WHAT GOES GOOD WITH SPANAKOPITA RECIPES

Steps:

• Pack the spinach into a large heatproof bowl. Pour boiling water over and press the spinach down with a wooden spoon. Leave for 1 min to wilt, stirring a couple of times so all the leaves are submerged. Tip into a large colander and place under running cold water to cool quickly. Drain well – squeeze out any excess water by pressing the spinach down with the wooden spoon, then squeezing with your hands. Using kitchen paper, pat the spinach dry into a compact shape, lay it on a board and roughly chop, then set aside.
• Heat 2 tsp of the oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Add the shallot, spring onions and garlic, and fry over a high-ish heat for 3-4 mins, stirring often, until softened and just starting to brown. Lower the heat, tip in the spinach and stir for 1 min only to finish drying. Season with pepper and a good pinch of nutmeg, and leave to cool.
• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and put a baking sheet in to heat up. In a bowl, stir the ricotta into the beaten egg and mix in the 2 tbsp dill, the chives and mint. Season with pepper and a pinch of salt.
• Lightly oil a 20cm square x 4cm deep cake tin. Mix the remaining oil with the 1 rounded tsp dill. Lay the filo pastry sheets on a large board. Brush the top one with a little of the dill oil, then carefully lower it into the tin to line the base and 2 of the sides, with an overhang on both sides. The pastry doesn’t have to fit in smoothly – a few wrinkles and folds in it are fine. Brush a bit more oil over the second pastry sheet and this time lay it down in the tin the other way round, so it drapes over and lines the base and the other 2 sides. The tin should now be completely covered, with a pastry overhang all round. Repeat the criss-cross layering with 2 more oiled filo sheets.
• Stir the ricotta mixture into the spinach, then crumble in the feta. Lightly stir it in so you leave a few chunky pieces. Spoon this filling into the lined tin and level it. Bring the pastry sides up and over the filling, then brush a little oil over them. Brush the remainder of the oil over the last filo sheet on the board. Cut the sheet in half widthways and lay one half over at a time, in big folds, to cover the filling and give you a pastry topping.
• Place the tin on the heated baking sheet and bake for 25-30 mins until the pastry is crisp and golden. Leave to cool for 10-15 mins. Remove the tin and transfer to a serving plate. If your tin doesn’t have a loose bottom, carefully upturn it onto a flat board, then flip it over onto the serving plate. Serve warm or cold with minted yogurt dip and a tomato, cucumber & pepper salad (see below), if you like.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180C.

  Trim any spinach roots, wash the leaves and drain well, then coarsely shred them and set aside.

  Place the feta in a large bowl and roughly mash it with a fork. Add the ricotta, parmesan, eggs, breadcrumbs, nutmeg, pepper, oil, dill and green onions and mix well. Add the spinach and mix lightly but thoroughly with your hands.

  Lightly oil a 20x30-centimetre baking dish. Lay a sheet of filo on a work surface and brush it with butter. Top that with another sheet of filo, brush with butter and continue until about half the filo is used.

  When you're not using the filo, cover it with a dry tea towel and then a damp one to stop it from drying out.

  Gently lower the buttered filo rectangle into the baking dish, making sure the pastry goes right into the corners of the dish. Tip the cheese and spinach mix into the filo base and spread it out evenly.

  Layer the remaining sheets of filo on top, brushed with butter, ensuring the final sheet is well buttered. Trim off any overhanging pastry and tuck in the sides. Use a sharp knife to score the pastry diagonally (piercing the pastry allows air to escape during baking and keeps the top crisp).

  Lightly sprinkle  sesame seeds on top and bake in the oven for 45 to 60 minutes or until it is well browned.

  Gently shake the baking dish; the spanakopita should slide easily when it is cooked. Cover it with foil if it is over-browning.

  Cool it on a rack for 15 minutes before serving.

   Serve with: Frank Camorra's fattoush salad.