Whip up a light and airy Mini Spinach Pie for the perfect savory appetizer that will wow your kids and your party guests!
Mini Spinach Pies are the ideal, finger food dish for fun parties and also for warm, comfort food snacking! Tender and airy dough pockets, filled with sautéed spinach, spices, onion and crumbled feta cheese, these Spinach Pies are a Middle Eastern-inspired dish that everyone can’t help but love.
I Never Make Enough
For years I struggled with how much food to make for our family get-togethers and ended up not making enough. Maybe I’m underestimating my amazing culinary skills, but most likely it’s because I’m afraid that some people may not love a dish as much as I do and so I shouldn’t make four plates of it. But these are my people. So of course. they love everything and before you know it, I’m out of food. That’s the beauty of these Mini Spinach Pies! This recipe makes a lot and the leftovers are so good! So even if my friends don’t finish them off, my kids will. Spinach Pies are fun to make and so easy to eat. I carry one in each hand as I mingle and then find my way back to the snack table when I’m empty-handed!
Other Recipes to Serve with Spinach Pies
- Crock Pot Spinach Artichoke Dip is the tried, true and loved appetizer that is the perfect dip at every party.
- Spinach Balls is another way to showcase how delicious spinach is! These are poppable and dippable- a big party win!
Ingredients
For the Dough: You’ll be using the dough recipe from My Mamaw’s Dinner Rolls to make the dough for the Spinach Pies. You will need flour, dry active yeast, sugar, salt, oil, butter, and water to make the dough.
Veggies: You will need two frozen packages of spinach, fresh onion, and garlic.
Cheese: What cheese goes better with spinach than feta? You can purchase a block of feta or pre-crumbled feta.
Seasoning: You will need salt and pepper as well as a little nutmeg.
How to Make Spinach Pies
STEP ONE: Prepare the dough according to directions and while the dough is rising begin work on the spinach filling. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil, and when hot, add the onion and cook until softened. While the onions are cooking, squeeze the water from the thawed spinach well- you don’t want wet spinach. Add the garlic to the onions and cook for one minute and then add the spinach.
STEP TWO: Season the spinach with salt and pepper, to taste, and add the nutmeg. Cook for 3-4 more minutes and then allow the spinach to cool. Once it is cool you can add the crumbled feta cheese and stir to mix.
STEP THREE: To make the dough pockets, divide the dough into 32 even pieces. On a floured surface, roll out each ball to make a 2 to 3-inch square or circle. In the middle of each square, spoon one tablespoon of the spinach filling.
STEP FOUR: Fold the dough in half over the filling, or you can fold the corners to the center over the filling. Then pinch the seams closed and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
STEP FIVE: Cook the Spinach Pies in a 375 degrees F oven for 20-25 minutes until they’re golden brown. Let the Spinach Pies cool a bit and then enjoy!
Tips for Success
- Make sure you squeeze all of the water out of the frozen spinach. If there is too much liquid left in the filling, the dough will become soggy and not very good eats.
- Mamaw’s Rolls recipe is so simple and makes really delicious dough so even if you’ve never made dough before, don’t worry, this is pretty fool proof and so worth it!
- Roll the small dough balls pretty flat and on the thin side so that the dough makes an airy pocket around the filling.
How is this different from Spanakopita?
Spanakopita is another delicious Mediterranean dish that is perfect for spinach lovers. The Spinach Pies featured here are like hand pies, where the spinach is fully enclosed in dough. Spanakopita uses layers of phyllo dough and spinach to make a wonderful, flakey dish.
How long can I store Spinach Pies?
Spinach pies can last up to 7 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. In the freezer, these mini spinach pies will last for up to 3 months. Whether you refrigerate or freeze them, make sure to place parchment paper between the layers of pies so that they don’t stick together. You can thaw them in the fridge or in the microwave when you’re ready for a snack.
More Delicious Ways To Include Spinach In All Your Meals
- Spinach Stuffed Chicken
- 25 Spinach Recipes
- Spinach Parmesan Pasta with Chicken
- Spinach Artichoke Dip Sliders
- Spinach and Mushroom Quiche
*This post was originally posted on 02/20/2014.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 1 cloves garlic minced
- 20 ounces frozen chopped spinach thawed and squeezed dry in paper towels
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ cup feta cheese crumbled
- 1 batch Mamaw's Rolls dough recipe (see note)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
Filling
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute, stirring constantly.
- Add the spinach to the skillet. Stir to combine. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg and mix. Cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and allow the spinach mixture to cool. Add the feta cheese and stir to combine.
Assembly
- Divide the prepared dough ball in half. Divide each half into half portions until you have 32 balls of dough. (By dividing the dough over and over you get equal pieces instead of trying to eyeball it from the start.)
- Flatten a dough ball on a floured work surface and stretch it into a square or circle about 2 to 3-inches across. (You'll get different pie designs depending on the shape you choose.)
- Place 1 tablespoon of the spinach filling into the center of the dough square.
- For square dough, pick up the corners and pinch the seams together over the filling. For circle dough, fold one side of the dough over the other to make a half-moon. Place the pies onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until the pies are lightly browned. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before serving warm or at room temperature.
Bonnie says
Could pie dough be used?