Posted October 13th 2009 at 6:57 pm by Mara @ What's For Dinner?
Thanks so much for deciding FOR me what was for dinner tonight!! I had a whopping 56 voters, and the poll results ended like this:
The winner by a landslide was Spanakopita, or Greek spinach pie. I was really glad too, because I’ve had a taste for it for weeks! My mom used to make a crustless spinach pie that would then be cut into squares all the time when we were little. Then, she discovered a (rather time-consuming) spinach ball recipe that was popular at Passover. Still, my very favorite was always when she’d make it in phyllo dough, or when we’d get it out at Greek restaurants. I loved the layers of flaky dough, the salty feta cheese, and of course, the spinach. (Yes, I was a strange child that liked vegetables).
Why the funny post title? Well, at some point, we learned that spinach pie was actually spanakopita. Then we started calling it “spank yo mama” … make sense?
I had a couple of recipes in mind when I set out creating tonight’s healthified Spanakopita. Many of the recipes I looked up included parsley, which I don’t love. They also included a lot of butter, full-fat cheese, and not nearly enough spinach. Here’s what I ultimately came up with:
Healthy Spanakopita
Ingredients
- 16 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and thoroughly drained
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 4 oz. feta cheese (meant to use fat free, bought reduced fat)
- 1/4 c. fat free sour cream
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- S&P to taste
- 6 sheets phyllo dough, thawed
- 3 Tbsp melted butter or olive oil
Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 400*
Heat olive oil in a small skillet and sautee onion for 5 minutes, or until lightly browned and translucent. Add to small bowl. Mix in spinach, feta, sour cream, egg, garlic powder, and S&P. Stir well. On a large work surface, place one sheet of phyllo dough. Lightly brush half with melted butter or olive oil, then fold the sheet in half. Pile 1/6th of the spinach mixture onto one end of the dough, and roll up like a burrito or egg roll, folding the sides in to enclose the spinach mixture. Brush the seams and ends with melted butter and lay, seams down, on a baking sheet. Bake 10-15 minutes until golden brown.
This. Was. Awesome!
Since I had so many sheets of phyllo leftover, I decided to use a couple of them to make a little dessert… just some sliced apple, a little cinnamon, a touch of brown sugar…
MMMM PIE!
I’ll be doing more polls about what to make… and in the meantime, I’ll be working my way through the rest of the dishes on the poll! All the things I asked you about were things I’m dying to make!
I’m off to watch Biggest Loser and avoid opening the wedding present sitting on my couch, staring me down! I CAN BE STRONG!!!
Technorati Tags: alouette, cheese, dinner, family, food, Greek, simple, simple recipe, vegetarian
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Tags: alouette, cheese, dinner, family, food, Greek, simple, simple recipe, vegetarian
Posted in Baking, family, simple recipe, vegetarian
YYYYYES!!! I voted for that dish
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YAY! I’m glad to see I’m not the only one obsessed w/spanakopita. I hope to make some at some point this month, if I don’t use my fillo for something else. The fillo apple pie looks so yummy, too!
Kimberly @ Poor Girl Eats Well´s last blog ..Recipe: Hearty Mushroom & Potato Soup
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I voted for it.
I need to find a vegan feta to make vegan spanokopita! Darn my tummy’s intolerance to dairy!
Have a great week Mara, xoxo!
Lindsey @ Sound Eats´s last blog ..More than Enough
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Ohmigosh both meals look delish! I especially loved the sweet one.
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is´s last blog ..Hearty Veggie Soup.
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OMG mara that looks awesome!!!!
Melissa S.´s last blog ..CA Sushi: 1, TX Sushi: 0
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Hhaha LMAO, at the title of this post!
These looks so incredible. Wow, I am book marking this recipe for sure!
Hope you are having a great week darling.
Lauren´s last blog ..So Many Products, So Many Thoughts
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Looks exquisite!
cinnamonquill´s last blog ..Boeuf Bourguignon, sans boeuf
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Both of these look soooo yummy! Great job!
And I loooved (and still do) veggies as a child!!
Christina´s last blog ..Flank Steak
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I LOVE Greek food, love Spanikopita (can they make it vegan?) and love your post title.
Open the present…I won’t tell…
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Mara @ What's For Dinner? Reply:
October 14th, 2009 at 5:59 am
I’m sure there’s a way to do it vegan… can’t remember if you’re soy free, but a salted soft tofu and then some silken blended could work!
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MMMMmmm!! WOMAN! These all look amazing!!! I need to give phyllo dough a try sometime…soon.
Kristin @ Iowa Girl Eats´s last blog ..When Life Gives You Leftovers…
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Woohoo!! That’s the one I voted for! I love phyllo! That recipe looks awesome – thanks
HAHAH – spank yo mama!
K´s last blog ..Welcome Back
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that dinner looks great! I’ve never tried making my own, but this sounds like I could!
brandi´s last blog ..Q&A #3
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This looks wonderful–I would love to try something like this!
Dawn (HealthySDLiving)´s last blog ..Tilapia Success
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wow these look fabulous! I can never resist phyllo-dough!! YUM x 10000!!
Jenna´s last blog ..Baby Portabella Mushroom-Asparagus Quiche
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Ooooh I didn’t vote for it but DAMN that looks tasty. I’ll have to check out the calories in phyllo because some baked treats like that sound AWESOME!
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How creative! Way to turn a high-cal meal into something healthy and tasty at that! I’m impressed with your skillz, lady
Hallie´s last blog ..Spicy Oatmeal Success!
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Totally amazing! Looks great!
Whitney @ Lettuce Love´s last blog ..Spaghetti Squash equals Awesome
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looks this awesome. thanks for posting the recipe! i will have to put in my my “to make” pile.
on the rocks´s last blog ..#16 – Running Revelations
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i duno how but i’ve never had Spanakopita before :O must make some! thanks for the recipe
omg and the pie makes me want to eat baklava…
misstiffie´s last blog ..Haha so me… & some quickie cooking…
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I love spanakopita, good stuff.
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Spank-a-yo-momma!! I love it
I’ve never had this before but have always heard it was awesome. I’ll have to try your healthy version!
Jenn (eating bender)´s last blog ..Dr. Kristi Funk: Breast Health + Early Detection [Video!]
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