Whenever Eric gets a chance on the weekends, he likes to watch cooking shows. Diane Kochilas’ My Greek Table is a favorite of his. When a recipe from the show sparks his taste buds, we recreate it for lunch or dinner. This recipe is one of them.

We enjoy Greek food and spanakopita is Eric’s favorite Greek dish. (Hence the large number of spanakopita-inspired dishes posted on this blog!) After watching the Spanakopita Grilled Cheese episode, we made it on the very next Sunday, when Andrew was coming for lunch. Any time we find a recipe for grilled cheese or mac & cheese that we want to recreate, we do so when Andrew is going to be joining us for a meal. (Andrew is our grilled cheese and mac & cheese connoisseur.) Eric called this recipe perfectly. We all loved it and make it often throughout Fall, Winter, and the lingering chilly days in Spring!

Spanakopita Grilled Cheese

Spanakopita Grilled Cheese (adapted from dianekochilas.com) Total Time Required: 25 minutes, Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 15 min, Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, trimmed and chopped
• 8  ounces (8 cups) fresh spinach, chopped
• 1 cup fresh chopped parsley and/or dill, combined
• salt and pepper to taste
• pinch of nutmeg
• 8 ounces (2 cups) Greek feta cheese, broken up into large chunks
• 8 (1/4-inch) slices bakery or homemade bread, preferably sourdough
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

Instructions:

Heat the olive oil in a skillet and sauté the onion until it is soft and lightly golden.

Start with the onion.

Add the spinach and cook until it is wilted.

Add the spinach . . .

. . . and cook to wilt it.

Remove the mixture with a slotted spoon and drain it well in a colander. Cool the mixture slightly.

Combine the spinach mixture with the fresh herbs. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg.

Add the herbs and seasonings to the cooled spinach mixture.

Mix in the feta.

Add the feta to the spinach mixture.

Spread the mixture onto 4 1/4-inch-thick slices of bread. Place the remaining four slices of bread on top. Butter the top slices with 1/2 tablespoon butter each.

Add the spinach mixture to the bread slices.

Heat a cast-iron or nonstick frying pan.  Add the sandwiches, one or two at a time, buttered side down, and cook over medium heat until golden on one side.

Add the buttered sandwiches to the skillet.

Butter the top sides with 1/2 tablespoon of butter each and carefully flip the sandwiches over to cook them on the other side, pressing down with a spatula. Cover the pan for a few minutes to help the feta melt.

Flip the sandwiches and continue cooking the other side.

Repeat with remaining sandwiches. Serve immediately.

Another masterpiece of Greek cooking!

This hits the spot!  ~Linda

Spanakopita Grilled Cheese (adapted from dianekochilas.com) Total Time Required: 25 minutes, Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 15 min, Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, trimmed and chopped
• 8  ounces (8 cups) fresh spinach, chopped
• 1 cup fresh chopped parsley and/or dill, combined
• salt and pepper to taste
• pinch of nutmeg
• 8 ounces (2 cups) Greek feta cheese, broken up into large chunks
• 8 (1/4-inch) slices bakery or homemade bread, preferably sourdough
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

Instructions:

Heat the olive oil in a skillet and sauté the onion until it is soft and lightly golden. Add the spinach and cook until it is wilted. Remove the mixture with a slotted spoon and drain it well in a colander. Cool the mixture slightly.

Combine the spinach mixture with the fresh herbs. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. Mix in the feta.

Spread the mixture onto 4 1/4-inch-thick slices of bread. Place the remaining four slices of bread on top. Butter the top slices with 1/2 tablespoon butter each.

Heat a cast-iron or nonstick frying pan.  Add the sandwiches, one or two at a time, buttered side down, and cook over medium heat until they are golden on one side. Butter the top sides with 1/2 tablespoon of butter each and carefully flip the sandwiches over to cook them on the other side, pressing down with a spatula. Cover the pan for a few minutes to help the feta melt. Repeat with remaining sandwiches. Serve immediately.