I hired Chef Christina to make a special private dinner for my wife and I for my wife's birthday . Melopita is a traditional honey pie/cake from the island of Sifnos in the Southern Aegean. The pic below is of grilled octopus with nectarines and arugula. For that recipe, George the other of the farm, who taught the class made fresh cheese from goats’ milk. Italian Ricotta Pie is a classic, traditional recipe – often served at Easter. box-shadow: 0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.12), 0 2px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.12), 0 4px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.12), 0 8px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.12), 0 16px 16px rgba(0,0,0,0.12); Christina did our seated holiday dinner and she was amazing! Part custard, part cheesecake, a Honey Pie or Melopita (meh-LOH-peeta) is so versatile that you will find yourself trying it many ways. If the dough immediately starts to crack once you start rolling, it’s too cold—give it a few more minutes to warm up. #zrdn-recipe-container .zrdn-color {color:#000000;} Christina created the perfect Christmas dinner for 14 foodies. background-color: #000000; Let the pie cool before you turn it out of the cake pan. I have many dietary. I have partnered up with Bob’s Red Mill to bring you this fabulous recipe, but all opinions are my own. Sweet Greek Personal Chef and Culinary Services Los Angeles, CA, Personal Chef and Culinary Services in Los Angeles, CA — Recipes, Healthy Meals, Cooking Classes. It’s traditionally made crust less but I decided to make it into a pie as I love my honey pies. This Tiropita, also known as a Greek Cheese Pie, is a traditional and popular European treat!A cheese pie made with bechamel sauce, feta cheese, and ricotta between flaky, buttery layers of … Top each pie with 8 narrow strips of dough or cookie cut-outs. This particular dough behaves a little better or is a bit easier to roll out if done immediately. Every course was amazing. Once you pull it out of the oven you can spread more honey on top and dust it with cinnamon.⁣ I was going to make an apple compote to go with it, but the pie is already sweet enough and does need much to accompany it, especially if you garnish it with tangy pomegranate seeds like the photo. Remove the parchment and beans. In a large bowl, … Tiropita (or tyropita) is a Greek pie made from layers of phyllo dough that are filled with a cheese and egg mixture. More importantly, the food was healthy and delicious. We hired Christina as a private chef for a special occasion dinner party for 12 and were thrilled with the. Place the spinach in a large bowl. #zrdn-recipe-container ul.zrdn-counter li:before { ⁣, ⁣Let cool and then flip out and flip back over onto a serving plate. We even got to meet the goats that day. The most popular pie or pita in Greece is the tiropita or as you may know it: Greek cheese pie. This is a traditional Greek honey pie with a twist on the pie part. REDUCE oven temperature to 350°F Pour filling into pie crust and carefully transfer to oven and bake for an additional 25 - 35 minutes or until the filling is just set and middle of it still has a bit of jiggle. Required fields are marked *. } Pour the ricotta filling evenly into the pie crusts. Or, you can make it in one large pan and cut into serving portions, like you do for Kotopita. Apple Cheddar Sage Scones. In a large frying pan or wide saucepan over medium flame, heat two tablespoons of olive oil and cook the onions and spring onions until soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. This Greek honey ricotta pie (melopita) is made up of a simple, light and fluffy filling with a texture between a cheesecake and a baked custard. Can't recommend her enough! Kalitsounia (or Lichnarakia) are traditionally made with the fresh soft variety of myzithra cheese (not the salty type), but if you can't find it, try them with some Italian mascarpone or When it comes to the original recipe for this honey ricotta pie, it’s naturally gluten free. This is definitely a time to use your senses. Because this pie is sweetened with honey and then served with honey, it’s good to choose a wild blossom honey which has a richer flavour and adds so much more  to this pie. 21 November 2020. Hi! Christina is a wonderful chef! #zrdn-recipe-container ul.bullets li:before, #zrdn-recipe-container ul.zrdn-bordered li:before{ I'd definitely book her again. She made us many delicious dishes and we highly recommend her! If the edges crack as you roll simply patch them as needed. To blind bake a single pie crust: Preheat the oven to 400˚F. continue reading. You can use a springform pan if you don’t feel comfortable flipping.⁣. Her service was brilliant, we decided a menu together. Stir in spinach mixture. Everybody’s oven is different so it’s hard to estimate exact times. In-Home Personal Chef and Meal Prep Services, Private Parties and Events in Los Angeles, https://mysweetgreek.com/recipes/dessert/melopita-greek-honey-pie-with-ricotta-cheese/, Shrimp Santorini, Baked Shrimp with Tomato and Feta Cheese, Whisk or use a hand mixer to combine all the pie ingredients.⁣, ⁣Grease an 8-inch cake pan with butter and dust with corn starch.