Lamb Spinach Spanakopita Recipes

LAMB & SPINACH SPANAKOPITA

Steps:

• Heat half the oil in a casserole pot over a medium-high heat and fry the lamb for 5-7 mins, or until deep brown all over. Cover with the stock, then add the cinnamon stick and bay leaf, and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 11/2 hrs, or until the lamb is tender and falling apart.
• Heat the remaining oil and the butter in a frying pan, then fry the onions with a large pinch of salt for 15-20 mins, or until golden and sticky. Add the garlic and spices, and cook for 3 mins more. Remove the lamb from its stewing liquid (reserving the liquid), transfer to a chopping board and shred using two forks. Stir the shredded meat into the onion mixture, along with 50ml of the reserved liquid.
• Put the spinach in a pan with 1 tbsp water, and cook for 3-4 mins, or until wilted. Wrap in a clean tea towel and squeeze out the excess liquid, or put in a fine sieve and press it out using the back of a wooden spoon. Roughly chop the spinach, then stir into the lamb and onion mixture along with the feta, mint, pine nuts and egg. Season.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6, and brush a 22cm round springform cake tin with some of the melted butter. Layer four sheets of filo pastry across the tin, then brush with more melted butter. Spoon in the filling, and fold the overhanging pastry over the top. Scrunch up the remaining pastry sheets, put on top of the pie, and brush with the remaining melted butter. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds. Bake for 45-50 mins, or until golden and crisp. Will keep in the fridge for up to up to two days.

LAMB AND SPINACH SPANAKOPITA

Steps:

• 1. In a large skillet, add two tablespoons of butter and one tablespoon of olive oil and saute (on a low flame) garlic and chopped green onion until tender.
• 2. Add spinach and chopped parsley, a little at a time until all four packages are sauteed and well mixed with the onion and garlic. Make sure there isn't any extra moisture or it will ruin the dough.
• 3. In another skillet, brown the lamb. Add pepper, Italian seasoning and salt (to taste).
• 4. Melt a stick of butter and pour into a cup. Ready your phyllo dough. Place a damp paper towel over it so it doesn't dry out.
• 5. In a 9x13" pan, lay a layer of dough and brush with melted butter. Repeat this five more times. Spread out half of the spinach mixture on top. Repeat the phyllo dough (3 layers with a brush of melted butter); then spread out the ground lamb.
• 6. For the final layer, cover the lamb with three more layers of phyllo dough, brushing the melted butter on each layer. Spread out the remaining spinach mixture and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cover with another five layers of phyllo dough (don't forget to brush the butter on) and bake on 350 degrees (Pre-heated oven) for approx one hour fifteen minutes; or until the top is golden and crispy.

SPANAKOPITA (GREEK SPINACH PIE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly oil a 9x9 inch square baking pan.
• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion, green onions and garlic, until soft and lightly browned. Stir in spinach and parsley, and continue to saute until spinach is limp, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• In a medium bowl, mix together eggs, ricotta, and feta. Stir in spinach mixture. Lay 1 sheet of phyllo dough in prepared baking pan, and brush lightly with olive oil. Lay another sheet of phyllo dough on top, brush with olive oil, and repeat process with two more sheets of phyllo. The sheets will overlap the pan. Spread spinach and cheese mixture into pan and fold overhanging dough over filling. Brush with oil, then layer remaining 4 sheets of phyllo dough, brushing each with oil. Tuck overhanging dough into pan to seal filling.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until golden brown. Cut into squares and serve while hot.