the oven. One way to prevent soggy bottom pastry is to blind bake the pastry – This means partially or completely bake the pastry before adding the filling.

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