⁣, ⁣Pour pie mixture in and bake at 375° for about an hour until it is brown on top and set in the center. Melopita (Greek Honey Pie with Ricotta Cheese) Honey and cheese is almost all you need for a delicious Melopita — Greek Honey Pie. The traditional tiropita recipe calls for feta cheese. color: #000000; Cover with boiling water and stand for 1 minute, or until spinach has wilted. As you embark on making the Melopita, you’ll find it’s a super easy recipe to make. In fact, there really aren’t many occasions when a big fresh piece of spinach and feta pie (called spanakopita in Greece) doesn’t do the job. I’ve been making this recipe a lot lately. Making it into a pie gives it extra texture in each bite with its buttery crisp crust. (Make sure to cover edges with foil or use a pie crust shield if edges are getting to golden). The base of it is anthotyro cheese (you can use ricotta) which you mix up with aromatic honey and eggs. Just make sure that the pie gets brown all over and is set in the middle. Everything was so delicious, we were literally licking our plates. #zrdn-recipe-container ul.zrdn-solid li:before{ It’s great for pies and also great for galettes or to top savoury pot pies with. There must be a reason why this Spanakopita — Traditional Greek Spinach Pie — is loved in … Pour over a couple tbsp water, then cook until just wilted. Once I roll it out I fit it in my pie plate and crimp it and then I allow it to rest for 1 hour or overnight in the fridge before I bake it. Its golden brown out the oven and served with extra honey spread on top and dusted with cinnamon.⁣. Extremely soft and highly addictive! Prepare the filling for the tiropita. All rights reserved. Bake 5-10 minutes longer, or until light golden on the bottom. Prick the bottom of pie with a fork a few times then refrigerate 30-60 min. Give the dough a pinch - if it sticks together, it’s ready. Heat the oil in a pan and cook the chopped onions for 5-10min or until transparent. I usually refrigerate it first for 1 hour so that it’s stiff enough not to damage while wrapping it for the freezer. Spanakopita is one of the most famous Greek dishes and is easy to make. It’s only slightly different than the original recipe that hails from the island of Sifno but it’s just as delicious over a buttery flaky crust. Christina exceeded all of our expectations! The crust can be blind baked up to 1 day in advance. Basically, mix everything together, turn it out into the baking pan, and bake. This filling is mildly spiced. Creamy honey ricotta filling baked in a buttery flaky pie crust. Choose one with a strong flavor that you like. You will smell it and notice the color. Tip into a … Spanakopita can be made as a "pie… } border: 2px solid #000000; The filling will be as good as your ricotta is so make sure to choose a creamy rich ricotta to go into this pie. Melopita is a traditional honey pie/cake from the island of Sifnos in the Southern Aegean. We loved this light and creamy pie - now if only we can be transported to a Greek island… Your email address will not be published. In a large bowl, stir together onion, drained spinach, ricotta, feta, jack cheese, eggs, dill, parsley, salt … It’s the perfect pie dough if you are looking for a gluten free alternative. Thank you for supporting Olive & Mango. Sweet Greek Personal Chef Services © Copyright 2020. https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/greek-spinach-and-feta-pie-spanakopita It’s a special 1-to-1 blend of gluten free flours,starches and xanthan gum. Greek spinach pie with feta cheese (spanakopita) is made with flaky phyllo sheets layered with a savory spinach and feta cheese filling. Set aside to cool. Layers of flaky phyllo dough paired with smooth and flavorful spinach-feta filling, make this Spanakopita (Traditional Greek Spinach Pie) a great lunch or light dinner. Serve with a generous amount of extra honey and dusting of cinnamon. Prepare the filling for the tiropita. It’s just the right sweetness if you are like me and prefer desserts that are more mildly sweet. Drizzle apple cider vinegar in along with only ½ of the water. – Allow pie to cool for a few minutes then place on serving dish. #zrdn-recipe-container ol.zrdn-solid li:before, #zrdn-recipe-container {background-color:#ffffff;}#zrdn-recipe-container {border-color:#000000;}#zrdn-recipe-container, #zrdn-recipe-container h2, #zrdn-recipe-container h3, #zrdn-recipe-container h4 {color:#000000;} #zrdn-recipe-container ol.zrdn-bordered li:before, Greek Honey Ricotta Pie (Melopita) 23 November 2020. } Christina arrived on. Go to any Greek bakery, or Greek party, and you’d be shocked if there wasn’t some kind of feta and spinach pie on offer. weeks before (with vegan and gluten free options), she came with everything she needed and even cleaned up after. It’s just too bad I don’t have fresh goat’s milk on hand to make my own cheese!