Cooking Class: Greek Longevity Dish- Spanakopatata
Dear Friend,
After many requests I’ve finally decided to share the recipe for what has slowly become famous at my Friends & Family Table parties, Spanakopatata, a version of Spanakopita (Greek Spinach Pie) considered a longevity pie and one of the reasons some Greeks live so long.
But first, the backstory.
Background
My brother, sister, and I, I imagine like every Greek child, think our mother makes the best Spanakopita. Even as a child, hating spinach and feta, I couldn’t shove it in my mouth fast enough because my siblings were doing the same until every last piece was gone. And that’s how it went for decades.
Then recently, my girlfriend, Ariel, was handed a warm piece of our sacred family dish and after swallowing got out three words, “Oh, My, God.”
Spanakopatata is born
Fast Forward- I wish I could take credit for inventing Spanakopapata, but it was Ariel that first made it soon after that first taste. Craving it late one night in her apartment, having all of the ingredients on hand except for phyllo dough, determined, she rummaged her pantry, saw she had some potatoes, sliced them thin, layered them, gently placed the filling on top, baked it, and it was love at first taste, for both of us.
Over the course of months Ariel and I tweaked the recipe, searching for consistent perfection. After many tastings, glad to suffer through the research, we were satisfied. That’s when we started serving it at my Friends & Family Table get-togethers. Our guests, scraping the last bits from their plates, asked, “Can I please have this recipe?” After sharing the recipe they suggested, “You should do a cooking class showing people how to make it.”
That brings us to today
I hope you join me as I share the foundation of a recipe that, for my family, goes back to Sparta Greece, tweaking it to make it even healthier (replacing the phyllo pastry with potatoes makes this dish gluten free) Spinach pie is considered a longevity food, the ingredients credited partly for the long, happy lives of the Greeks who prepare it for those they love.
If this sounds exciting and your mouth is watering, like mine, check out the details below.
Peter’s Spanakopatata Cooking Class
Wednesday, April 19th, 6:30Pm-8:30pm
(Can’t join live? No worries! You’ll get the recording so you can watch and prepare at your leisure.)
Equipment List
10 Inch cast iron skillet or other oven proof pan
Knife
Cutting board
2 of the largest mixing bowls you own
Heavy duty oven mitts
I’ll send ingredient list after you sign up See you in the kitchen!