There’s something utterly irresistible about the crisp, golden layers of phyllo dough hugging a rich, savory spinach and feta filling. This Best-Ever Spinach Feta Phyllo Triangles Recipe is my go-to for gatherings and cozy nights alike—light, flaky, and bursting with flavor in every bite.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Best-Ever Spinach Feta Phyllo Triangles Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Best-Ever Spinach Feta Phyllo Triangles Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Best-Ever Spinach Feta Phyllo Triangles Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Making the Best-Ever Spinach Feta Phyllo Triangles Recipe at home feels like a little culinary celebration every time. It’s deceptively simple, yet impressive, crunchy on the outside and creamy with herbs on the inside. Trust me, once you try it, these triangles will steal the show.
- Perfect texture: The phyllo bakes up crisp and flaky, providing a delightful contrast to the soft spinach and feta filling.
- Fresh and flavorful: A mix of fresh herbs like dill and parsley brings brightness that elevates the filling.
- Make-ahead friendly: You can prep these ahead and bake just before serving, perfect for stress-free entertaining.
- Versatile snack or meal: These triangles work brilliantly as appetizers, lunchboxes, or a light dinner with a salad.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient in the Best-Ever Spinach Feta Phyllo Triangles Recipe plays an important role, creating harmony between textures and flavors. Using fresh, well-drained spinach and good-quality feta makes a huge difference, and don’t skimp on the fresh herbs—they lift the filling beautifully.
- Fresh spinach leaves: Wilted and drained thoroughly, they provide a moist yet firm base for the filling.
- Onion & green onions: Adds sweetness and subtle crunch, deepening the flavor profile.
- Garlic: Just a touch to punch up the savory notes without overpowering.
- Fresh parsley & dill: Herbs make this filling sing with freshness and aromatic lift.
- Feta cheese: Crumbled and creamy, it delivers the salty tang that makes these triangles truly irresistible.
- Egg: Binds the filling and enriches its texture.
- Phyllo dough sheets: Thin, delicate layers that puff and crisp to perfection when brushed with butter.
- Butter & olive oil: Butter keeps the phyllo flaky and golden; olive oil is used to sauté veggies and wilt spinach beautifully.
- Salt & pepper: Essential for seasoning, so don’t forget to taste and adjust before folding everything in!
Make It Your Way
I love playing around with the herbs and occasionally swap out the dill for mint or add a sprinkle of nutmeg to the filling to deepen its warmth. Feel free to make this recipe your own—whether you want it vegetarian, a little more garlicky, or even add some chopped walnuts for texture.
- Variation: Adding sautéed mushrooms or caramelized onions gives an earthy sweetness that’s super comforting.
- Dietary tweak: You can use a plant-based feta and vegan butter to make a dairy-free version that still works wonderfully.
- Seasonal twist: Toss in chopped fresh spring herbs or even some finely grated lemon zest for a bright, seasonal flavor.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Best-Ever Spinach Feta Phyllo Triangles Recipe
Step 1: Wilt and Drain the Spinach
I start by heating a bit of olive oil in a large pan and adding half the fresh spinach, letting it wilt down gently before adding the rest. This batch cooking ensures no overcrowding, giving you soft, evenly cooked spinach with no bitter or raw spots. Once wilted, I transfer it to a colander and press out as much water as possible—it’s crucial to dry the spinach well, otherwise your filling gets soggy.
Step 2: Sauté the Onions and Herbs
Next, wipe out the pan and add a touch more olive oil. The onions go in first to soften and develop sweetness. Then I toss in the green onions, garlic, parsley, and dill for just 30 seconds to keep their fragrance fresh and vibrant. This step layers flavor beautifully before combining everything.
Step 3: Mix Filling Ingredients
In a large bowl, I combine the sautéed veggies, chopped spinach, crumbled feta, and the beaten egg. Salt and pepper to taste is a must; the feta adds saltiness, but you still want to taste and adjust. Mixing by hand ensures you keep some texture in the spinach and herbs without mashing everything into a paste.
Step 4: Prepare the Phyllo and Assemble
Phyllo dough can be a little intimidating if you haven’t worked with it, but it’s mostly about gentle handling and keeping it covered so it doesn’t dry out. Lay down a sheet, brush with melted butter, then layer another sheet and butter again. Cut into 3-inch strips and place a spoonful of filling at one end.
Fold the dough over the filling diagonally to form a triangle, then keep folding like a flag down the strip until you reach the end. A little butter brushed on last seals the deal and helps the triangles brown beautifully.
Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection
Arrange the triangles on parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving space between so they crisp evenly. I bake them one tray at a time in a 375°F oven for 18 to 20 minutes. Watch for that gorgeous golden color and listen for the flaky crunch before pulling them out. Serve warm for ultimate satisfaction.
Top Tip
From countless batches of these triangles, I’ve learned a few tricks that really boost your success rate and flavor every time you make the Best-Ever Spinach Feta Phyllo Triangles Recipe. Keep these tips in your back pocket!
- Don’t skip draining the spinach: Excess moisture is the biggest culprit behind soggy phyllo, so squeeze the spinach until it’s almost dry.
- Fresh herbs matter: Dill and parsley give a freshness that dried herbs just can’t replace—always use fresh when you can.
- Butter is your best friend: Generous butter brushing between phyllo layers creates that irresistible flaky texture and golden color.
