Cooking with Ellen Forradalom: Spanakopita (Pix-heavy)

[Ellen Forradalom]

Tonight I decided to make spanakopita, the Greek spinach and cheese phyllo pie which one finds in Greek restaurants and diners.

You're going to need some authentic Greek ingredients. Talk to this man

at Athens Grocery, 324 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 312/332-6737.

He can sell you a half pound of

and a quarter pound of

and a quarter pound of mizithra cheese, which looks like


Be sure to pick up a box of

There's no substitute for that.

For the filling you'll need a whole lot of

and some of

and also


It's a messy business--spinach leaves and phyllo shards get everywhere--so to clean up any stray bits of food on the floor you'll need a


Wash and stem the spinach and set it to steam lightly for a few minutes. Chop and saute the onion.


Combine all the filling ingredients in a big bowl.


It's time to assemble the pie. Preheat your oven to

and get out your

Those clumps of bristles sold as 'pastry brushes' at the supermarket won't do. Go straight to the hardware store and get a brush.

Open up your package of phyllo

Brush some molten butter on the bottom of the pan, lay half a sheet in the pan and brush again with butter:

Folder over and brush again:

Repeat with four more sheets of phyllo.
Spread the filling in the pan

At this point, realize that you forgot to add the

Remove the filling with a

and add the lightly-beaten eggs. Realize, also, that you forgot to add the nutmeg.
"Honey, do we have any nutmeg?"
"How am I supposed to know?"
Add a pinch of pumpkin pie spice and hope no one notices. Replace filling in pan.

Lay more phyllo as described above:

Put it in the oven. Clean up a big-ass

After 40-50 minutes it'll come out

Let it cool down for a while.
Serve

and enjoy with

in the company of friends and family.

Recipe

[Renew Deal]

1. To the Greeks!!!

:toast:

Are you Greek?

[Ellen Forradalom]

2. Nope

Just dig the food.

Opaa!

[GOPisEvil]

3. Those pictures make this Greek boy very happy.

And hungry.

But Italian olive oil? :o

[Ellen Forradalom]

4. It's what I had left

Don't worry, big boy, I bought some Greek olive oil today.

[GOPisEvil]

5. Yay!

:bounce:

[flamingyouth]

6. YUM! I'm actually having that for dinner tomorrow

One of my favorite meals. :D

[Ellen Forradalom]

7. oh cool!

It turned out very well tonight. But how could it not, with all that Greek cheese?

[Solly Mack]

8. I felt like I was there!

This was wonderful! I loved it!!!!!!

[Ellen Forradalom]

17. thanks!

Too bad I couldn't actually bring you some of the leftovers!

[salib]

9. I hope that is

Retsina! Best bathroom deodorant I have ever had.

Seriously, there is nothing like it. And, it is truly Greek.

[Ellen Forradalom]

12. It was a French Chablis

Husband is the sommelier de Shabbat

[libodem]

10. love that floor cleaner!

looks like a very yummy dish

[Ellen Forradalom]

11. Dog thought so too

At least the raw ingredients that fell on the floor.

[brook]

13. Love spanakopita...

Thanks for the nifty 'illustrated' recipe. I'm starving -had major oral surgery today and haven't eaten in 24 hours -so 'feasting' my eyes was fun.

[Ellen Forradalom]

16. Why thank you.

I'd be worried that I tortured you, but it seems you're okay.

Sorry about that major oral surgery. Sounds like a drag. Get well soon!

[KitchenWitch]

14. Suddenly I am craving greek food!

[Ellen Forradalom]

15. You can wave your magic wand

and whip some up. I think the magic word is "GALAKTOBOUREKO."

[KitchenWitch]

18. Cool

Never learned *THAT* particular incantation in witch school! :evilgrin:

[Ellen Forradalom]

19. You know, there's a Guided by Voices song

called 'Cut-out Witch' that I always sing along with as "KitchenWitch."

[KitchenWitch]

20. Wow

That is funny!

I will have to get that song!

[catzies]

21. Wow, what a fun thread! Thanks for going through all that trouble

just to make us all hungry...and jealous. :9

[Ellen Forradalom]

22. I'm having way too much fun with that digital camera

I have a regular feature on my blog, "Baggie Watch," featuring that day's pictures of little drug baggies.

[Stinky The Clown]

23. Hey Ellen, why isn't this in the DU Cooking and Baking Forum?

We denizens of that refuge of gustatory tranquility will love it! :hi:

[Ellen Forradalom]

24. Say, good idea.

[NMDemDist2]

25. yes, you'll feel right at home with us foodies

:hi:

[Kat45]

26. Oooh! One of my favorites! I LOVE spanikopita!

Whenever a Greek church in the area has a bazaar, I go so I can eat some spanikopita.

:9:

[Ellen Forradalom]

29. I attended a Japanese Presbyterian church for two years

so I could eat sushi during fellowship hour. Yummm!

[Schema Thing]

27. I think I'm in love with you

you cook, I'll clean.

[Ellen Forradalom]

31. Funny

I just said the same thing to Redstone, because he's a fast-car driving, meat-eating, cig-smoking, PowerBook user.

It's a tragic love triangle. :shrug:

[merci_me]

28. Husb2 pointed you out...................

You have to come over to the cooking and baking forum!! We have a great time and would LOVE for you to join us.

Husb2 can be a little anal, but don't fret, we have a messy cooks sub-group. It looks like you'd understand us. Oh and bring your cute kitchen vac. A little dog hair in the meringue never hurt anyone.

Mary

[jakefrep]

30. OPA!

Have any leftovers? I'll bring the ouzo.

[Ellen Forradalom]

32. Two pieces

I brought two other pieces to the neighbors, who told me that a few days ago their German shepherd dog pulled an entire roast chicken off the counter and scarfed it down in less than five minutes, with nothing left to show for it but a grease spot on the floor. Talk about a kitchen vac.

[Ellen Forradalom]

33. Oh, and one more thing

Keep your grubby paws out of the olive bucket, willya? Jesus.

[nuxvomica]

34. I made a whole wheat version once

It was in a vegetarian cookbook. I made the dough from scratch and forgot to add salt. It turned out more like a giant stuffed cracker but it was good. I'll have to try your recipe.

edit: sp.

[Ellen Forradalom]

35. Phyllo dough is one of those things

that you leave to the professionals.

[FuzzySlippers]

36. Oh Ellen, that was delightful!

Pumpkin pie spice. LOL. And it's great to see Corbu was on duty.

[freethought]

37. Word to the wise-Value those small ethnic shops!

They are getting harder and harder to find. And the food they sell is to be savored.

[Ellen Forradalom]

38. Fortunately here in Chicago

we still have plenty of them.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

39. Yes...this belongs on the greatest page

[Ellen Forradalom]

42. You flatter me.

Now I'm blushing.

[Technowitch]

40. What an amazingly fun and entertaining post!!!

Kudos, Ellen! Looks delish, too.

[Ellen Forradalom]

41. Oh, it was.

With all that spinach and cheese, how could it not be?

[mandyky]

43. My first job was at a Greek restaurant

but they didn't served real Greek food on the menu. On holidays the owner's wife would cook all the traditional food though and this dish was one.

BTW, bring your recipe over to the DU Group - Cooking and Baking. :)