25/01/2021
Spiral Spanakopita
My mum comes from a region of Greece that is known for their 'pites' - the spinach or vegetable pies made with hand-rolled filo. Mum taught herself to make it at 15, after her mother died in childbirth leaving behind her baby sister. As the woman of the house, she quickly learned how to cook for the family. I think the day she presented her father with her completed spanakopita and he kissed her hands in gratitude was the day she became a cook. My spiral spanakopita is an easier version that uses tissue-thin store-bought filo, but is always a beautiful thing to bring to the table. I always feel the love in that moment.
Serves:
4-6
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
- 250g spinach leaves
- 2 spring onions, chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped dill
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 200g feta cheese
- 2 eggs
- 16 sheets filo pastry
- 150g butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds or poppy seeds
Method
- Combine spinach, spring onions, dill and salt in a large bowl and squeeze together with your hands to bruise and soften leaves.
- Crumble in feta cheese and mix in eggs.
- Working quickly, brush one sheet of pastry with butter, top with a second sheet, brush with butter and spoon 1/8 of the filling along one of the long sides. Roll up tightly into a thin long roll and spiral into the centre of a 30cm pizza tray or similar pan. Repeat with remaining mixture and pastry, inserting one end into the other as you add each new roll to the spiral. Brush liberally with butter and sprinkle with seeds.
- Bake at 200°C for 20-25 minutes until puffed and golden. Position at the base of the oven for the last 5 minutes to crisp the base.
- VARIATION Use grated zucchini or grated pumpkin in place of spinach. Parsley, chives or coriander can be used in place of dill.
Tips
- TIPS Use a damp tea towel to cover the filo pastry and prevent it drying out while you are working with it. Wrap unused pastry in plastic wrap and refrigerate for another use.
- STYLING You can also make 4 small individual spirals using two pastry rolls for each.
- DRINK MATCH Riesling or Australian pale ale.
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