Baked Spanakopita Pasta With Greens and Feta Recipe (2024)

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Belinda

This recipe looks awfully good, but I'd like to cut down on the fat. Might ricotta work in place of cream cheese and, if so, how much?

Cindy

Made according to directions; measured and weighed: 4 cups chopped baby spinach = 7 oz; 2 cups chopped arugula = 2.5 oz; 2 cups watercress = 3 oz; 1/2 cup chopped parsley + 1/2 cup chopped dill = .8 oz; followed all else exactly and would cut back on salt next time (salted greens + salty cheese + salted pasta water = too much!). Thought "4 servings" was odd b/c 9x13 STUFFED pan, but 3 of us almost ate the whole thing!! Dee-lish! To-tal hit! Mediterranean comfort food! YUM!

Jesse

Good recipe, but I found the feta to overpower the dish. Consider cutting the feta down to 2/3rds of a cup and bumping the mozz to 1.5 cups.

Team Dill

Absolutely loved this recipe! Note: Dill was the right choice against parsley. It was a delightful flavor against the cheese and greens!

Lis

Can this be made in advance refrigerated and then baked the next day?

nk

Add nutmeg, oregano, thyme brings the flavor profile closer to spanakopita. Increase amount of greens, steam briefly and squeeze into a strainer to make sure the final pasta isn’t too watery. Sesame seeds on top!

Rosie

Was pleasantly surprised by this recipe. Made it with pappardelle and used plain whole milk greek yogurt instead of cream cheese. I also added some chopped kalamata olives before baking.

Becca

Absolutely scrummy recipe. A few notes: 1 tsp of salt was plenty for us. If you use chard, cut up the stems and sauté them with the scallions and garlic. I think dill is important but didn’t have fresh - dried worked fine. Used Neufchâtel (1/3 less fat) cream cheese and still very creamy. Also, as this makes a full 9x13 pan there are definitely more than 4 servings so don’t let the calorie count throw you. I think we’ll get 7-8.

JJ

Loved this- I added some fresh lemon zest because I love Carla Hall’s Spanakopita recipe that has it.

Heather

Added lamb meatballs before baking . Used dill and spinach and gluten-free banza pasta. Boys liked.

Kate W

This tastes just like spanakopita! The dill is very prominent, but for us that was a good thing. I used extra feta (just to not have an awkward amount left over) and wish I had had more mozzarella on hand - I would have been happy to add that too. I was also generous with the cream cheese. I would maybe also toss in a few red pepper flakes, but it wasn’t missing it either. Next time I will chop the greens finer and use a smaller fusilli (we used “fusiloni” which was a tad too big).

slwtimes2

Very good. We could see this as a nice side to halibut or salmon. Could have used a lemony salad as a counterpoint if this is the main. Took the suggestion of other cooks to add thyme, oregano, lemon zest, red pepper flakes and a dash of nutmeg for true spanikopita flavors. They were spot on. A little dill forward for my husband. I might do half dill, half parsley next time. Scattered Imon a few Pablo bread crumbs and sesame seeds before broiling. Also, did not salt the greens or pasta water.

joelene

Can I just say, this is the ultimate comfort food. The flavours were just excellent. I’ve got leftovers reheating now and I can not wait to have a second helping of this dish.I followed recipe as is and took on the tips from others to include dill (it’s a stand out flavour in this dish) along with the zest of 1 lemon which lifted from the creamy tones. Can not recommend highly enough.

Kristin

I found the dish to be dry (not sure how to fix this), and spinach is an absolute must (if you’re craving the true spanikopita taste). I would do 6 c spinach and 2 c arugula so you don’t get overpowering arugula taste.

Roseanne L.

I wilted the greens in the big pot before starting the pasta. No need to add salt. Heated it briefly covered on low flame and then uncovered and waited until water evaporated. Removed greens to cooking pan at that point.

Sally

I followed the recipe, using arugula and parsley, but I did substitute kale for the spinach. Like other comments, it makes a very full 9X13” pan, so the serving size is off. Easily feeds 6. Used less salt to wilt the greens, but found my finished dish needed more. And it was DRY. Tasted good, but really dry. This was not a creamy pasta dish I was expecting. It will not be a repeat recipe.

