Spinach Pie with Feta - Spanakopita

When Andrew and I can't think of where we want to eat, there is this one place that always comes to mind. I would like to say its the telepathic connection between us but I think its just because we have been there one too many times. The owner of this diner is greek and every single time you go there, you are served the complimentary bread and the greek spinach pie or "Spanakopita". The spinach pie is to die for. And whenever something at a restaurant is "to die for", I feel a strong urge to try my hand at it. It definitely did not disappoint!

Here is how you do it 

Ingredients

For the filling

Spinach  - about 1 lb

Crumbled Feta  - 6 oz

Onion - 1 small, chopped fine

Garlic - 2 cloves, minced

Egg - 1 large, beaten lightly

Parsley - 4-5 stalks, leaves chopped fine

Dill - 2-3 stalks, chopped fine

Black Pepper - 1/2 tsp or to taste

For the flaky pie crust - 

Phyllo Sheets - 20 sheets, I used 10 but would recommend more

Olive oil or butter - as needed, to brush the layers with

Method

• Wash, chop and drain the spinach.

• Squeeze out all the water from the spinach by pressing it between the palms of your hand and put it in a bowl.
• Mix in all the other ingredients to get a mixture that looks like this.

• Pre-heat the oven to 390 degrees fahrenheit.
• Brush a little olive oil or butter in the bottom of a baking dish.

• Start layering the phyllo sheets in the bottom.
• Put one sheet on the oiled surface. If the sheet is bigger than the baking dish, let the edges hang.
• Brush this sheet lightly with olive oil. Put another sheet at a slightly different angle on top of the first sheet and brush it lightly with olive oil. 
• Repeat the process with 8 more sheets.

• Spread the spinach-feta filling on top of the layered phyllo and press down to make it even.
• If there are edges hanging out, cover the filling with the edges, with oiling every layer. 
• Repeat the process of laying down phyllo sheets on top of the filling, brushing each layer lightly with olive oil before moving on to the next sheets.
• Do this for the remaining 10 sheets. This is what the "packaged" pie is going to look like. 

• Bake in the pre-heated oven for about 35 minutes or until golden brown. 

• Wait 10 minutes, and then cut it into small squares.

And the Spanakopita is ready to be devoured.