Spanakopita (Greek Spinach & Feta Pie)
Layers of shatteringly crisp, olive-oil-brushed filo wrapped around a filling of spinach, feta, spring onion, dill and a touch of nutmeg. Lovely warm or at room temperature, as a main with salad or cut small for meze.
Servings
Ingredients
Nutrition
Per serving
Steps
Cook the spinach
Put the spinach in a large pan over medium heat, a handful at a time, stirring until it wilts and shrinks, about 5 minutes. Let it cool, then squeeze out as much water as you can and chop roughly. If using frozen spinach, just squeeze it very dry.
- 1kg (or 600g frozen, thawed) spinach
✅ Done when: spinach is wilted and most of the liquid is squeezed out
Cook the onions
Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan). In a pan, cook the onion and spring onions in the oil over medium-low heat for about 8 minutes, stirring now and then, until soft and sweet but not browned.
- 1 onion
- 6 spring onions
- 4 tbsp olive oil
✅ Done when: onions are soft and translucent
Make the filling
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Layer the filo
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Fill and cover
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Bake and rest
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Cook the spinach
Put the spinach in a large pan over medium heat, a handful at a time, stirring until it wilts and shrinks, about 5 minutes. Let it cool, then squeeze out as much water as you can and chop roughly. If using frozen spinach, just squeeze it very dry.
- 1kg (or 600g frozen, thawed) spinach
✅ Done when: spinach is wilted and most of the liquid is squeezed out
Cook the onions
Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan). In a pan, cook the onion and spring onions in the oil over medium-low heat for about 8 minutes, stirring now and then, until soft and sweet but not browned.
- 1 onion
- 6 spring onions
- 4 tbsp olive oil
✅ Done when: onions are soft and translucent
Make the filling
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Layer the filo
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Fill and cover
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Bake and rest
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The Story Behind the Dish
Spanakopita takes its name from spanaki, 'spinach', and pita, 'pie'. Savoury pies are a deep tradition across Greece, especially in the mountainous north, where every region has its own fillings of greens, cheese or wild herbs.
Paper-thin filo pastry became widespread across the Ottoman world, and spinach-and-feta pie grew into one of Greece's best-known dishes at home and abroad.
⭐ Why It's Famous
It's a beloved bakery snack, a family-dinner main and a party favourite, and it travels well for picnics.
💡 Fun Fact
During Orthodox fasting periods, Greeks make a cheese-free version called spanakopita nistisimi, packed with extra herbs instead.
Greece
39.67°N, 20.85°E
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