Greek Spanakopita Pie

Portions:6
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Ingredients

  • 1 lb lean at least 80% ground beef
  • 1 cup chopped onion 1 large
  • 1 box 9 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed to drain
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 can diced tomatoes with Italian-style herbs undrained
  • 12 sheets frozen phyllo filo pastry (14×9 inch), thawed
  • 6 tablespoons butter melted
  • ¼ cup Italian-style bread crumbs
  • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese 4 oz

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350°F.
  • Spray 9-inch glass pie plate with cooking spray.
  • In 10-inch skillet, cook beef and onion over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain.
  • Stir spinach, parsley, salt, pepper and all but ½ cup of the tomatoes into beef mixture.
  • Cook and stir until hot; set aside.
  • Cover phyllo sheets with damp paper towel.
  • Arrange sheets, layering 3 at a time, in an X shape and then in a plus-sign (+) shape to create a spoke pattern on work surface, brushing each with butter and sprinkling with 1 teaspoon of the bread crumbs as it is added.
  • Transfer all layers of phyllo to pie plate, gently easing down sides of pie plate and allowing excess phyllo to hang over edge.
  • Place beef mixture in phyllo; top with cheese.
  • Fold overhanging phyllo up and over filling, leaving 2- to 3-inch center of filling uncovered.
  • Spoon remaining ½ cup tomatoes in center.
  • Brush phyllo with remaining butter.
  • Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until phyllo is golden brown.
  • Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

Quick Variation:
For a more authentic Greek flavor, substitute ground lamb for the ground beef.
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Cuisine Greece