Quest Greek Islands

Greek Spinach and Feta Pie

Greek spinach and feta pie or Spanakopita is a traditional authentic Greek dish. It is well known for its crispy layers of flaky, buttery pastry and delicious rich tasty filling. It can be eaten on its own as a snack or as part of a light meal with salad. It is a popular Greek recipe and is eaten anytime of the day. It is suitable for vegetarians and freezes well.

Ingredients

4 sheets of filo pastry

2 onions, sliced

3 cloves of garlic

500 g washed and roughly chopped spinach

2 eggs, beaten

200 g feta cheese, crumbled

1 cup of chopped fresh tomatoes, drained of juice

Grated nutmeg

50 g butter

Salt and pepper

Method

Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. In a large frying pan fry the onions first then add the garlic and cook until soft. Then add the spinach a few handfuls at a time until it is wilted. Allow to cool, and then drain the excess liquid off. Mix in the crumbled feta, tomatoes, eggs, nutmeg and season to taste. The mixture should be fairly dry.

Melt the butter, and use a little to grease a round non stick baking tin (about 20 cm).Line the tin with a sheet of filo pastry and brush with melted butter, repeat until you have used the four layers. Then add the mixture and spread evenly. Fold over the pastry and brush generously with melted butter. Place in a hot oven for about 25 - 30 minutes or until golden brown and pastry is crisp. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before cutting. Serve warm with salad or on its own!