Go Back

Spanakopita

Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Main Course, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: Cypriot, Greek
Yield: 8 people

Materials

  • ¼ cup + 2 tbsps extra-virgin olive oil divided
  • 1 medium onion finely diced
  • 325 g baby spinach
  • 4 thinly sliced green onions including green parts
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh dill
  • 250 g crumbled sheep milk feta cheese
  • 475 g fresh ricotta cheese strained
  • 2 large eggs lightly beaten
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • cup melted unsalted butter
  • 455 g phyllo pastry sheets thawed as per package directions
  • 2 tbsps white sesame seeds

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. With a pastry brush, butter the bottom and sides of a 17x13 inch rimmed baking sheet and set aside.
  • In a small saucepan, heat 2 tbsp oil over medium heat. Sauté the onions until translucent and tender about 2-3 minutes. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, add the spinach, green onions, dill, cooked onions, feta, ricotta and beaten eggs. Season with salt and pepper and toss gently until well mixed. Set aside.
  • Stir together the melted butter with the remaining ¼ cup olive oil in a small bowl.
  • Place phyllo between a damp tea towel (this will ensure it does not dry out).
  • Lay sheets on dry and clean work surface. Using a pastry brush, brush phyllo sheet with butter mixture, not too much as it will make it soggy. Transfer to baking sheet. Repeat with remaining 8 sheets of phyllo stacking them on top of each other to make 9 layers.
  • Spread spinach mixture evenly on top of phyllo sheets and continue buttering and layering the remaining phyllo sheets.
  • Brush with remaining butter mixture on top and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
  • Bake for 50–60 minutes or until pie is dark golden in colour. Remove from oven, allow to cool for 10 minutes before cutting.