There is something absolutely magical about the marriage between spinach and feta, add in some herbs, and it creates a melt in your mouth harmony for your tastebuds. Nutritious and delicious, and might I add slightly addicting. I made my Spanakopita recipe recently after having not for a bit and by the end of the night, they were all gone. They were being eaten up by everyone as they gathered at the table, sharing stories and talking, simultaneously taking bite after bite. At one point, I had to mention someone hadn't been there to try it yet, at which point they counted how many were left to justify if anyone could sneeak just one more. A few people described them as addicting, just wanted more, and as a lover of these myself, I couldn't agree more. As the one cooking, this is always a compliment and a moment of pride to hear. Everyone who typically has a totally different tastebud and diet scarfed them down equally. Seeing that this is a spinach and vegetable heavy dish, it's a great problem to have. This recipe is a winner across the table. Made in triangle fold, it is perfect for your next game night, gal's night, movie night, or a happy bite while conversing with loved ones, family, and friends at the table. The casserole style is perfect for the holidays or potluck occasions, to add both dessert and pastry to those lineups of casseroles everyone plates as they come to the table to eat as one.
Ingredients:
- 32 oz. Fresh Spinach
- 10 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup or a head of chopped fresh parsley (container of box organic)
- 4 eggs
- About 2 cups crumbled feta cheese
- One full Box of Phyllo sheets
- Extra Virgin Cold-Pressed Olive Oil
- 3 tbsp vegan butter (may be more, use as necessary)
- Organic Seasonings: Used red pepper, black pepper, salt, oregano, cilantro, basil to season to taste
Preparation:
1-Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter a baking pan of 9x13 and one other slightly smaller- this makes more or less 2 dishes with the second slightly smaller if triangle folding. If make it casserole style, you can make it all fit with one dish.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic, red pepper, black pepper, salt, cilantro, basil, oregano, spinach, and parsley. You may lid it for a couple minutes to help it steam and wilt faster. Unlid and continue to saute and mix together until spinach is completely wilted and seasons evenly distributed. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
2-In a medium bowl, mix together eggs and feta. Stir in spinach mixture.
2 WAYS - TRIANGLE BITES OR CASSEROLE DISH
For as photo- individual bite triangles, perfect for hosting so guests/family can pick up and grab! Follow these steps:
3- Lay out phyllo sheets and cut length wise into 3 sections. Stack and set aside,
4- Melt the butter and set nearby.
5 - Grab 2-3 phyllo phyllo sheets, brush the butter along it. Take a heaping spoon of the spinach/feta mix and lay it on one end of the phyllo. We will be doing a baklava fold to seal it, making it perfect single servicing or hosting bites for individual grabs at the table. To baklava or triangle fold, push your mix tightly to one side of the long phyllo strip (of 2-3 stacked so phyllo doesn’t tear), take the straight edge of the elongated rectangle phyllo shape and bend the left corner while taking the right corner down to the straight edge of the left side (triangle 1), flip the left corner down to meet the right side (triangle fold two), repeat folding left to right until the rectangular phyllo dough has run out and formed a tight triangle wrap. Brush with butter to seal. Set in backing tray. Repeat with mixture and phyllo dough until you’ve used all the mixture and dough.
6- Brush with melted butter on top all.
7- Bake in preheated oven for about 40 minutes or until golden brown. **Time based on a glass dish and my oven. You may check your dough at 30-35 in case ready earlier. Every over and dish may vary slightly more or less. Look for the lightly golden brown all around.
8- Enjoy! If family and friends are together, these go fast!! They are delicious and perfect to grab while conversing, playing a game, movie night, visiting- you name it!
For a casserole style of family dinner night, holiday, occasion where guests can cut out of the tray:
3- Lay out 3-6 phyllo sheets in prepared baking pan, and brush lightly with the melted butter. Lay another 3-6 phyllo sheets on top, brush with melted butter, and repeat process with 6 more phyllo sheets. The sheets will overlap the pan length and width wise. Spread spinach and feta mixture into pan and fold overhanging dough over filling. Brush with melted butter, then layer remaining phyllo sheets 3-6 sheets at a time, buttering between sets and repeating. Tuck overhanging dough into pan .
4- Cut into squares or triangles prior to baking, much easier then trying to cut after with dough has crisped. Any leftover butter, you may pour atop.
5-Bake in preheated oven for about 40 minutes, until lightly golden brown. Time based on a glass dish and my oven. You may check your dough at 30-35 in case ready earlier. Every over and dish may vary slightly more or less. Look for the lightly golden brown all around.
6- This casserole style is perfect to serve as a dish at the table or for a holiday potluck and enjoy!!
💛 Love & Light,
Lisa Alavi, Spark A Little Sunshine 💫
