See how the layers separate and are flaky?
SPANAKOPITA (GREEK SPINACH PIE)
2 sticks butter, melted
6 eggs, well beaten
1 or 2 med. onions, finely chopped and sauteed
1 lb. cottage cheese or ricotta
4 oz. cream cheese
1 cup or so of parmesan or romano grated cheese.
3/4 lb. feta cheese, crumbled
1 box filo, defrosted ( do NOT let this sit out in the air – it dries out very quickly and cracks)
Cook spinach and drain VERY well; add 1/4 cup melted butter to it. Mix eggs, sauteed onion, and cheeses together and combine with spinach. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter bottom of two 9x13 inch pans.
Fold 4 filo sheets in half, and place them in a pan, one at a time, brushing each sheet (and between each sheet) with melted butter. Distribute half of spinach mixture in each pan, evenly over sheets. Repeat process with 4 more sheets in each pan. (So you have 8 layers on the bottom and 8 on the top)
With sharp knife, cut through tops to make into squares or triangles. Bake 1 hour or until golden brown and puffy. Cool and cut into squares. This can then be frozen; reheat at 350 degrees.
You can play around with these ingredients and quantities, based on what you have at hand. It’s very forgiving. I like it with more feta cheese, my daughter likes it with more cream cheese – LOTS of it. I also sprinkle sesame seeds on the top and a little parmesan cheese.
You can also cut the filo into strips and fold up little triangles with the spinach mixture inside. It will look like little folded flags.
Enjoy!
