The Start Menu

A great pie recipe for anyone wanting a tasty, nice-looking, meat-free meal. It’s really called, “Spinach Pie” but I’ve renamed my recipe to acknowledge the people on Twitter to whom I promised the recipe (This one is from Lynne)

Ingredients:

• 1 large bunch silverbeet or spinach (leaves only)
• 4 large zucchini (a.k.a. courgette)
• 2 medium-sized onions
• 500 grams grated cheese
• 11 sheets filo pastry
• butter
• handful of sesame seeds

Method:

1. Wash spinach (or silverbeet) leaves well.
2. Soak in sink of hot water until just softened (don’t let them get too soft).
3. Drain well and blot dry with a tea towel.
4. Slice zucchini and onions into thickish slices.
5. Fry in a small amount of butter until almost cooked.
6. Place 3 sheets of filo pastry in a greased baking dish.
7. Spread the zucchini and onion mixture on top of the pastry.
8. Spread all the cheese on top of the zucchini and onion mixture.
9. Pile the spinach or silverbeet leaves on top of the cheese.
10. Top the dish by placing 2 sheets of filo pastry over the filling and tucking it down the sides (inside the dish!)
11. Brush melted butter over the pastry.
12. Repeat another two times until the top has 6 sheets of filo in total.
13. Add a single sheet of filo pastry, brush with butter, then add the last sheet on top.
14. Finish off by brushing the surface with melted butter and sprinkling sesame seeds across the top.

Cooking Time:
Bake in a hot oven for approximately 15 minutes or until the pastry has turned golden brown.

Serves 4 – 6 people.

Note: Using the same quantity of pastry, 750 gram cheese and doubling the silverbeet, zucchini and onion this makes a good lunch dish for 12 people.
Enjoy!