This week we are traveling to Europe on a culinary adventure! We will be making savory spanakopita pastries from Greece that will delight your tastebuds and fill your family’s stomach!
Greece is located in Southeast Europe bordering Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey. Many modern traditions are deep rooted in ancient Greece, such as The Olympic Games, and Greece boasts a strong food-centered culture.
Simple Spanakopita Triangles
Spanakopita, literally meaning spinach pie, originated in Greece over 400 years ago.
This recipe has been shared by Bébé Voyage Ambassador Alexis Jankiewicz, a recipe from her husband’s Greek family.
Ingredients
Filling
- 200g Feta Cheese
- 500g Frozen Spinach
- 1 medium white onion
- 1 medium leek
- 2 tbsp dill
- a pinch of nutmeg
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Crust
- Frozen 18 sheets phyllo dough
- Olive oil (for brushing)
Cooking Method
- Thaw Phyllo Dough by placing the frozen phyllo dough in the fridge overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 180C.
- Gently heat up the frozen spinach in the oven for about 10 minutes or until completely thawed. Let it cool. Then using a colander, remove as much excess liquid from the spinach as possible.
- Sauté the leek and onion. While the spinach mixture is baking, heath the oil in a large skillet over a medium heat. Sauté the leek and onion until soft and lightly browned. Remove from the heat, add to spinach and set aside to cool.
- Combine the filling. In a medium bowl, mix in the feta cheese, chopped dill, nutmeg and spinach mixture.
- Assemble. Open your phyllo dough pack and, using one sheet, lay the short side towards yourself, brush with olive oil. Repeat the process, layering two more times, placing the sheets of phyllo dough over the top of each other (3 sheets in total). Cut the phyllo dough layers into three equal sections long ways. Add one tbsp. of the cooled spinach filling at the end of the closest to you.
- Shape the triangles. Starting from the bottom end, fold up into mini spanakopita triangles bites. Work fast, so your phyllo dough doesn’t dry out.
- Bake. Place the spanakopita triangles on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush with olive oil and lightly sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Little Fingers Can –
2-4 years old
- Combine the filling.
- Brush the pastry with olive oil.
- Place the triangles on the baking sheet.
- Brush the triangles with olive oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
5-7 years old
- Place the frozen spinach in the oven and use a colander to remove excess liquid from the spinach.
- Sauté the leek and onion.
- Combine the filling.
- Assemble.
- Brush with olive oil and lightly sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake.
7 years+
- Place the frozen phyllo dough in the fridge overnight.
- Preheat the oven 180C.
- Place the frozen spinach in the oven and use a colander to remove excess liquid from the spinach.
- Sauté the leek and onion.
- Combine the filling.
- Assemble.
- Shape the triangles.
- Brush with olive oil and lightly sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake.
We hope you enjoyed our spanakopita recipe! Please let us know if you tried it out and what you thought! We also have a few other recipes we think you may enjoy from our blog, check them out below!
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