If you’re wondering what a spanakopita grilled cheese is keep reading! Who doesn’t love a grilled cheese. You know the classic one I’m talking about- with the yellow American cheese that you peel away from the plastic wrap? The cheese is then stuck between two slices of white bread that have been smeared with butter and grilled until perfection! Yes I admit to loving this American classic, and even feeding it to my kids. But sometimes I just want more. I’ve played with changing up the classic. Adding cheddar and fontina cheese, even throwing in sliced tomato. So I’m not a purist when it comes to grilled cheese. I really like any variety. Which is why I came up with something a little different. The Spanakopita grilled cheese!
What is Spanakopita? Spanakopita is a classic Greek savory dish often called spinach pie. It has layers of spinach cooked with garlic and shallots and feta cheese. The spinach filling is then stuffed into phyllo dough and baked until flaky and crispy. It’s so good! Which is why I thought the filling would be perfect inside a grilled cheese– and I was right!
In this recipe I sauté garlic and spinach together until wilted then I add in some fresh dill and crumbled feta cheese which becomes my filling. I’m using thick sourdough bread which is buttered on the outside. After you put the filling in the bread I top it with grated mozzarella cheese, because you need a melting cheese that will give you that “ooey-gooey” goodness that you expect in a grilled cheese. Using a griddle style pan I cook the sandwich until golden and crispy on the outside and oozing melted cheese on the inside. It’s really a match made in heaven.
Spanakopita Grilled Cheese
This grown-up grilled cheese is filled with sautéed spinach, garlic and feta cheese topped with mozzarella and grilled until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown and crispy.
Ingredients
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 tsp fresh dill, roughly chopped
- 5 oz (1 bag pre-washed) spinach
- 4 oz (1/2 cup) feta cheese, crumbled
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
- 4 slices of sourdough bread
- 4 tsp softened butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
Directions:
1. Warm oil in a large frying pan. Once warm add minced garlic and stir. Cook about 1 minute until you start to smell it.
2. Add half of spinach, stir to combine with garlic and oil. As it starts to cook and wilt down add the rest of the spinach. It will seem like a lot, but the spinach will cook down so its the perfect amount for 2 sandwiches. This will take about 3-5 minutes.
3. Season with 1/4 tsp each of salt and black pepper. Add dill and feta. Stir to combine. Remove from heat transfer to a plate and set aside.
Assemble Sandwiches
Using a clean surface or cutting board.
1. Butter the outside of 4 slices of bread. Turn the slices over and place buttered side down.
2. Next, add about 1/4 cup of grated mozzarella cheese onto 2 slices of bread.
3. Divide the spinach between the two slices of bread with cheese and place filling on top of the cheese.
4. Sprinkle another 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese on top of spinach mixture. Top with bread, butter side up. Time to cook!
Cooking the grilled cheese:
1. Heat a grill pan or wipe out the spinach pan from earlier.
If your pan is large enough add both sandwiches- butter side down. Cook for about 3 minutes until golden brown. Use a flat spatula or the bottom of another frying pan to press the sandwich down. Leave the pan on top of the sandwich. The weight from the pan will help the cheese melt and the bread get crispy and golden.
2. Then flip the sandwich and continue to cook until golden brown and the cheese is melted through. Use the frying pan to press the sandwich down on this side as well. Once golden brown and the cheese is melted remove from pan and cut in half and serve!
Makes 2 large sandwiches or 4 small.
Notes
- Dill has a distinct taste and to some people it may be a strong herb so feel free to scale back to 1 tsp. If on the other hand, you really love the herb use the full amount.
- I talk about using an additional frying pan to press down the sandwich while cooking. This helps the cheese melt and crsip up the bread. Be sure to wipe the bottom of the extra pan before you press down on the sandwich. If you don't have an extra pan do not worry, just use the back of a flat spatula to press down while cooking the sandwich.
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