Spinach feta cheese filo pastry pillows
Spinach to Win It
What are spinach feta cheese filo pastry pillows?
Golden filo pastry filled with a creamy spinach and feta mix, spinach feta cheese filo pastry pillows are little bites of heaven.
You’ll love it if…
… you’re looking for a snack or appetiser that is light, crispy, and packed with flavour— These spinach and feta filo pillows are perfect for entertaining or a snack that’s a total showstopper.
Spinach has had a long day. His car broke down on the way to work, in the rain. And then the HR manager yelled at him for being late again. Then to top it off, when he got home, he realised that his ex-girlfriend is still using his Netflix password and has watched all of season 3 of his favourite show.
It’s enough to make a leaf wilt.
Spinach deserves a break. Spinach deserves a soft bed and a comfy pillow. In this case, its a crispy filo pillow filled with cheese. Cheese makes everything better right?
In this recipe, spinach and cheese come together in a golden filo pillow pastry. Crispy, cheesy and delicious. Need I say more?
It’s a small win for spinach but one that it both needs and deserves. Change your Netflix password, Spinach. But wait till right before the season finale.
Prepare the Ingredients
Blanch the spinach by putting the leaves in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes, strain and then submerge in a bowl of ice water.
Prepare the Spinach Filling
Sauté spinach in olive oil until wilted and most of the water evaporates.
Cook spring onions, garlic, herbs, and chili in butter, then mix with the spinach.
Add citrus zest and juice, cool, and combine with goat cheese, cream cheese, and seasoning.
Assemble and Bake the Parcels
Layer filo sheets, add spinach filling, and fold into parcels.
Brush with egg, sprinkle sesame seeds, and bake at 180°C until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
Serve and Enjoy!
Serve plain or drizzled with hot honey.
For an Asian fusion take serve with the chef’s recipe for sweet chilli sauce.
- Prevent Soggy Filling: After sautéing the spinach, ensure you cook out excess moisture. This step prevents the filling from becoming too wet, which can lead to soggy pastry.
- Maintain Filo Freshness: Filo pastry dries out quickly. While assembling, keep unused sheets covered with a damp cloth to maintain their pliability and prevent cracking.
- Customise the Herb Selection: Incorporate herbs like dill, mint, or parsley into the filling.
Spinach feta cheese filo pastry pillows
Equipment
- Baking Tray or dish
- Non-stick Pan
Ingredients
- 10 sheets of filo pastry
- 4 cups chopped fresh spinach or 2 cups frozen spinach
- 2 tablespoons fresh oregano OR 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons fresh sage OR 1 tablespoon dried sage
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped green or red fresh chilli pepper
- 1 cup spring onions / leeks chopped
- ¼ cup garlic chopped
- 4 tablespoons parsley freshly chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lemon zest and juice
- ½ orange zest and juice
- ¼ cup goats cheese or feta
- ¼ cup cream cheese
- 1 tablespoon black pepper powder
- 1 egg beaten for brushing
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- In a non stick pan on high heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Once the oil starts to smoke add 4 cups chopped fresh spinach or 2 cups frozen spinach. Press it down with your spatula and leave for half a minute in the hot pan. After 30 seconds add a pinch of salt and stir the spinach. Keep sautéing until all the spinach is wilted and half the water has evaporated. If you’re using fresh spinach the volume will go down to about a quarter the original volume.
- Push the spinach to the edge of the pan and turn down the heat to medium. Add 2 tablespoons butter in the side without the spinach.
- Add in 1 cup chopped spring onions / leeks in the butter and sauté for 1 minute without touching the spinach. Add ¼ cup chopped garlic, 1 tablespoon finely chopped green or red fresh chilli pepper, 2 tablespoons fresh oregano and 2 tablespoons fresh sage. Sauté for another minute again without disturbing the spinach.
- Mix the spinach into the spring onion mixture and sauté until most of the water has evaporated. Add the juice and zest of 1 lemon and ½ an orange, sauté for another minute. Take off the heat and set aside to cool to room temperature.
- To the cooled spinach mix, crumble in ¼ cup goats cheese or feta and ¼ cup cream cheese, 1 tablespoon black pepper powder. Mix well.
- Cut the filo sheets into rectangles 6" x 8" or approximately that size. Put two slices of filo on top of each other.
- Put a heaped tablespoon of the spinach filling an inch from the bottom of the filo rectangle. Fold over the sides to cover the filling and then roll up into a cigar or pillow shape. Brush the end with water to stick the edge together and create a tight parcel.
- Lay the parcels on a baking tray lined with baking parchment. Brush with the beaten egg and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top. Put in a preheated oven at 180℃ / 350℉ until golden brown, approximately 15 minutes.
- Serve on their own or drizzle with hot honey.
Video
FAQ
Should I use fresh spinach or frozen?
You can use either. Frozen spinach has less water content than fresh. Fresh spinach will also works well; ensure it’s wilted and excess moisture is removed to prevent soggy filling. Adjust cooking times to ensure the spinach is dried to prevent soggy pastry.
How do I prevent the filo pastry from drying out during preparation?
Keep unused filo sheets covered with a damp cloth to maintain their pliability and prevent cracking.
Can I prepare the filling in advance?
es, you can make the filling ahead of time and refrigerate it; bring it to room temperature before assembling.
What should I do if the filo pastry tears while assembling?
If a sheet tears, gently press it back together or overlay with the other filo sheet; minor tears won’t affect the final result.
What should I serve with spinach feta cheese filo pastry pillows ?
Serve plain or drizzled with hot honey. For an Asian fusion take serve with the chef’s recipe for sweet chilli sauce.
What to serve with spinach feta cheese filo pastry pillows
Related recipes
