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SPANAKOPITA

Being half Greek has given me the opportunity to delve into family recipes that have endured generations. This is a speciality that I learned from my nan, or yaya as she is known, although I have updated it to take advantage of modern conveniences. To be really authentic the filo should be made by hand from a mixture of flour, water, olive oil and wine vinegar, and rolled out with a thin rolling pin akin to a broomstick. Whilst making filo can be thoroughly therapeutic experience, most of the time it's just easier to buy it at the shop. The paper thin sheets come out crisper than homemade filo, but it is neither more nor less delicious, just different. Since 'peasant food' recipes like this are so subjective, this recipe lends itself well to common quantities found at the supermarket, meaning there are no annoying scraps left over. The end result is an impressive pie that can be cut into small appetiser-sized pieces or large squares served with a good dollop of Greek-style yogurt and a Greek salad for an authentic country meal. Don't forget a bowl of Kalamata olives and a block of good quality feta, plus lots of proper stone baked, make-your-jaws-sore bread on the side for the full experience.

Ingredients

  • Vegetarian
  • 3x250g bags fresh spinach (prewashed is easier) 
  • 1x20g packet fresh mint 
  • 1x15g packet fresh dill 
  • 1 bunch spring onions 
  • 1x200g packet feta cheese 
  • 3 eggs 
  • 1x250g packet filo pastry 
  • olive oil 
  • full fat Greek-style yogurt

Method

  1. Oven: 175°C 
  2. Microwave or steam spinach until it’s limp (~3 minutes per bag). Allow to drain in a colander and when cooled press out as much water as possible. Chop the spinach and put into a large mixing bowl. 
  3. Chop up the mint, dill and spring onions and add it to the spinach. Crumble up the feta cheese and add it. Crack the eggs into the mixture and stir everything together with a spoon until just combined. 
  4. Brush a 9x13 (preferably glass) pan with olive oil. Layer half the packet of filo pastry in the pan, brushing each layer lightly with olive oil. 
  5. Spread out the spinach mixture evenly. Layer the rest of the filo pastry on top, again brushing each layer with olive oil. 
  6. Roll up the edges tightly and brush the top lightly with olive oil. 
  7. Bake in the oven for about 35-45 minutes until the top is golden brown. Cool for 10-15 minutes before cutting into serving-sized pieces. 
  8. Serve with yogurt.

Please note:

While all of Nigella 's recipes are of course tested extensively, nigella.com do not test any of the community recipes, so cannot verify the results or answer queries concerning them.

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