Spanakopita – spinach, feta, egg and filo pie

Spanakopita is the correct name for this Greek pie made of filo*, spinach, feta and egg. However my boys have named it ‘green pie’ rather than Greek pie since they are a) very literal, and b) not the best listeners. Regardless of the name, they and I agree (for once) that it is the most delicious way to eat a load of greens without fuss. Numerous children of my acquaintance have gobbled this down much to the amazement of their parents. But let’s not just save this for children. It is a perfect make ahead lunch, dinner, party or picnic food for all of us.

*American friends – if you’re wondering what filo pastry is, it is phyllo or fillo dough in your neck of the woods.

My first taste of Spanakopita

I first encountered Spanakopita when I was backpacking around the Greek islands with my lovely friend Megan when we were scarily young and footloose. I say backpacking, but although we set off with said backpacks and had our Lonely Planet island hopping route planned, we decided we liked the first island we stopped at so much we stayed there for the whole 2 weeks. We still reminisce about how simple life was then when we could laze for two weeks with no plan, no phones and barely any money. By the end of the two weeks we were running low on funds, so bought and fell in love with the fat wedges of wafer thin pastry filled with spinach and feta that were sold all over the place.