Do you eat spanakopita hot or cold?

The cheesy, herby flavors in spanakopita really shine when served warm or hot. We recommend serving your spanakopita pie straight from the oven or freshly reheated.

Why is my spanakopita soggy?

It's very important to make sure your spinach feta cheese filling isn't too wet. Remove as much excess moisture from the spinach as possible, or it will cause the phyllo pastry dough to become soggy in the oven.

Can spanakopita sit out?

Like any cooked food, spanakopita can sit at room temperature for a maximum of 2 hours. After that, it should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Spanakopita

Name: Spanakopita
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 1 pound frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well-drained (or fresh); 1 medium onion, diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/4 cups fresh parsley, finely chopped; 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped; 8 ounces feta cheese, crumbled; 2 large eggs, beaten; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 pound phyllo dough sheets, thawed; 1/2 cup butter, melted; 1/2 cup olive oil; 2 tablespoons white sesame seeds

Description

Spanakopita is a much beloved traditional Greek savory pie famous worldwide for its cheesy spinach filling nestled between layers of phyllo dough. Although it looks (and tastes) luxurious, it's also fortunately easy to make, especially with the help of some store-bought filo dough. Bake and serve warm from the oven for a deliciously savory appetizer or side dish for your next gathering.

Ingredients

1 pound frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well-drained (or fresh)
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cups fresh parsley, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
8 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound phyllo dough sheets, thawed
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons white sesame seeds

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine spinach, onion, garlic, parsley, dill, feta cheese, eggs, salt, and pepper. Mix well until evenly combined. (If you use fresh spinach, cook them in a large pot of boiling water for 30 seconds until wilted. Rinse the spinach under running cold water until cool to handle. Drain it in a colander and squeeze out excess water).
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together melted butter and olive oil. Place 2-3 sheets of phyllo dough at a time on the prepared greased pan and tuck in any excess dough. Generously apply the butter mixture over the first layer of dough until evenly covered. Place another 2-3 sheets of phyllo dough and spread the butter mixture over evenly. Repeat until half of the phyllo dough and butter mixture is used. This creates the laminated puff pastry dough which is made up of many layers of alternating dough and butter mixture.
Add and evenly spread the spinach filling over the phyllo sheets.
Repeat the same steps as with the bottom layer with the remaining phyllo dough and butter mixture.
Use a sharp knife to cut the phyllo pie into 12 even pieces. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Bake until golden brown, about 45 minutes. Let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

How to store: After baking, let the spanakopita cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then wrap the baking dish with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Make sure it is cooled to avoid condensation.

How to reheat: Spanakopita is best served warm or hot. You can quickly microwave a serving for about 2-3 minutes or bake it in the oven for a few minutes at 350 degrees F.

How to freeze: You can freeze either baked or unbaked spanakopita! If baked, wrap the cool leftovers in plastic wrap or foil and stash them in a freezer bag for 2-3 months. Thaw before reheating If unbaked, wrap the entire baking dish several times with plastic wrap or foil and freeze for 1-2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and then bake in a preheated oven like normal.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Pie
Method: Bake
Cuisine: Greek