Chris D

Great - add hot pepper flakes and lemon zest

Ruth

Very tasty, and the fresh dill was worthwhile. Pretty rich, definitely ate too much of it the first night after picking at the ingredients while I cooked! Only used about 1/2 tsp (Morton) salt for the greens at the start, I used chopped baby spinach so it didn't need much help breaking down anyway. Didn't add any other salt than the salted pasta water and didn't need more to my taste. Made 4 large servings.

Haley

This was far too salty for my taste, and I am a salt lover. Not sure if I’d make again.

Sam

I made this a second time with arugula, after using watercress the first. Both are good, but watercress wins out!Saltiness may depend on your feta. I wilted the greens with just 1 tsp. of salt both times, but using a different type of feta did alter the saltiness level. Taste yours before you use it & adjust the salt accordingly. Still needs lemon zest.Also: I don't know what dainty portions you all are eating, but this made for 5 good-sized (one-dish-meal) servings for two 40-somethings.

Gretta

One of the rare recipes my husband didn't like because he found it "tasteless" even though I upped all the seasonings. But my adult kids liked it -- they just added a lot of hot sauce! Me-- I will have it for lunch the next 3 days.

mary

This was delicious. I liked the peppery bite of the greens and the tangy feta cheese over pasta. My only comment is this: who eats 4 ounces of pasta in a serving? I used 8 ounces of pasta, and it made five servings. I served it with sweet cherry tomatoes over top, which complemented the bitter greens perfectly.

Lori

This is an absolutely fantastic recipe and the perfect weekday meal. There will be leftovers! We substitute the scallions with leaks and the spinach with swiss chard. Too good!

Julian Sheffield

Made 1/2 the recipe (for two people hypothetically), added half a shallot to the garlic because didn't have enough scallions, added juice from 1/2 a lemon because spinach, a good shake of nutmeg, it was delicious. Will actually provide a second dinner (crones, not teenagers). I can see varying the herbs / greens in this, and possibly the cheeses also.

Lisa H in Massachusetts

What is the oven temperature?

Alyssa

This dish absolutely needs lemon to save it.

Sam

Per comments, I replaced cream cheese with mascarpone & added red pepper flakes & zest of a lemon. I also used slightly more greens than called for — ~5 cups each of spinach & watercress. (I HIGHLY recommend using watercress here, stems & all.) I ended up needing to bake for ~20 minutes to cook off the liquid in the pan, which got the top nicely chewy/crisp but also didn’t overcook the pasta. I’d worried the dish might be too rich & creamy, but it wasn’t at all. We loved it.

Great flavor...added lamb

Yummy dish. I added ground lamb, cumin, and paprika. Willand oregano next time to get even closer to spanakopita. A bit too much salt - can probably use half as much to wilt the greens. I went with spinach, arugula, and parsley - liked the mix. Might give dill a try next time to mix it up. It's very rich, will try cutting cream cheese and add more mozzarella.

ckw

This is very tasty but it serves 6 unless the 4 are adolescent wolverines. Two reasonably hungry seniors will have yummy leftovers all week.

Lisa H in Massachusetts

This will go on permanent rotation. Adjusted based on comments: 1/2 the pasta, I pureed the greens, generous with the parsley and dill, some lemon juice and pinch of nutmeg, and since the block of mozzarella was 8 oz., used it all! What can go wrong? Only that we are half the casserole in one sitting.

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Baked Spanakopita Pasta With Greens and Feta Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my spanakopita soggy? ›

Any moisture left will result in soggy Greek spinach pie. Place 1-2 layers of cheesecloth in a fine mesh sieve or colander and allow to drain for an hour or so. You can also put it on a plate and let it drain in the refrigerator.

How healthy is spanakopita? ›

Spanakopita is a Greek spinach pie typically containing cheese such as feta and/or ricotta. Our version is low in calories while high in fibre, iron and calcium. It's also diabetes-friendly and suitable for vegetarians.

