Spanakopita: 8 '16

One of Bruce's favorite vegetarian meals is Greek Spanakopita. 

He can never get enough of this classic Greek filo spinach pie so I usually make enough for a second meal. ( It freezes and reheats well).

The following recipe makes a perfect light lunch or dinner, and has such a fabulous combination of flavors – spinach, dill and spring onions with a creamy feta. I substitute cottage cheese for some of the feta to make it a bit less dense and salty than the traditional all feta recipe. Spanakopita Recipe

TOTAL TIME:2 hr 40 min ,Prep:50 min, Inactive Prep:15 min, Cook:1 hr 35 min,

Serves as a main course: 2 to 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

· 2 sticks plus 2 tablespoons butter

· 1/2 cup chopped scallions

· 2 pounds fresh spinach, picked over, washed and drained, or four 10-ounce packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

· 8 ounces cottage cheese

· 8 ounces feta, crumbled

· 1/2 cup fresh dill, chopped

· 1/2 cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley

· 2 tablespoons white rice flour

· 6 eggs, lightly beaten

· Salt and freshly ground pepper

· 1 pound phyllo pastry

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a small pan, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter and saute the scallions until tender.

Chop the spinach and place in a large saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat until wilted, about 15 minutes. Drain, pressing out as much liquid as possible. Mix together the spinach, scallions, cottage cheese, feta, dill, parsley, rice flour and eggs in a large bowl. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper and mix to combine.

Melt the remaining 2 sticks butter. Butter a 2-quart decorated ring mold (reserving the rest of the butter for brushing the phyllo).

Unfold the phyllo and place under plastic wrap to keep it from drying out. Remove one sheet of pastry at a time, brush with the melted butter and begin lining the mold (1 1/2 inches of pastryshould hang over the outer edge of the mold). Continue fitting phyllo sheets into the mold, turning it as you go in order to make even layers (the sheets will overlap in the center hole of the mold). Use about 20 sheets of phyllo.

Fill the mold with the spinach mixture. Draw the overhanging outer edges of phyllo over the filling. Butter and arrange the remaining sheets of phyllo, one at a time, to completely cover the filling; cut out and discard the pastry over the center of the hole of the mold.

Place the mold on a baking sheet to catch the butter drippings. Bake until golden brown and puffed, about 1 1/4 hours. Let stand in the mold 5 to 15 minutes before unmolding onto a warm platter. Serve.