Spanakopita with Pancakes – Greek Spinach and Cheese Pie 🇬🇷

What is Spanakopita with Pancakes?
-traditional Greek spinach and cheese savoury pastry, consisting of pancake layers instead of thin pastry sheets (phyllo), filled with spinach and feta cheese. (Σπανακόπιτα)

Recipe Intro

You may say, why bother making pancakes for this delicious Greek dish? Well, I found myself without any filo pastry on hand, yet craving something savoury with spinach. So, I decided to make a traditional Greek pie, using thin plain pancakes instead of filo sheets.
And I must tell you, it turned out delicious! Of course, you can prepare the same filling and use filo sheets or even puff pastry for this dish.

Essential Ingredients and Substitutes

• spinach – Fresh spinach leaves, washed and finely chopped. I added wild rocket for a peppery flavour twist, even though it’s not a traditional ingredient. They work really well together!
• feta cheese – Crumbly and tangy, feta cheese adds a creamy richness and salty kick to the dish
• cottage cheese – A mild and creamy cheese with a slightly grainy texture, cottage cheese contributes to the creamy consistency of the filling. For those seeking a more intense flavour, they can omit cottage cheese and add extra feta cheese instead.
• egg – Essential for binding all the ingredients together, ensuring a cohesive and well-incorporated filling
• parsley – Essential for adding a fresh and herby flavour to the filling. In some variations, dill and/or mint may also be used.

How to make Spanakopita with Pancakes?

You can prepare pancakes using your preferred recipe or buy ready-made ones. Larger pancakes work better for layering in the dish.

I used a baking dish measuring approx. 25cm x 25cm. It yielded 16 square portions.

Mixture
To start, prepare the spinach and cheese mixture. In a pan, sauté the onion in olive oil until it turns translucent, about 3 minutes.
Pour hot water over the washed spinach and wild rocket to wilt them. Drain them well and chop the greens.
In a large bowl, combine feta and cottage cheese, egg, spinach, wild rocket, and sautéed onions. Add chopped parsley and season with salt and pepper. Be cautious with the salt, as feta cheese tends to be quite salty.

Assemble the dish
Grease the baking dish with oil.
Begin by adding 3 pancakes to cover the bottom of the dish completely, then spread a thin layer of the spinach mixture over them. Repeat this process three more times. For the second and third pancake layers, add two pancakes each time. Finish with a layer of 3 pancakes on top.

Baking
Cover the dish with aluminium foil, ensuring there’s some space at the corners to allow steam to escape. Bake at 200°C for approximately 15-20 minutes. In the last 5 minutes of baking, remove the dish from the oven, add grated cheese or cheese slices on top, and return it to the oven, uncovered, until the cheese melts. Be careful not to overbake.

How to serve Spanakopita with Pancakes?

1. As an Appetizer: Serve Spanakopita as bite-sized squares for an elegant appetizer at parties or gatherings.
2. As a Main Course: Pair Spanakopita with a simple salad of mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and olives for a satisfying main course. The combination of creamy spinach filling and crispy pastry makes it a hearty and comforting meal.
3. With Traditional Accompaniments: Serve Spanakopita with classic Greek accompaniments such as tzatziki sauce, Greek salad, and lemon wedges.
4. Frozen for Later: Spanakopita freezes well, so you can make a big batch and store it for later. Simply reheat in the oven whenever you’re craving a quick and delicious meal.
5. Variations: Get creative with your Spanakopita by adding different fillings such as mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, or caramelized onions. You can also experiment with different herbs and cheeses to create unique flavour combinations.

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