Australian Gourmet Traveller - (10)October 2020 (1)

S

panakopita,m

“spinachpie”

savouryGreek

anda decepti

vegetarianfavourite.N

leafygreensarecombi

delicioussaltyfetaand

inlayeredsheetsoffil

beforebeingbakedto

perfection.According

thispiewascreatedas

celebratorydishdurin

• theweekleadingup
  whereeggsanddairy,a
  areforbidden.Others
  a takeonthetradition
  borekpastry,whichis
  meat,cheeseandvege
  Whateveritsorigins,i
  dishfora lightmealo
  at a springpicnicinth

meaning

,is a renowned

kspeciality

velysimple

Nourishing

inedwith

dwrapped

opastry,

golden

gtosome,

sanindulgent,

ngApokreas

ptoGreeklent,

as wellas meat,

suggestit was

nalTurkish

filledwith

etables.

it’stheideal

or toshare

he park.

Anatomy of a dish

THEFLAVOURINGS

Herbsandalliums,suchasleekoronion,can

beusedtoboosttheflavourofthissimpledish.

Somerecipessuggesta squeezeoflemon

tobringsomebright,acidicnotes.

GrecainBrisbaneputsa twistonthe

dishbyusingwildgreensinsteadof

spinach.AlphainSydneyaddsdill,

parsley,mintandnutmegtogiveits

versiona fresh,herbaceousflavour.

THEGREENS

Whileanyquick-cooking

leafygreencanbe

used,suchaschard,

chicoryorcurlyendive,

spinachis thepurists’

choice.It bringsa vibrant

freshnessandtender

sweetnesstothedish,

balancingthesaltiness

ofthecheese.Freshor

frozenworks,aslong

astheleavesare

squeezeddrybefore

beingaddedtothemix.

Find

one

Whetherforbreakfast,lunchordinner,this

versatileGreekpieisaneasycrowd-pleaser.

THEPASTRY

Theouter-casingis formedwithdelicatesheets

offilopastry;eachindividuallybrushedwith

a healthylickofoliveoilbeforelininga baking

dishandenvelopingthefilling.Oncebaked,

thepastryturnsgoldenandshatteringlycrisp.

THECHEESE

Fetais thebestcheesefor

thejob.PeterConistisfrom

Sydney’sAlpharestaurant

suggestsbarrel-aged

sheep’smilkfetafrom

Greece:“Theagedfeta

givesthepiea deeper

flavour,”hesays.Some

recipescallforkefalotiri

• a haloumi-likecheese–
  tobethrownintothemix
  fora boostofflavour.The
  cheeseis combinedwith
  eggstohelpbindthefilling.

Spanakopita

46 GOURMET TRAVELLER

WORDS GEORGIE MEREDITH. PHOTOGRAPHY LOUISE LISTER. STYLING EMMA KNOWLES.