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How to Make Spanakopita

Stephanie Wise
Created January 10, 2017
Spinach, feta, phyllo dough and butter make this classic Greek dish a hit at the dinner table.

Give me Mexican, Italian, even German dishes any day, and I can make many of them without breaking a sweat. But Greek food? I get intimidated! I mean, try saying spanakopita five times fast! 

Luckily, what I lack in a quick tongue, I make up for in the ease of this recipe. Spanakopita, a savory spinach pie, has sprung to the top of my list of go-to dinners when I want to impress without the fuss. Layers and layers of thin, buttery phyllo dough sandwich a delightful, bright-green mixture of scallions, spinach, parsley and feta cheese. It’s comforting, yet light, and way easier to make than it seems.

First, set out all of your ingredients.

PHOTO1Spanakopita

Next, prepare the filling: Sauté the spinach, then add the scallions and mix it all up with the parsley. Set aside to cool slight slightly before stirring in the feta and egg.

PHOTO2Spanakopita

While the mixture cools, get your phyllo foundation ready. Generously butter a baking dish, top carefully with phyllo dough, brush with butter, top with another sheet of dough, brush with butter and repeat.

PHOTO3Spanakopita

Now it’s time to spread that mixture in the dish.

PHOTO4Spanakopita

Top with more buttered phyllo pastry sheets, score the top and bake.

PHOTO5Spanakopita

When the spanakopita is a deliciously golden brown pull it out of the oven and dig in!

PHOTO6Spanakopita

Spanakopita

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Ingredients

    • 3tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
    • 2boxes (9 oz each) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed to drain
    • 12green onions, chopped (3/4 cup)
    • 1/4cup finely chopped fresh parsley
    • Salt and pepper to taste
    • 2cups crumbled feta cheese (8 oz)
    • 1egg, slightly beaten
    • 1/2cup unsalted butter, melted
    • 16sheets frozen phyllo (filo) pastry (14x9 inch), thawed

Directions

  • 1Heat oven to 350°F. In large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium heat. Add spinach and toss until heated. Remove from skillet; set aside.
  • 2In same skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Cook onions in oil, stirring occasionally, until soft. Reduce heat to low. Stir in spinach, parsley, salt and pepper. Cook about 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat; cool. Stir in cheese and egg.
  • 3Generously brush 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with some of the melted butter. Place 1 phyllo sheet in dish; brush with butter. Layer with 7 more sheets, brushing each with butter before adding the next sheet. Spoon spinach mixture over top sheet. Layer with remaining 8 phyllo sheets, brushing each with remaining butter. Cut several slits in top.
  • 4Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.

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