Friday, June 8, 2012

Spinach and Feta pie (Spanakopita - Tiropita)

This is an all-time-classic recipe from my grandmother for the traditional pie. The pastry is similar to a puff pastry and the filling varies from spinach - feta cheese, feta cheese solo, leeks, pumpkin etc.. I recently learnt to make this pie on my own, but I still like preparing it with my grandmother.
Ingredients (for 2 medium or 1 large pie)
700 gr. all purpose flour (might need more)
1 glass warm water
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 small coffe cup vegetable oil
1 tbsp vinegar
150 - 200 gr. melted butter

filling 
1 egg
boiled spinach
feta cheese

How to Make
Sift the flour in a large bowl or on a table and make a hole in the center. Add in the hole all pastry ingredients except butter and mix the liquid with the flour with your fingertips ar a fork, taking flour from the sides like shown in the pictures below:
Continue kneading to make a firm and pliable dough. You might need to add some more flour, but be careful so that the dough wont turn hard. The dough will be like shown in the following pictures:


Cut the dough into 2 or 4 pieces. On a floured surface, roll out each piece to a similar cyrcle or rectangle shape with a rolling pin. Use the rolling pin as shown below: Roll it on top of the dough until dough widens enough and the put the pin on one side of the dough and roll it again. Repeat from all sides:
 
Cover the surface with melted butter and cut it with a knife as in following pictures:
Take all small cuts and put them upside down, one on top of another in the center cyrcle. Then cover them with the sides of the center piece and put it in the refridgerator for 2-3 hours.

Preparing the filling:
Boil the spinach for few minutes and put them aside to drain. Mix the drained spinach with feta cheese and 1 bitten egg. For the solo feta filling, just mix feta cheese and egg.
Preparing the baking pan
Put this ball on a floured surface and roll out the dough again until widens enough to fit in the baking pan. Butter well the interior of the pan, put one piece, cover again with butter, place the filling, cover with the other piece of pastry, butter the top well and carve the surface. Place in a preheated oven at 180 -200 Celsius and cook for about 30 minutes:
When take it off the oven, cover the pie with a wet towel and let it stay for about another 30 minute. Enjoy!

43 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. This pie can be healthier by using olive oil instead of butter!
      Thank u!!

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  2. This pie loks awesome.. loved your detailed pictorial..

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  3. What a beautiful pie. Where is my slice ? ;)

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  4. I like spinach and everything with spinach, I just must try this recipe, looks so yummy!

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  5. That looks soooo good! Can I make it with bought phyllo pastry? X

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  6. This looks yummy! I love feta and spinach. I've been meaning to make my own pie sometime as I've never made them before : )

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    1. I recently made my own pie and I have to say... its not as difficult as it seems!

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  7. A great looking pie you have there! Must be yummy! And thanks for dropping by my blog!

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  8. I love the step by step photos ! And it looks absolutely delicious ! Your grandma must be a great cook ! :)

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    1. Thank u so much!!! She is, so I m trying to learn as much as I can from her!

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  9. YUM! This looks so delicious & love the spinach & feta combo! Great pictures of the step by step tutorial! Have a nice weekend! :)

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  10. I could eat half of the pie all by myself..yummy

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    Replies
    1. This pie was eaten by two peaple in one evening!

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  11. I missed you when you were not blogging for a while. I think you are such a good cook. I really love your recipes and the way you do your tutorials. This is a beautiful recipe. Bookmarking. Have a nice weekend!

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    1. Thank u so much! I really miss blogging too, and I love it when I m around!

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  12. Your pastry is amazing. I loved seeing all of the steps you took to make such a work of art. I can just imagine how good it tasted.

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  13. looks so easy to prepare and delicious...lovely!

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  14. I've never sen anyone make their own filo these days. Full marks for such a splendid step by step guide. Love the look of your blog too.

    Dave

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    1. Thank u so much!! Hope to c u around again!

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  15. Very interesting to see the way you stretch and prepare your dough. Delicious!

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  16. Dear Elpiniki, Thank you for your visit to my blog. I am sorry that I have been slow in my visits.
    This spinach and feta cheese pie looks wonderful. I love old recipes from my family. They are always the best. Blessings dearest. Catherine

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    1. Thank u for visiting too! I m also really slow in my visits and post these days, but I hope I ll be back for good as soon as possible!

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  17. OMG you have no idea how much I love spanikopita but have never made it. Now with your recipe I'm definitely going to try it. It looks beautiful!

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    1. Hope u do! I think that the first time might be a little challenging, but once u get used to this method, its really not that difficult!

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  18. Very nice pictures and looks very yummy

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  19. Never thought my kids would like Spinach! Thanks!

    try here for some Culinary Training

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    Replies
    1. This means u made this pie? Glad u and your kids loved it!!

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  20. What a wonderful post! I love the history, the charming fact that you still cook with your grandma and the tantalizing finished product!

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    1. Thank u so much! These cooking days with grandmas are really great! Hope u try this pie sometime!

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  21. Wow, this looks incredible! I am hungry after seeing these pictures.

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  22. Πω πω!!!!!!!
    Κι εγώ που κάνω πίτες ζηλευτές την δική σου την ζήλεψα:)))

    Καλή Χρονιά με υγεία και δημιουργία.

    Φιλιά θαλασσένια

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