Alon Shaya's Spanakopita with Collard Greens & Jalapeño

5.0
2 Ratings

Alon Shaya

Test Kitchen-Approved
Alon Shaya's Spanakopita with Collard Greens & Jalapeño

Photo by Rocky Luten

Serves
10 to 12
Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
1 Hour 15 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pound collard greens
  • 1 1/2 pound mustard greens
  • 1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 yellow onions, chopped
  • 2 jalapeños, seeds and pith removed, minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup raw pine nuts or chopped raw walnuts
  • 1 cup lightly packed fresh dill fronds, chopped
  • 1 cup lightly packed fresh mint leaves, chopped
  • 3 cup crumbled feta, preferably Bulgarian
  • Grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 pound phyllo dough, defrosted
  • 1/2 pound unsalted butter, melted (2 sticks)
  • 3/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese

Featured Video


This recipe is featured in the story, Spanakopita Gets a Southern Twist Thanks to Collard Greens & Jalapeños, sponsored by Bosch.


Directions

  • Step 1

    Stem, devein, and finely chop the greens. Add them a handful at a time to a pot with the water and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until they’ve significantly reduced in size and any moisture has evaporated, about 20 to 25 minutes. Drain and allow the greens to cool to room temperature.

  • Step 2

    Meanwhile, heat the oven to 375° F with a rack in the center of the oven. Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and cook onions, jalapeño, garlic, and pine nuts until the onions and pine nuts have started to brown.

  • Step 3

    Add the dill and mint to the cooked greens. Stir in the cooked nuts and vegetables, feta, lemon zest, juices, and spices and finally add the egg.

  • Step 4

    Gently unroll the phyllo dough. Put aside half of the sheets for the top crust, and cover them with a dish towel or a loose sheet of plastic wrap so they don’t dry out. Brush butter all over one of the remaining sheets; press it into the bottom and up the sides of an approximately 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Repeat with the rest of the phyllo that you’ve kept for the bottom crust, and spread the filling inside in an even layer.

  • Step 5

    Stack another sheet of phyllo over the filling; brush the top of this one with butter, and sprinkle 1 generous tablespoon of Pecorino Romano evenly over it. Repeat with the rest of the phyllo, but don’t sprinkle cheese over the very top of the pie. Don’t worry about ripping (it’s inevitable, and there are so many layers that no one will notice), but be sure that you save an intact piece for the top.

  • Step 6

    Depending on the dimensions of your phyllo dough’s sheets, there may be some overhanging crust; if there is, tuck the edge under itself. Use a sharp knife to score five diagonal slits through the top crust (but don’t push down past the filling).

  • Step 7

    Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, rotating about halfway through. It’s done when it’s deeply brown and crisp all over the top. Let cool for a few minutes. To serve: Cut it diagonally, perpendicular to the scores you made before baking.

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