⁣. was flexible with her menu, accommodated a couple guests with special dietary needs, had flawless execution through each course, served everything on time with great presentation and most importantly, did everything with a smile and was a pleasure to have in our home! The menu ran the gambit from shrimp saganaki, to baked zucchini cakes, to some insanely tasty avocado, potato, garlic dippy thingy, to braised short ribs that fell off the bone. Allow to cool completely on rack before slicing and serving 1-2 hours. Tiropita: Greek Cheese Pie. She recently published a cookbook and had multiple suggestions at the ready for a four course meal and dessert, including vegetarian options. Lightly oil a 23cm square baking tin. Saute onion, spring onions and garlic … An easy substitute and one I often use is fresh ricotta. Feel free to use an infused one with this pie too if you have one you love like a lavender or citrus infused one. Watch this authentic Greek recipe for Spanakopita, or spinach pie! I took my favorite basic pie dough recipe and literally substituted the all purpose flour with Bob’s GF 1-1 one. The original recipe calls for anthotyro which is a soft, ricotta like cheese. She is very sweet and also very professional! Usually, we make a huge pan of it to feed all of the people we entertain. There were some specific menu needs that needed to be met and she was professional and easy to communicate with throughout the planning process. It makes 2 pie dough discs, so I usually freeze one for another pie or galette. You can learn more about me, Creamy honey ricotta filling baked in a buttery flaky pie crust, one 9 inch pie (dough recipe makes 2 pie doughs), 1 tablespoon sugar (optional; can be omitted for savory crusts), 2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted, butter cubed, 2 cup (600 grams) soft myzithra cheese (or ricotta), ½ cup (150 grams) honey (wild blossom preferably), Extra honey and cinnamon to serve (I decorated mine with honey comb), Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour, Classic Pumpkin Pie With No Shrink Pie Crust, Roasted Turkey Breast Roulade With Cranberry Herb Stuffing, Place flour, and sugar, in a food processor and pulse to combine. I wanted to keep it that way when making it into a pie so I made a simple gluten free pie crust for it. You shouldn’t need to exceed the remaining ¼ cup. color:#000000; Please enjoy the recipes on this site and contact me for more information on my services. In a medium bowl, mix together eggs, ricotta, and feta. } Perfect for quick breads like cookies, brownies and cakes and pies. 23 Nov, 2020 Greek Honey Ricotta Pie (Melopita) Joanne Rappos desserts Creamy honey ricotta filling baked in a buttery flaky pie crust Greek Flavours, Greek fusion Greek, honey, pies, sponsored. #zrdn-recipe-container { Not only does it help identify what kind of pie it is but it’s an extra treat to enjoy with the pie. The first time I made Melopita was on Narlis Farm in Sifnos  this summer. Using wax or parchment paper, place one dough disc onto one sheet, flatten with palm, place another sheet on top and roll out to the desired size. Bake 15-20 minutes. On the night of the event, her execution was impeccable. Leftovers can be wrapped and refrigerated for a few days. While spanakopita is equally popular, tiropita is the preferred pie for all times of the day and most often for breakfast. color: #000000; restrictions and she was able to create wonderful meals with those restrictions in mind. Empty dough onto a lightly floured surface and shape into a ball. I’m also making it for one of my Los Angeles personal chef clients for their Rosh Hashanah dinner. You can make it like a pie with a bottom and/or top crust. I am a professional chef, cookbook author, recipe developer, and journalist based in Los Angeles, California. Bake (par bake) at 400°F for 10 minutes then remove and brush the bottom and edges of crust with egg wash. And allow to cool while you make your filling. ), Place a piece of parchment paper or foil into pie plate over dough and fill with pie weights. https://www.themediterraneandish.com/spanakopita-recipe-greek-spinach-pie time, was polite and professional, and cleaned up afterwards. Your email address will not be published. Add the feta cheese and stir with a wooden spatula (constantly) until all of the feta melts (about 4-5 … I love serving mine with some honey comb over it. If the dough has been in the fridge for several hours, let it sit at room temperature until softened. I am greek and have been making spanakopita for years .Ricotta is unheard of in this pie and parsley .you already have dill and green onion .Eggs for helping the ingredients hold together ,I use bread crumbs to absorb liquid which spinach gives off.Olive oil and of course crumbled feta .If you use store bought filo dough ,use the thick country style as the other is to be used for pastry . Like so many of the other passed-down recipes that we’ve recreated here on A Family Feast, this 100+ year-old family recipe was vaguely written, and it lacked some exact ingredient measurements.So – it actually took us three attempts to get this Italian Ricotta Pie recipe just right! ⁣Garnish with more honey and a dusting of cinnamon, and pomegranate seeds (optional). Add the spinach and cook for 3min or until wilted. Lightly grease the base and sides of a 22cm round spring form tin. Appetizer / Entree / Recipes / Salad / Side Dish, Appetizer / Greek Food / Recipes / Side Dish / Vegetarian. Spanakopita History: Where Did Greek Spinach Pie Come From? continue reading. Or I will also often times add a shot of brandy for extra flavour. Although this is called a honey pie in Greek, its does feature cheese in it. Line the crust with a large piece of parchment paper then pour in dried beans or pie weights to completely cover the bottom. You can also try it as a tart. Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces and form each into a flat disk. result. She arrived on time, prepared with everything she needed. This was our first experience hiring a private chef and we were so. Preheat the oven to 200°C. She was organized and efficient in the kitchen, and most importantly, whipped up a mouth watering meal at significantly less cost than if we had hosted this event at a restaurant. The Dinner Ladies spinach fetta and ricotta pie This is a low-fat, rustic take on a traditional Greek spanakopita, with ricotta replacing some of the feta and just one spritz of olive oil on the pie’s ruffled top instead of the quite unnecessary – though we’d have to … I’m Joanne, and welcome to Olive & Mango where I cook delicious and (mostly) healthy food that anyone can make. 1. Pulse a few times or until dough mixture starts to come together and looks shaggy. Melopita is a traditional honey pie/cake from the island of Sifnos in the Southern Aegean. Remove the top sheet and invert into pie pan peeling the second piece off after. Tiropita can be made as individual pastries, like we did here. https://www.food.com/recipe/tiropita-greek-savoury-cheese-pie-59884 This dish is one of Greece’s best known and is a family favourite around the world. Spanakopita (Greek Spinach Pie) is a staple dish that our family serves for just about every holiday and gathering. Tender scones with crunchy edges and a good blend of sweet and savoury flavours. Lay 1 sheet of phyllo … Follow. – Place mixture into baking dish and cook for 45 minutes in a 200 degrees (preheated oven). Preheat oven to 180 C / Gas 4. https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/cheese-recipes/spinach-feta-filo-pie Place eggs and honey in a large mixing bowl and blend well with a mixer with a whisk attachment until pale in colour and fully. It is not uncommon to see signs in coffee places advertising a breakfast combo of coffee and tiropita . #zrdn-recipe-container ol.zrdn-counter li:before, Often called Spinach and Cheese pie and a great vegetarian Greek dish this feta cheese pie recipe will be an instant family favourite. The word “melopita” basically translates as honey pie. This traditional tiropita recipe, calls for three different kind of … We had one vegetarian in attendance and Christina prepared her a special dish. #zrdn-recipe-container .zrdn-bg-color {background-color:#000000;}. My company, Sweet Greek Personal Chef Services, tantalizes palates in Los Angeles and beyond with full culinary services, recipe development, cooking classes, and Greek-themed pop-up dining experiences. My recipe is based on what we made. Them mix in the vanilla extract, lemon juice, corn starch and cinnamon. These delicious little cheese pastries (kalitsounia) are a holiday tradition from the island of Crete. The top will be deeply golden. (Wrap one tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze until you need a pie crust, thaw in the refrigerator overnight before using.). This recipe has been passed down in my family for generations. Add the ricotta and mix until smooth. When I use all purpose flour I allow the dough to rest or fully hydrate in the fridge overnight. https://philosokitchen.com/spanakopita-recipe-greek-spinach-pie impressed. Feel free to increase the amount of vanilla extract or cinnamon in it according to taste. } This year my husband Pantelis and I spent our first Greek … The only difference when it comes to this GF pie dough is that you roll it out right after you make it. https://www.food.com/recipe/spinach-ricotta-pie-with-a-hint-of-feta-51557 Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. #zrdn-recipe-container .zrdn-tag-item a, #zrdn-recipe-container .zrdn-tag-item{ (Or you can cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight night or if wrapped well it can be frozen in the pie plate for up to 3 months. I used Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour for the crust which is a straight 1-1 swap for all purpose flour. 5 stars all the way. Or you can make it without a crust entirely as it is enjoyed on the island of Sifnos in Greece. Add the cold butter over the flour and pulse until the mixture looks crumbly with larger, pea-sized chunks of butter. Many other versions use a soft myzithra/mizithra cheese too. – Add crumbled ricotta, rice flour, vanilla, honey and lemon juice to bowl and mix for another minute. Brush top of pie with milk for shine, if desired. It was pleasure having her in our home, her food was delicious and everyone was very happy! If not, drizzle in more water 1 tbsp at a time. Inspiring ideas for delicious home cooking, This Greek honey ricotta pie (melopita) is made up of a simple, light and fluffy filling with a texture between a cheesecake and a baked custard. #zrdn-recipe-container {border-style:solid;}#zrdn-recipe-container a {color:#000000;}#zrdn-recipe-container {border-width:2px;}#zrdn-recipe-container {border-color:#000000;}#zrdn-recipe-container {border-radius:3px;} I would highly recommend Christina to anyone looking for a special night, catering, or someone who needs a chef on a regular basis. It rolls out quiet easily and nicely. Put the spinach into a large pan. Prick the bottom all over with a fork. https://www.yummly.com/recipes/greek-spinach-pie-with-feta-cheese