Air Fryer Spanakopita — A delicious, healthy alternative to traditional frying is the air fryer. Spanakopita is a Greek dish made with spinach and cheese in a phyllo dough wrapper. This recipe uses an air fryer to make it healthier and tastier than ever before!
Air Fryer Spanakopita is a savory Greek pastry made with phyllo dough sheets and stuffed with spinach and feta. It’s a great and easy lunch and makes a great appetizer.
If you are familiar with Spanakopita, you know it’s a Greek pastry. It’s one of the most iconic Greek dishes. It is also known as Greek Spinach Pie. So, if you love Greek food or love a great savory dish, this is a great and easy way to make a homemade Greek Spanakopita.
If you have ever been to Greece, you will see people walking around with pieces of Spinach Pie; it’s a really common snack.
What is Spanakopita?
In Greek, Spanakopita translated means Spinach Pie. In Greece, spanakopita is served as a snack.
The inside of spanakopita is filled with deep rich spinach, which has been usually sauteed with some garlic and combines the flavor of cottage cheese, feta, parmesan cheese, and some seasonings. It is all wrapped in phyllo dough. Which gives spanikopita the flaky texture it is known for.
Spankioital in Greece is usually prepared like a lasagna, as more of a casserole dish. But in America, we usually cut the pastry into triangles.
What is Phyllo Dough?
Phyllo dough is a very common item used in Meditteran Cooking. It is sometimes pronounced filo, and it is the same dough used in baklava. It is a great dough to use in the Air Fryer because it crisps up nicely and gives a great buttery texture and flavor.
Note: Phyllo dough is not the same as puff pastry. Although you will find them in the same exact spot in the grocery store. Both doughts are located in the freezer section of the grocery store.
Ingredients In Spanakopita
For each ingredient’s exact measurement, go to the very bottom of this post, Where you can print out a recipe card with the specific ingredients and amounts.
- Olive Oil
- Minced Garlic
- Baby Spinach
- Cottage Cheese
- Feta Cheese
- Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Egg White
- Fresh Dill
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Phyllo Dough
- Olive Oil Spray
How To Make Spanakopita
Specific and detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.
In a medium-sized skillet, add olive oil, and then add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Add the spinach and cook until wilted, about 1-2 minutes. Add to a small mixing bowl, let cool.
Mix in the cottage cheese, feta, parmesan, egg white, dill, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well combined.
Place on sheet on phyllo dough onto a clean work surface. Brush with the remaining olive oil, add another sheet on top, and brush with more olive oil repeat until you have 4 layers.
Cut the dough into 6 equal-sized sections. Add about one tablespoon of filling at the bottom of the strips. Fold the dough over to form a triangle. Continue to roll the triangle over until you have a small pouch.
Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F, air fryer setting, spay the basket with olive oil spray. Place the bundles into the air fryer without crowding the basket. Spray the tops of the spanakopita with olive oil, air fry for 5 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway, and spraying again.
Some Common Questions Asked About Air Fryer Spanakopita
Should You Use Fresh Or Frozen Spinach?
Whether you’re opting for fresh or frozen, the spinach must be cooked down to form our filling so be sure to saute it with onions as instructed above.
Using Frozen Spinach In This Recipe:
While I used fresh spinach in my recipe, you can easily substitute it for frozen spinach; it needs to be thawed completely. When you thaw spinach, there will be a lot of water, so it is essential to drain the spinach and keep on squeezing it until it’s completely dried out.
Using Fresh Spinach In This Recipe:
I used fresh spinach in my recipe. Some pointers if you use fresh spinach in your spanakopita. It is important to trim the stems off of thing spinach before cooking them. Otherwise, you will be biting into something hard. Since the stems are harder than the leaves.
What Can I Serve Air Fryer Spanakopita With?
While spanakopita is usually served as a side dish, you can pair it out with anything. My favorites would be a great side of rice or even a great air fryer lamb chop dinner. And if you are looking for more air fryer appetizers, here are some of my favorites:
SOME PRODUCTS USED IN MAKING THIS RECIPE-
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Philips Premium Air Fryer XXL with Fat Removal Technology, Black, HD9630/98
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Air Fryer Spanakopita is a savory Greek pastry made with phyllo dough sheets and stuffed with spinach and feta. It’s a great and easy lunch and makes a great appetizer.
- 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 5 ounces baby spinach
- 2 tablespoons cottage cheese
- 2 tablespoons feta cheese
- 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg white
- 1 teaspoon dill diced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 8 sheets phyllo dough thawed 9×13
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In a medium-size skillet over medium-low heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Once hot, add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add the spinach and cook until wilted, constantly stirring for 1 or 2 minutes. Place the mixture in a medium-sized bowl and let cool.
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Once cool to the touch, add the cottage cheese, feta, parmesan, egg white, dill, salt, and black pepper, mix until combined fully, set aside.
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Place one sheet of the phyllo dough on a clean work surface. Brush highly with the remaining olive oil, add another sheet on top, brush with olive oil, repeat until you have four sheets layered.
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Cut the dough into 6 evenly sized sections. To do this, cut three strips lengthwise, then cut them in half.
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To make the bundles, add about 1 tablespoon of the filling at the phyllo dough strips’ bottom. Fold the dough over to format triangle, continue to roll the triangle repeatedly until you form a little pouch, and make sure that the is a little excess dough at the top to seal the edge.
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Repeat with the remaining phyllo sheets and filling.
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If your air fryer requires preheating, preheat it to 375 degrees F, air fryer setting. Spray the basket of the air fryer with the olive oil spray. Place the bundles into the air fryer, not touching, seam side down. You will have to cook them in batches.
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pray the tops with olive oil spray, air fry for 5 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway through until golden brown on the outside.
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Repeat with the remaining bundles.
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Plate, serve, and enjoy!
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