- Work quickly but gently: Phyllo dries out fast, so cover unused sheets with a damp towel and handle it delicately to avoid tears.
How to Serve Best-Ever Spinach Feta Phyllo Triangles Recipe
Garnishes
I often sprinkle a little freshly chopped parsley or a pinch of flaky sea salt on top right before serving. For a bright pop, a few lemon wedges on the side are fantastic—they cut through the richness and add a fresh zing that wakes up your palate.
Side Dishes
These triangles pair beautifully with a simple Greek salad or a cucumber-yogurt tzatziki dip. I also love serving them alongside roasted vegetables or a rustic tomato soup for a cozy meal.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, I like arranging the triangles in a circular pattern on a large platter, garnished with fresh herbs and bright edible flowers for an elegant touch. Cute little toothpicks skewering each one make them perfect for finger food—always a hit at gatherings.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover triangles in an airtight container in the fridge, layering parchment between them so they don’t stick. They keep well for up to 3 days and reheating brings back the crisp nicely.
Freezing
One of my favorite hacks: make a big batch, freeze them raw on parchment-lined trays, then transfer into bags. When you want them, bake straight from frozen with a few extra minutes—still perfectly flaky and delicious.
Reheating
To reheat, I pop the triangles into a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes to crisp them back up. Microwaving works too, but you lose that lovely crunch, so oven is my preferred method for leftovers.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, you can substitute frozen spinach, but make sure to thaw it completely and squeeze out as much moisture as possible to avoid soggy filling. The flavor might be slightly different, but it works well in a pinch.
The key is to keep the phyllo dough covered with a damp kitchen towel or plastic wrap when you’re not working with it. Handle each sheet gently and brush it thoroughly with melted butter to keep it pliable and help it crisp up nicely when baking.
Absolutely! Use a vegan feta-style cheese and replace the butter with a plant-based alternative. For the egg, you can try a flax egg or omit it—just make sure to press the filling well so it holds together. The texture and flavor will be slightly different but still delicious.
The best way is to reheat them in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes. This restores the crispiness of the phyllo. Avoid microwaving if you want to keep that flaky texture, as it tends to make the dough soggy.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly joyful about sharing the Best-Ever Spinach Feta Phyllo Triangles Recipe with family and friends—the way the flaky dough shatters with each bite and the filling teases your taste buds with savory herbs and salty feta. This recipe feels like a warm hug wrapped in golden layers, and I hope you find the same comfort and delight I do every time I make it. Don’t hesitate to dive in and experiment; your kitchen will thank you for it!
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Best-Ever Spinach Feta Phyllo Triangles Recipe
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 30 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Spanakopita recipe features a savory mix of sautéed spinach, caramelized onions, fresh herbs, and tangy feta cheese, all encased in crispy, golden phyllo dough triangles. Perfect as an appetizer or a hearty snack, these buttery, flaky pastries are a traditional Greek delight that will impress any crowd.
Ingredients
Filling
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided use)
- 2 pounds fresh spinach leaves
- ½ cup onion (finely chopped)
- ½ cup green onions (thinly sliced)
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
- 8 ounces feta cheese (crumbled)
- 1 egg (lightly beaten)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Phyllo and Butter
- 1 pound phyllo dough sheets (thawed)
- ¾ cup butter (melted)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Cook the spinach: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add half the spinach to the pan and cook until wilted. Add the remaining spinach and continue cooking for 3-4 minutes until all spinach is wilted.
- Drain and chop spinach: Remove the spinach from the pan and let it cool slightly. Wring out excess water thoroughly and coarsely chop the spinach.
- Sauté onions and herbs: Wipe out the pan with a paper towel. Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add finely chopped onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in green onions, garlic, parsley, and dill, cooking for an additional 30 seconds to release flavors.
- Combine filling ingredients: Transfer the sautéed onion mixture to a bowl along with the chopped spinach, crumbled feta cheese, and lightly beaten egg. Season generously with salt and pepper. Stir until thoroughly combined.
- Prepare the phyllo dough: Unroll the phyllo dough onto a flat surface and keep covered with plastic wrap or a damp towel to prevent drying out. Lay out one sheet with the long side facing you and brush it generously with melted butter.
- Layer dough sheets: Place a second sheet on top of the first and brush it with butter as well. Cut the layered dough vertically into 3-inch wide strips.
- Fill and fold triangles: Place 1 ½ teaspoons of the filling at one end of each strip. Fold one corner of the strip over the filling to form a triangle. Continue folding the strip over itself in triangle shapes, like folding a flag, until the end of the strip is reached. Brush each completed triangle with melted butter.
- Arrange and bake: Place the triangles 1 ½ inches apart on the prepared sheet pans. Bake one pan at a time for 20 minutes or until golden brown and crisp on top.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve the spanakopita triangles immediately while warm and flaky.
Notes
- Keep phyllo dough covered with plastic wrap or a damp towel while working to prevent it from drying out and becoming brittle.
- You can substitute the fresh spinach with frozen spinach if pressed for time; just make sure to thaw and squeeze out all excess water before using.
- For a richer flavor, brush the phyllo layers generously with butter, but you can use olive oil as a lighter alternative.
- Spanakopita triangles can be prepared ahead of time and baked just before serving to keep them crispy.
- This recipe works well as an appetizer, snack, or even a light main course paired with a fresh salad.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 triangle
- Calories: 72 kcal
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 127 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 24 mg
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