Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsZaytinyaSpanakopita Recipe

Spanakopita Recipe

Inspired by Zaytinya
Time1h 30m
Serves8

house-made phyllo, spinach, feta cheese

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Filling

Method

Filling

  1. 1

    Wilt and drain spinach

    Place chopped spinach in a large heavy skillet or sauté pan over medium heat; add 1 tablespoon olive oil and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 3–5 minutes. Transfer wilted spinach to a fine-mesh sieve or colander, press and squeeze with the back of a spoon or use clean kitchen towels to remove as much liquid as possible. Let cool slightly, then roughly chop again if needed and weigh/measure to confirm quantity.

  2. 2

    Sauté aromatics

    In the same skillet, heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add finely diced onion and a pinch of salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent and soft, about 6–8 minutes. Add minced garlic and sliced green onions and cook 1 minute more until fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

  3. 3

    Combine filling ingredients

    In a large mixing bowl, combine the well-drained spinach and the sautéed onion/garlic mixture. Add chopped dill and parsley, crumbled feta, ricotta (if using), and lightly beaten eggs. Season with black pepper, 1 teaspoon salt (adjust later to taste), and nutmeg if using. Mix thoroughly with a sturdy spoon until evenly distributed. Taste a small amount and adjust seasoning — remember feta is salty so reduce added salt if mixture tastes sufficiently seasoned.

Phyllo & Assembly

  1. 4

    Prepare baking pan

    Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly brush a 9x13-inch (or similar) baking dish with 1 tablespoon olive oil or melted butter to prevent sticking.

  2. 5

    Layer phyllo

    Unroll phyllo and keep it covered under a lightly damp towel to prevent drying. Place one sheet of phyllo in the prepared pan, letting excess hang over edges if desired. Brush the sheet lightly with melted butter. Repeat layering and brushing with 6 sheets, making sure each is brushed—this creates a crisp top. (If you prefer a thicker top, use 7–8 sheets.)

  3. 6

    Add filling

    Spread the spinach-feta filling evenly over the buttered phyllo layers in the pan, pressing it down gently to create an even surface.

  4. 7

    Top layers

    Continue layering the remaining phyllo sheets on top of the filling, brushing each sheet with melted butter as you go. Use 5–6 sheets to form the top layer. Fold any overhanging edges over the filling and brush with butter. Using a sharp knife, score the top phyllo into squares or triangles to make slicing after baking easier (cut through top layers only, not down to the filling).

  5. 8

    Bake

    Place the pan on the middle rack of the preheated oven and bake until the phyllo is golden brown and crisp, about 35–45 minutes. If the top browns too quickly, loosely tent with foil for the last 10–15 minutes.

  6. 9

    Rest and serve

    Remove from oven and let rest for 10–15 minutes to set (this makes cutting neat pieces easier). Cut along the scored lines and serve warm or at room temperature. Leftovers keep refrigerated up to 3 days and can be reheated in a 350°F (175°C) oven until warmed and crisped, about 10–15 minutes.

More from Zaytinya