We have updated this recipe since 2015 for dinner size Spanakopita from Barefoot Contessa. I have since had a lot of practice with phyllo dough with my Baklava recipe.
My family loves Greek Food. From a simple Greek Salad to the flaky flavors of Spanakopita. I have never made Spanakopita before and I really have never even used Phyllo dough before but I decided I would take the challenge and make these yummy dinner size Spanakoptia recipe for my birthday, yes you read that correctly.
Making me own meal but that is ok, I needed an excuse to have time alone in the kitchen!! They were easier than I imagined and I plan on making them again, and freezing them!
BAREFOOT CONTESSA Spanakopita Recipe
I used Ina Garten’s Spanakopita recipe and true to form it was easy and flavorful, two important criteria for a recipe I try. Also be sure to buy the best Feta you can find, and don’t get the low fat stuff.
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE HOMEMADE SPANAKOPITA
- phyllo dough (8 oz to make 12 entree size)
- Chopped Frozen Spinach
- Feta Cheese (crumbled)
- Butter (unsalted)
- Eggs
- Bread Crumbs
You want a cheese that will meld great with the spinach not large chunks of overly processed cheese.
TIP:
Take out the spinach and phyllo dough to thaw the night before you want to make this recipe. be sure to thaw the spinach and phyllo dough well before you start this recipe. You will need both ingredients completely thawed.
Mix all the filling together in a big bowl. Make sure all the ingredients are evenly mixed together so you don’t get a clump of something in a bite.
My phyllo dough kept breaking but nothing a little melted butter could not fix. This is the first recipe I have seen that has you add bread crumbs in-between the sheets.
Since these make entree size spanakopita one piece of phyllo will make 2 pieces.
Now just fold it like an American Flag and keep going until you have made 12 pieces. (Be sure to cover the finished ones with a damp towel.)
Store, freeze or Bake these homemade spinach pies and just wait to indulge.
Here they are baked to perfection.
I think these look amazing and they tasted even better. I always get excited when I try something I thought I could not do, kinda like the California Rolls I made a few years ago.
CAN I MAKE SPANAKOPITA IN ADVANCE
I made these in the morning the day we were going to eat them. We brushed them with butter and covered the pan tightly with plastic wrap.
Just heat the oven and bake. (take them out of the fridge while you preheat the oven.)
HOW TO FREEZE SPANAKOPITA
Brush the triangles with butter and then line onto a cookie sheet Freeze the spanakopita in a single layer for about 1-2 hours. Then put into a freezer bag for future use.
You can bake them straight from the freezer. DO NOT THAW SPANAKOPITA. Cook about 20-30 minutes longer
HOW TO REHEAT BAKED SPANAKOPITA
Sure you can reheat baked pies in the microwave, but we recommend reheating baked spanakopita in the oven or air fryer.
Entree Spanakopita
Entree Spanakopita is the perfect start to your Greek inspired dinner.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup good olive oil
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 3 scallions, white and green parts, chopped
- 2 10-ounce packages frozen chopped spinach, defrosted
- 4 extra large eggs, lightly beaten
- 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Plain dry bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups small-diced feta cheese, 12 ounces
- 3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
- 24 sheets frozen phyllo dough, defrosted
- 1-2 sticks unsalted butter, melted
- Flaked sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Heat the olive oil in a medium saute pan, add the onion, and cook for 5 minutes over medium-low heat. Add the scallions, and cook for another 2 minutes until the scallions are wilted but still green. Meanwhile, gently squeeze most of the water out of the spinach and place it in a large bowl.
- When the onion and scallions are done, add them to the spinach. Mix in the eggs, Parmesan cheese, 3 tablespoons bread crumbs, the nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Gently fold in the feta and pine nuts.
- Place 1 sheet of phyllo dough flat on a work surface with the long end in front of you. Brush the dough lightly with butter and sprinkle it with a teaspoon of bread crumbs. Working quickly, slide another sheet of phyllo dough on top of the first, brush it with butter, and sprinkle lightly with bread crumbs. (Use just enough bread crumbs so the layers of phyllo don't stick together.) Pile 4 layers total on top of each other this way, brushing each with butter and sprinkling with bread crumbs. Cut the sheets of phyllo in half lengthwise.
- Place 1/3 cup spinach filling on the shorter end and roll the phyllo up diagonally as if folding a flag. Then fold the triangle of phyllo over straight and then diagonally again. Continue folding first diagonally and then straight until you reach the end of the sheet. The filling should be totally enclosed.
- Continue assembling phyllo layers and folding the filling until all of the filling is used. Place on a sheet pan, seam sides down.You can make it to this point, cover and refrigerate for later.
- Brush with melted butter, sprinkle with flaked salt, and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the phyllo is browned and crisp. Serve hot.
Notes
You can make these ahead and bake before dinner. next time I will skip the pine nuts
Adapted from Ina Garten
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Nutrition Information
Yield 12 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 500Total Fat 33gSaturated Fat 16gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 15gCholesterol 145mgSodium 1044mgCarbohydrates 37gFiber 3gSugar 3gProtein 14g
All information and tools presented and written within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on stayingclosetohome.com should only be used as a general guideline.
What recipe have you made successfully that you were intimated by?
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