Have you ever wondered how to prepare a meal spanakopita? What to eat with spanakopita can be a challenge, but if you look at the rich repertoire of Greek recipes, it’s easy to find the perfect pairing, blending beautifully with spinach, cheese and flaky phyllo.
Even those who know nothing about Greek cuisine will already know this classic, just one of the infinite Greek savory pies. Pita, as the Greeks call the general category of pies, is 100% soul food. It’s the dish that home cooks of old prepared both on special occasions and on Sundays, but also as part of the weekday diet, and today you’ll still see them on tables across the country.
As with many classic Greek recipes, not all parts of Greece enjoy the same repertoire of cakes. In some parts of the country, savory pies are similar to the national dish, while in others only one or two types of pies may be part of the local tradition. However, spanakopita’s versatility and flavor make it a favorite everywhere.
Spanakopita is a dish that measures the chef’s talent, requiring skill in preparing thin and crunchy layers of homemade phyllo dough and in creating a delicate but at the same time abundant and tasty pie. It helped feed large families when food was scarce, requiring basic ingredients that families almost always had on hand: flour, olive oil, cheese, and vegetables.
The regions most closely associated with savory pies are those where shepherds roamed, such as Epirus, Thessaly, Roumeli, and parts of Macedonia. These cakes have developed over the centuries to suit the itinerant lifestyle of shepherds, made with ingredients easily found in the mountains and able to keep well without refrigeration.
Pairing spanakopita with the right soup or salad can take your pie experience to the next level. Here are two main categories of pairings together with recipes to try:
What to eat with Spanakopita: Spanakopita combined with excellent Greek soups
Think full meals here, a soup and a cake, the perfect pair!
I like to consider both the flavors and color of different foods when pairing them, so anything that contrasts the earthy golden hues of a spanakopita phyllo crust and its dark green interior works well.
A favorite, especially as we approach spring, is a Greek salad gazpachowhich has all the delicious freshness of the classic Greek salad, but is blended into a thick, satisfying soup that you can also serve cold.
Tahini Carrot Soup with Greek Honey it’s a creamy, flavorful soup that complements the earthy tones of spanakopita while adding a touch of sweetness from Greek honey. The nuttiness of the tahini gives even more depth to these already excellent flavors.
And this Vegetable soup with borlotti beans, spinach and parmesan is a hearty vegetable soup with beans and spinach that brings warmth and comfort to your meal. I love the combination of flavors and textures, a beautiful pairing with the crispy layers of spanakopita.
What to eat with Spanakopita: Spanakopita and delicious Greek salad recipes
A classic Greek salad with a twist, my recipe for Greek salad with chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumbers and feta incorporates protein-rich chickpeas for added texture and flavor. The freshness of the vegetables and the tanginess of the feta cheese will provide a refreshing contrast to the richness of the spanakopita!
If you’re looking for something light and crunchy to pair with a slice of spanakopita, you’ll find it in this quick and easy Carrot Salad! And for something crunchy, crunchy but a little unusual, you might think about pairing this with a piece of spanakpita cauliflower and kiwi salad!
And here are the grilled courgettes Ikaria-Style Zucchini Salad adds a smoky flavor to this vibrant salad, while the combination of herbs and lemon juice adds brightness. This salad offers a lighter counterpart to the delicious spanakopita.
