Spanakopita

When it comes to Greek cuisine, there are few dishes as iconic as spanakopita. This delicious pastry is made with layers of phyllo dough, stuffed with spinach and feta cheese, and often served as a starter or side dish. But while spanakopita is now a staple of Greek restaurants around the world, its origins are actually quite humble.

The dish is thought to have first appeared in the late 19th century, in the region of Macedonia. At the time, Macedonia was a poor, rural area of the Ottoman Empire, and most residents subsisted on a diet of simple, local ingredients. Spinach was one of the most common vegetables available, and it was often used in pies and pastries as a way to stretch out the meager supply of cheese.

Over time, the dish began to spread to other parts of Greece, and it eventually became a national favorite. Today, spanakopita is made with a variety of different ingredients, but the traditional spinach-and-feta filling remains the most popular. Whether you enjoy it as a starter, side, or main course, there’s no doubt that spanakopita is a delicious and essential part of Greek cuisine.

Advice

When making spanakopita, it is important to take your time and use fresh ingredients. Choosing the right type of spinach and feta cheese is essential for the best flavor. Be sure to use an extra-virgin olive oil to give the dish an added flavor. For the crust, pre-made phyllo dough is the way to go and always remember to brush each layer of phyllo with butter or olive oil to make sure it's nice and crispy. Finally, don't forget to let the spanakopita cool before serving to give the flavors time to meld together and make sure the tart is cooked through.

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

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Skillet Spanakopita

  • salt
  • spinach
  • dill
  • parmesan cheese
  • nutmeg
  • lemon zest
  • egg
  • leek
  • parsley
  • greek sheep milk feta
  • garlic
  • butter
  • sheets phyllo dough of
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Spanakopita

  • salt
  • onion
  • feta
  • parsley
  • butter
  • parmesan cheese
  • spinach
  • garlic
  • egg
  • olive oil
  • green onion
  • sheets phyllo dough
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Baked Brie Spanakopita

  • salt
  • spinach
  • butter
  • wheel brie cheese
  • feta
  • parsley
  • ricotta cheese
  • green onion
  • garlic
  • phyllo dough sheet
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Bundt Pan Spanakopita

  • salt
  • italian flat leaf parsley
  • phyllo dough sheet
  • spinach
  • milk
  • dill frond
  • all purpose flour
  • garlic
  • butter
  • egg
  • green onion
  • feta
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Spanakopita

  • dill
  • egg
  • greek yoghurt
  • lemon juice
  • black sesame seed
  • lemon zest
  • nutmeg
  • white sesame seed
  • butter
  • black pepper
  • cayenne pepper
  • salt
  • sheets filo pastry
  • greek feta
  • mint
  • garlic
  • green onions scallion
  • english spinach
  • greek kefalotyri cheese
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Baked Brie Spanakopita

  • bread
  • salt
  • spinach
  • butter
  • wheel brie cheese
  • feta
  • parsley
  • ricotta cheese
  • green onion
  • garlic
  • sheets phyllo dough
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Spanakopita

  • parsley
  • feta
  • fillo dough
  • greek yogurt
  • lemon juice
  • salt
  • pepper
  • spinach
  • chive
  • dill
  • robust olive oil
  • egg
  • garlic
  • green onion
  • butter
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Supper Spanakopita

  • black pepper
  • salt
  • ricotta cheese
  • nutmeg
  • butter
  • spinach
  • dill
  • eighteen by phyllo sheet
  • egg
  • feta
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Spanakopita

  • salt
  • dill
  • parsley
  • phyllo dough
  • grain rice
  • feta
  • green onion
  • onion
  • olive oil
  • spinach
  • butter

Ingredient Breakdown

 
salt
spinach
egg
garlic
butter
feta
dill
parsley
green onion
olive oil
nutmeg
onion
sheets phyllo dough
ricotta cheese
black pepper
parmesan cheese
lemon zest
leek
wheel brie cheese
phyllo dough sheet
greek feta
lemon juice
mint
phyllo dough
greek sheep milk feta
sheets phyllo dough of
italian flat leaf parsley
milk
dill frond
all purpose flour
herb
trahanas rice
green
greek yoghurt
black sesame seed
white sesame seed
cayenne pepper
sheets filo pastry
green onions scallion
english spinach
greek kefalotyri cheese
bread
fillo dough
greek yogurt
pepper
chive
robust olive oil
eighteen by phyllo sheet
grain rice
spinach [ ]
phyllo filo pastry
scallions scallion

Insights

Correlated with Lower Ratings

  • butter

Staple Ingredients

  • garlic 67%
  • salt 67%

Common Ingredients

  • butter 58%

Usual Ingredients

  • egg 50%
  • green onion 50%
  • spinach 50%

Rarey Ingredients

  • feta 42%
  • parsley 42%