Spanakopita
Description
Spanakopita is a Greek savoury pastry with a filling of chopped spinach, feta cheese (sometimes in combination with ricotta cheese), onions or green onions, egg, and seasoning. The filling is wrapped in layers of phyllo pastry with butter and/or olive oil, either in a large pan from which individual servings are cut, or rolled into individual triangular servings.
Spanakopita is golden in color when baked, the color often enhanced by butter and egg yolk. Other white, fresh, preferably salted cheeses may also mixed with, or substituted for, the feta cheese.
It is mostly eaten as a snack in Greece. There is a “fasting”, or vegan, version of spanakopita, eaten during the Great Lent and other religious fasts, and comprising of spinach, onions or green onions, other green herbs like dill, parsleyor celery, olive oil and a little wheat flour, but without eggs or dairy products; the mixture is oven-baked until crisp.
Ingredients
5 leaks
4-5 eggs
2 kg [4.4 lb] fresh spinach
1/2 kg [1 lb] feta cheese
1/2 kg [1 lb] spring onions
Puff pastry or phyllo pastry
1 cup dill
1/4 cup rice
1 cup olive oil
1 cube beef stock
Directions
1. Clean and wash the spinach. Sprinkle with salt and let it lay to remove as much water as possible.
2. Cut the onions, leaks and dill and set aside.
3. In a large pot cook the onion in the oil. When the onions are pale and translucent add the spinach and leaks to the pot and simmer stirring constantly until the spinach is wilted.
4. Add the dill. Add the rice. Season with salt and pepper and cook for a little longer.
5. Add the feta cheese and the eggs and mix well.
6. Arrange the puff pastry or phyllo pastry in an oiled baking pan and pour in the spinach mixture.
7. Cover with the remaining pastry sheets.
8. Butter a baking pan and pour in the mixture.
9. Bake in a moderate oven 180C [350 F] for about 30 minutes.
Tags: entree, vegetarian

