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View Full Version : SPANAKOPITA - sort of


CarolAnn
05-19-2007, 08:08 AM
OK, Spanakopita is really a Greek food made of phylo dough triangles filled with spinach and feta cheese.

I've adapted the idea for meat fillings:

1. Cream cheese, salmon, minced onion and a dash of smoke sauce

2. cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, shreded + a can of cream of chicken soup and a few spices

3. shreded turkey ham + swiss cheese, finely minced onion & a dash of mustard (I throw it all in the blender to shred)

As you can see, any yummy sandwich filling could probably be used. My guess is that barbeque beef, pork or chicken would also be great in these packages!

I cut the phylo sheets into strips about 2" wide. Most recipes call for melted butter between sheets, but I've been using butter flavored Pam, as it has less fat and is easier and faster.

Take two strips of dough, spray one and flip it over so they stick. (You can still use melted butter for this if you don't want to use Pam.) Give the top another spray or brush of butter.

Put a tablespoon full of meat mixture on one end, and begin folding it over and over (like folding a flag) to make triangles. I also try to tuck in the tips to keep them from oozing filling when it bakes.

Bake at 375 degrees on a non-stick cookie sheet for about 12 minutes - they just need to brown.

You can also use a jelly/cream cheese mixture if you want to make dessert triangles, and drizzle these with powdered sugar frosting. (Powdered sugar, a pat of butter, a drop of vanilla and a tiny dash of milk)

Phylo dough is so light and crispy - if you've never used it, it looks like thin paper! I've made these at parties, had my guests all grab a bowl of filling and some sheets and help roll them up. It's time consuming, but a great way for people to get to know each other! And they snarf up the baked goodies as fast as they are out of the oven!

cub_cadet
06-04-2007, 05:02 PM
Carolann, Try beaten egg yolk the next time for sealing your pitas. It is also great to glaze pastries, so it may work in this as well.

Besos
07-04-2007, 12:19 PM
You can turn your Greek delights into Indian yummies. Make a simple samosa filling.
Or how about an Asian delight with a ginger mushroom filling.
Middle Eastern anyone? shred some cooked chicken and add cumin and finely sliced lemon peel.
Yum