Listen to the crust crackle as it cools.. And the smell.. Pure bliss! Do you need more reasons to start making your own Spinach pie? And if you are thinking that making it must be really hard, think again! We have the perfect easy Greek spinach pie recipe just for you!
Homemade easy spanakopita made in only one hour
It doesn’t matter if you haven’t made a pie before (or are a complete cooking novice). This amazing easy Greek spinach pie recipe is made in only one hour from scratch! The secret is using store bought phyllo/fillo pastry. Your local supermarket definitely stocks the usual Fillo but if you are lucky and have a Greek deli nearby definitely opt to get the horiatiko phyllo pastry!
And for the ones wondering if it is worth making your own spinach pie at home, the answer for me is very simple. Nothing compares to the smell of some fragrant, warm, golden freshly baked homemade pie! So trust me on this, after you make this easy easy Greek spinach pie recipe, you will never go for the store version again!
Which are the main ingredients for an easy Spinach pie?
The star of the show for this super easy Greek spinach pie is, of course, Spinach! Most spinach pie recipes also use feta cheese which is a favourite ingredient in all types of Greek recipes, be it fried, baked or used for stuffing until nicely softened and slightly melty.
Tip: A mature feta cheese gives this traditional spinach pie recipe a bold and salty flavour, so be careful to just a little salt in the seasoning and taste it when preparing it! It should not be too salty or too bland!
Red onions, spring onions, fresh dill and just a pinch of nutmeg will give your pie the delicious, rustic flavour that you are looking for.
Finally for the dough I opt for some good quality commercial phyllo dough or a horiatiko phyllo dough if I’ve visited my Greek deli recently!.
Easy Spinach pie recipe – Working with phyllo dough
There are a few very simple tips and tricks that you need to follow when preparing your Greek spinach pie recipe with commercial phyllo dough.
Make sure to brush each sheet with good quality butter, which gives a very rich flavour and amazing smell and will also help the phyllo cook when in the oven!
If you like it extra crispy, don’t brush but sprinkle! When preparing phyllo based Greek pies, like this spinach pie recipe, if you want the phyllo to be extra crispy sprinkle the melted butter over the phyllo sheets, rather than brushing them. This will leave some areas uncovered which will make them crisped up faster!
Always work with dry hands! Wet hands cause the fillo pastry to stick to them making it difficult to handle and possibly tearing.
Always butter your baking tray! This will prevent the bottom layers from sticking to the side.
Work fast! Fillo pastry that is exposed to the air dries very quickly. So have your filling ready and then roll out your fillo.
Have your oven pre-heated! Before you start assembling your super easy Greek spinach pie, make sure you turn on your oven so it has reached its temperature and you can start baking immediately after you’ve assembled it.
Don’t forget to brush the top of the spinach pie with enough butter and scar with a knife to help release the steam.
For more hints and tips check out my dedicated handling tips
Tip: For a lighter version you can substitute the butter with good quality extra virgin olive oil.
More delicious Greek Pies!
If you love a traditional Greek pie, the below recipes are made for you!
If you choose to prepare this Greek spinach pie recipe with commercial phyllo dough, it is important to thaw completely the phyllo dough by putting it in the fridge from the previous day. For the beginners at working with phyllo, check the handling tips before start making the spanakopita.
Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6.
To prepare this spinach pie recipe, sauté the onions in a large knob of butter until soft and turning golden. Add the garlic and cook for a couple of minutes. Add the spinach in batches and cook until wilted. Cool, then tip into a bowl (leaving behind any excess liquid from the spinach) and mix in the nutmeg, feta, eggs, spring onion and season. This will be the filling of the spanakopita.
For this spinach pie recipe you will need a non stick baking pan, about 20-22cm. Put the first sheet of filo in the pan and brush with butter, letting the excess hang over the sides. Keep going with the rest of the sheets, turning a little before adding each additional pastry sheet and brushing all over with butter. When all the pastry is used up, tip in the filling of the spanakopita and fold over the excess pastry to cover. If you like to prepare a larger pan of spanakopita for a big crowd, double the ingredients for the filling and use a 25*35 cm baking dish. Layer the 4-5 phyllo sheets to form the bottom of the spanakopita, tip in the filling and top with 4-5 more phyllo sheets.
Butter the top of the spinach pie with melted butter and scar with a sharp knife. Bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes until the filo is crisp and golden.
Leave the spanakopita cool down for 10-15 minutes before cutting into pieces. Serve the spinach pie with Greek feta salad. Enjoy!
Wow, your spanakopita looks absolutely delicious! I’ve been wanting to try making Greek spinach pie for ages, but was intimidated by the process. Your step-by-step instructions made it seem so much easier. Can’t wait to give it a try this weekend!
Over the past 8 years you have made My Greek Dish the number one destination for anyone searching for authentic Greek recipes! For that I cannot thank you enough!
It all started with an idea… To collate and publish all those recipes that I loved when I was young, the ones I made with so much love for my children and grand children!
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This looks great I will try it thanks for sharing on facebook!!
Your welcome! It’s one of our most favorite recipes and a great way to eat more veggies 😉
yum this sounds really good. Thanks for sharing.
Simon
Do you know how many this is intended to serve, made in a 22cm x 22cm pan?
Disregard! I just saw the answer below the comment box, lol.
haha no problem at all!!
Phyllo? Isn’t it filo.
I have made the tsoureki and vasilopita from your recipes . Both were very successful. Thank you for sharing with us
Thank you so much Nicky! Hope you will find many more recipes that you like. x
This is a great recipe for beginners! I made it tonight and it was so easy and delicious!
Can I make this recipe the day before and then bake before serving?
Can you please show a picture of the pan? Is it 20cm by 22 cm round?
I’m so happy I’ve found this wonderful Blog! I can prepare original greek recipes, finally!
I’ll cook Spanakopita this Sunday!
Wow, your spanakopita looks absolutely delicious! I’ve been wanting to try making Greek spinach pie for ages, but was intimidated by the process. Your step-by-step instructions made it seem so much easier. Can’t wait to give it a try this weekend!