An amazing pie that smells of authentic Greece. You can add any aromatic Mediterranean greens you can get your hands on. Strain the leafy greens so that the leaves are not too moist and the pie remains crispy until the last bite. If you find making the phyllo too complicated, you can replace it with 6 sheets of store-bought thick phyllo pastry.
Serves12 pieces
Cooks In45' preparation | 1 hour baking
DifficultyYou Can Do It
Ingredients
2.2 lb spinach, washed and strained
2 large leeks (only the tender part, keep the rest for making stock)
1 bunch green onions with leaves
1 bunch fresh dill, chopped
2 bunches Mediterranean greens (Optional)
1 bunch fresh spearmint
1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
2 tbsp. salt, freshly ground pepper
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
TRADITIONAL PHYLLO
1.6 lb all-purpose flour
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp. vinegar
1 ½ cups of lukewarm water (approximately)
1 flat tsp. salt
¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil to grease the phyllo
Some spare Flour for the phyllo kneading
Method
Wash and strain the spinach.
Chop into a large bowl with the leeks and green onions, and sprinkle with salt.
Mix and leave for 15-20 minutes to release juices.
Squeeze out as much liquid as possible and transfer to a bowl.
The filling will reduce by about half.
Add the olive oil, feta cheese, herbs, and pepper.
Grease a pie dish, place three sheets of pastry in the dish one by one, slightly crumpled, drizzling each sheet with olive oil.
Add the filling in a thin layer. Cover with the remaining sheets of crumpled phyllo, again greasing each one. Turn the edges in. Trace out the pieces, drizzle with a few drops of water and pour the remaining olive oil.
Bake on the bottom rack for 1 hour at 360°F fanless, until golden brown on top and underneath, the phyllo will have a crispy texture.
Let the pie cool, this is mandatory as it needs some time to absorb all of its liquid.
TRADITIONAL CRISPY PASTRY
Sift the flour into a bowl or a mixer.
Mix in the vinegar, salt and olive oil, and begin kneading as you add the water a little at a time.
The dough is ready when it is supple and no longer sticky.
Cover and leave to stand for at least 30 minutes.
Divide the dough into six pieces, and roll out into thin sheets on a flour-dusted surface (keep dusting with flour as required).