Baba Luba's Banitsa (Spinach Pie)

Name: Baba Luba's Banitsa (Spinach Pie)
Prep time: 1 h 15 min
Cook time: 1 h 15 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 20
Cuisine: Global
Ingredients: 6 larges eggs, lightly beaten; 227 grams Greek feta; 567 grams packages frozen spinach, thawed; 118 milliliters margarine; 2 pounds sheets 1/2 pounds phyllo sheets (12 by 17 inches), thawed in the refrigerator; 8 Tbsps unsalted butter (1 stick)

This recipe serves 20. One portion of this dish contains approximately 4g of protein, 13g of fat, and a total of 138 calories. This recipe covers 12% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. A mixture of butter, margarine, spinach, and a handful of other ingredients are all it takes to make this recipe so delicious.

Instructions

Heat the oven to 400°F and arrange a rack in the middle.Using both hands, squeeze out as much liquid from the spinach as possible. (Excess liquid will make the banitsa soggy.)

Ingredients you will need

Spinach

Equipment you will use

Oven

Place in a large bowl.Melt the butter and margarine in a small saucepan over low heat; set aside.Rinse the feta under cold water.

Ingredients you will need

Butter

Water

Feta Cheese

Equipment you will use

Sauce Pan

Bowl

Cut it into small dice, then mash it lightly with the back of a fork to crumble it further.

Add it to the bowl of spinach.

Ingredients you will need

Spinach

Equipment you will use

Bowl

Add the eggs and stir to combine.

Ingredients you will need

Egg

Place the phyllo on a work surface. Using a pastry brush, brush the entire surface of a 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet with the reserved butter mixture. Working quickly so as not to dry out the phyllo, gently slide 2 sheets onto the baking sheet.

Ingredients you will need

Butter

Equipment you will use

Baking Sheet

Pastry Brush

Drizzle with a tablespoon of the butter mixture. Repeat until you have 6 layers of phyllo.

Ingredients you will need

Butter

Spread half of the spinach mixture evenly over the phyllo. Cover the spinach with 2 more sheets of phyllo and drizzle with a tablespoon of the butter mixture. Repeat until you have 4 layers of phyllo.

Ingredients you will need

Spinach

Butter

Spread

Spread the remaining spinach mixture evenly over the phyllo. Cover the spinach with 2 more sheets of phyllo and drizzle with a tablespoon of the butter mixture. Repeat until you have 5 layers of phyllo. Evenly brush the entire surface of the top layer with the remaining butter mixture. Push the edges down slightly to seal.

Ingredients you will need

Spinach

Butter

Spread

Bake for 15 minutes. Check the banitsa: If the top is golden brown already, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F. Continue to bake, checking occasionally to make sure the banitsa is not too brown, until puffed, flaky, and golden brown, about 15 to 30 minutes more.

Equipment you will use

Oven

Remove the baking sheet to a wire rack and cool slightly before cutting and serving.

Equipment you will use

Baking Sheet

Wire Rack