Authentic Spanakopita: Traditional Greek Spinach and Feta Pie

Through years of trials and fine-tuning, I've finally mastered the authentic recipe for Spanakopita, the traditional Greek spinach and feta pie. The filling is a perfect blend, gently imbued with Greek flavours, while the homemade puff pastry offers a buttery and delightful texture. While I initially experimented with store-bought pastry sheets, they were too thin, making portioning a challenge. Thankfully, I've nailed down a more traditional Spanakopita recipe featuring homemade dough, which I'm thrilled to share with you.

Children and adults alike have expressed their fondness for this dish, but for particularly picky eaters, you can easily adjust the ratio of spinach to cheese to suit their preferences. If you're seeking an authentic and delicious Greek spinach and feta pie, I highly recommend giving this recipe a try!

Ingredients
White flour
500 g
Water
200 ml
Olive oil
200 ml
Salt
3 tsp
Butter
200 g
soft butter, at room temperature
Fresh spinach bunch
1 kg
Dill
1 bunch
Green onions
3 pieces
Fresh mint leaves
3 pieces
3 sprigs
Feta cheese
350 g
Egg
3 pieces
Ground black pepper
0.25 tsp
Step by step
Step 1

Prepare the puff pastry dough 3-4 hours or even a day ahead. Combine 500g of flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, 200ml of water, and 200ml of olive oil in a large bowl.

Authentic Spanakopita: Traditional Greek Spinach and Feta Pie - Step 1
Step 2

Mix until dough forms, then knead until uniform. Divide into two equal portions, roll into balls and let rest for 10 minutes.

Authentic Spanakopita: Traditional Greek Spinach and Feta Pie - Step 2
Step 3

After the dough has rested, roll out each ball into a thin oval or rectangular shape. Ensure the table is well-floured to prevent sticking.

Authentic Spanakopita: Traditional Greek Spinach and Feta Pie - Step 3
Step 4

Spread a thin layer of soft butter over the rolled dough with the back of a spoon or a brush.

Authentic Spanakopita: Traditional Greek Spinach and Feta Pie - Step 4
Step 5

Fold the dough in half and spread another layer of butter on top.

Authentic Spanakopita: Traditional Greek Spinach and Feta Pie - Step 5
Step 6

Fold the dough in half once more and spread another layer of butter.

Authentic Spanakopita: Traditional Greek Spinach and Feta Pie - Step 6
Step 7

Fold the dough again, transfer it onto a floured plate, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 3-4 hours.

Repeat steps 3-7 with the second ball of dough.

Authentic Spanakopita: Traditional Greek Spinach and Feta Pie - Step 7
Step 8

Trim spinach leaves, discard stems, and wash as detailed in our Sauteed Garlic Spinach Recipe, steps 1-3.

Authentic Spanakopita: Traditional Greek Spinach and Feta Pie - Step 8
Step 9

Chop the spinach into large pieces, season with 1 tsp of salt, and massage until reduced in volume and tender.

Authentic Spanakopita: Traditional Greek Spinach and Feta Pie - Step 9
Step 10

Transfer spinach to a sieve, weigh down, and let the juice drain for 30-40 minutes.

Authentic Spanakopita: Traditional Greek Spinach and Feta Pie - Step 10
Step 11

Combine drained spinach, chopped dill, mint, green onions, crumbled feta cheese, 3 eggs, salt, and black pepper in a bowl.

Authentic Spanakopita: Traditional Greek Spinach and Feta Pie - Step 11
Step 12

Grease a 30x35 cm oven tray with oil.

Roll out the first dough sheet, and fit it in the tray, ensuring there's a raised edge.

Authentic Spanakopita: Traditional Greek Spinach and Feta Pie - Step 12
Step 13

Distribute the spinach-cheese mixture evenly over the dough in the tray.

Authentic Spanakopita: Traditional Greek Spinach and Feta Pie - Step 13
Step 14

Roll out the second dough sheet and cover the filling.

Authentic Spanakopita: Traditional Greek Spinach and Feta Pie - Step 14
Step 15

Press down the edges to seal the pie and make several slits with a knife.

Authentic Spanakopita: Traditional Greek Spinach and Feta Pie - Step 15
Step 16

Brush the top with olive oil or melted butter.

Authentic Spanakopita: Traditional Greek Spinach and Feta Pie - Step 16
Step 17

Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool completely before slicing and serving.

Enjoy your meal!

Authentic Spanakopita: Traditional Greek Spinach and Feta Pie - Step 17
Quantity: 20 serv (1 large oven tray)
Prep time:
120 min
Difficulty: intermediate
Ready in: 240 min