spanakopita

this recipe for spanakopita from ina garten is truly amazing, but not one i whip out on a regular basis. it's not very difficult, but i won't sugar coat the fact that it takes forever. despite the time commitment, in the end, it's always worth it...

ingredients:

2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 medium-large yellow onion, diced

3 scallions, white and green parts, chopped

20 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed of excess water

4 eggs, lightly beaten

3 tablespoons plain bread crumbs (plus extra for sprinkling between layers of phyllo dough)

3 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan

1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

2 tsps salt

1 tsp freshly grated black pepper

10-12 oz feta, chopped into small chunks

3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted

48 sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted

preheat oven to 375 F.

heat the olive oil in a skillet set over medium-high. add the onion, and cook for 5 minutes then add the scallions, and continue to cook for another 2 minutes until the scallions are wilted but still green. 

meanwhile, squeeze as much of the water from the spinach as possible and place it in a large bowl. when the onion and scallions are done, add them to the spinach, along with the eggs, parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, nutmeg, salt, and pepper and mix well. fold in the feta and pine nuts.

to begin arranging, place 1 sheet of phyllo dough on a clean, dry work surface with the long end in front of you. brush the sheet lightly with butter and sprinkle it with bread crumbs (to prevent the next layer from sticking). slide another sheet of phyllo dough on top of the first, brush it with butter, and sprinkle lightly with bread crumbs. repeat the process until your pile has 4 sheets of dough (it isn't necessary to sprinkle the topmost layer with bread crumbs). cut the sheets of phyllo in half lengthwise. place 1/4 cup spinach filling on the shorter end and roll the phyllo up diagonally as if folding a flag. then fold the triangle of phyllo over straight and then diagonally again. continue folding first diagonally and then straight until you reach the end of the sheet. the filling should be totally enclosed. continue assembling phyllo layers and folding the filling until all of the filling is used. place on a greased sheet pan, seam sides down. brush the tops with melted butter, sprinkle with salt, and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the phyllo is browned and crisp. try to avoid burning yourself when they are fresh out of the oven and piping hot. drooling is acceptable. 

oh so flaky...