What to serve spanakopita with? ›

Set your spanakopita triangles out with whatever Greek-inspired foods you love best. A few of our faves?: warm pita, olives, sliced fresh veggies, hummus, marinated feta, Greek potatoes, lamb meatballs, grilled Greek chicken…the list goes on & on!

Why is spanakopita so good? ›

In my Spanakopita recipe, I love using a mix of feta and kefalotiri, scallions, dill, and mint. The salty, briny, and aromatic flavors make this pie incredibly delicious. In Greece, you can find Spanakopita in windows of street-side coffee shops and bakeries and more refined versions on restaurant menus.

How do you keep spanakopita crispy? ›

Place on a parchment-lined sheet tray, and brush the tops with more melted butter. Bake at 375° until golden brown and crisp.

Should I defrost spanakopita before baking? ›

Can I freeze Spanakopita? Yes you can freeze Spanakopita! Just place in an airtight container and it will keep for up to 2 months. You can just pop the Spanakopita in the oven when ready to eat to warm back up, no need to thaw first.

Are spanakopitas healthy for weight loss? ›

It's easy to see why Greek spanakopita is quite possibly the world's healthiest takeout food! Its convenience, nutritional density, and phenomenal taste make it one of the easiest ways to not only improve your diet, but to improve your overall health as well.

Is feta cheese healthy? ›

When it comes to cheese, feta is a healthy choice. Not only is it packed with protein and fat – both essential nutrients for helping you to feel full and energised – it's also good for your gut. Probiotic yeasts in feta may lower the PH in your stomach, which is key for a healthy gut.

Is filo healthier than puff? ›

Even better, switch your pastry from shortcrust or puff to filo. This is the lowest-fat pastry by far, with 2.9g fat per 100g. This compares with 26.2g for puff or 31.4g for shortcrust. Filo is the lowest-calorie option too, and it's easy to use.

Should I refrigerate spanakopita? ›

Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Reheat slices on a cookie sheet in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 -13 minutes, or until heated through. Freeze baked Spanakopita in a freezer-safe dish for up to 2 months.

Can you eat spanakopita the next day? ›

- You can make spanakopita the evening before you need to serve it. Follow the instructions for assembling, but do not bake. Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight.

What is spanakopita in English? ›

Spanakopita (/ˌspænəˈkɒpɪtə, ˌspɑː-, -ˈkoʊ-/; Greek: σπανακόπιτα, from σπανάκι spanáki 'spinach', and πίτα píta 'pie') is a Greek savory spinach pie.

What's the difference between spanakopita and tiropita? ›

The difference between a spanakopita and tiropita is that spanakopita includes spinach and feta (sometimes only spinach) whereas tiropita only has cheese in its filling. And while it is a popular street-food it is also a popular dish people make at home.

Where is Aldi spanakopita made? ›

Aldi's $7 Greek treat the 'best kept secret'

“I'm going to share a little secret with you, and it's this spanakopita from Aldi and it's made in Greece,” Merna said in the clip. “Honestly, this is Aldi's best kept secret. I usually hoard boxes of these.

What is the difference between spanakopita and borek? ›

Turkish borek and Greek spanakopita come from the same family of pastry. However, the two often differ in preparation and texture, with Greek spanakopita often having a flakier, puffier crust. Is it burek or borek? Both spellings of this pastry are technically correct, depending on the country.

How to make phyllo crispy again? ›

Whenever we re-warm ours, we flip the pieces over so that the bottom gets crispy again. It will always somewhat soften and eventually get soggy because of the moisture.

How do you moisten dry phyllo? ›

Phyllo dough dries out super fast. Lay a damp (NOT wet) kitchen towel over the phyllo sheets while you are putting together your recipe. Make sure the towel is just slightly damp, enough to give the phyllo dough a little moisture so it doesn't dry out.

How do you keep phyllo dough moist? ›

You will want to keep the stack of unbuttered dough sheets covered with a slightly dampened dish towel at all times, because phyllo dries out very quickly. Tip: Always butter the top layer of pastry before baking in a hot oven to create a nice golden-brown top.

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