MEDITERRANEAN AND THEIR SPANAKOPITA

Mediterranean Cuisine

Mediterranean Cuisine is a variety of food from the European countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. This means it is influenced by countries and produce in Italy, Greece and Spain. It involves tomato, spring onion, olives, lamb, seafood, feta, greek yogurt etc. They use mostly fresh ingredients but enjoy more processed food like different cheeses.

1. Paella vs. Risotto

2. Bocconcini vs. Feta

3. Prawns vs. Octopus

Greek Recipes:

Spanakopita

Greek Salad

Baklava

Souvlaki

Moussaka

Bougatsa

Greek Yogurt

Roast Lamb

Saganaki

Tzatziki

Spanakopita Recipe

Ingredients

30ml olive oil

½ onion

½ bunch shallots, finely chopped

1 clove garlic

500g spinach

125g feta

75g ricotta

1 tbs parmesan

2 eggs

½ tsp nutmeg

6 sheet filo pastry

60g melted butter.

Method

Heat oil in a frypan, then add onion, shallots and garlic. Cook for 1 minute until softened, then add spinach and half the dill. Cook, stirring, over low heat for 1-2 minutes or until spinach has wilted. Drain in a colander and cool, then combine with cheeses, egg, nutmeg, salt and pepper.

Preheat oven to 180°C. Brush a 2 1/2-litre baking dish with butter. Lay one sheet of filo on base and sides and brush with butter. Repeat with 5 more sheets.

Spread cheese mixture over top. Cover with remaining filo, brushing each sheet with butter. Trim excess pastry with kitchen scissors and tuck edges into sides of dish. Brush top with butter and score in diamond patterns.

Bake for 45 minutes or until golden. Rest for 10 minutes. Warm remaining butter, add remaining dill and, when serving, pour over sliced spanakopita.

Evaluation questions:

How does this recipe associate with the mediterranean cuisine?

This is a greek recipe and the Mediterranean cuisine is highly influenced by the greek cuisine.

What is the functional property of the eggs in this recipe?

To bind all the dry ingredients together in the recipe.

What are the sensory characteristics of filo pastry?

It is a light and fluffy pastry that isn't too filling.

Describe the differences between filo, puff and shortcrust pastry.

Filo is a thin pastry, puff pastry puffs up when it is cooked and shortcrust is a simple plain pastry.

#MEDITERRANEAN #SPANAKOPITA