Savory Delight: Weight Watchers Greek Spanakopita

Indulge in the richness of Greek flavors with our Weight Watchers Greek Spanakopita—a delightful combination of spinach, feta, and filo pastry that brings the essence of the Mediterranean to your table. Crafted with a mindful approach to Smart Points, this recipe ensures you savor each piece guilt-free. Dive into the culinary journey of creating this wholesome dish, balancing taste and wellness seamlessly.

Preparation Prelude: Begin your culinary adventure by preheating your oven to a welcoming 190°C. In preparation, lightly spray a 23 cm pie dish with olive oil, setting the stage for the layers of flavors to unfold.

Spinach Symphony:

  1. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a spacious non-stick frying pan over medium heat.
  2. Allow the English spinach, coarsely chopped, to dance in the pan for 3–4 minutes until it gracefully wilts. Transfer the spinach to a colander, cool, and gently press to bid adieu to excess liquid.

Shallots and Garlic Ballet:

  1. In the same pan, grace it with the remaining olive oil over medium heat.
  2. Introduce the thinly sliced shallots and crushed garlic, letting them pirouette for 2–3 minutes until softened. Transfer this aromatic blend to a grand bowl.

Feta Flourish:

  1. Stir in the wilted spinach, crumbled feta, cottage cheese, eggs, and a touch of fresh dill into the bowl.
  2. Season this verdant concoction with a sprinkle of salt and pepper, ensuring a harmonious balance of flavors.

Filo Fantasy:

  1. Lay a sheet of filo on your culinary canvas, lightly misting it with olive oil. Repeat this ethereal process with the remaining filo sheets, each placed at a 45-degree angle.
  2. Embrace the layered filo with finesse, easing it into the pie dish. Let the filo drape over the sides, promising a golden embrace.

Mediterranean Melody:

  1. Pour the spinach mixture into the filo pastry shell, creating a symphony of textures and flavors.
  2. Engage in a filo ballet, folding overhanging layers to cover the filling completely. A gentle mist of olive oil adds a golden crescendo.

Baking Sonata:

  1. Allow this culinary masterpiece to bake for 40 minutes or until the filling achieves a perfect set, and the top resonates with a golden brown opulence.

Nutritional Notes: Delight in each serving, as it delivers approximately 140 calories, 6g of total fat, 2g of saturated fat, 74mg of cholesterol, 208mg of sodium, 13g of total carbohydrates, 2g of dietary fiber, 2g of sugars, and 7g of protein.

Weight Watchers Smart Points Performance: Witness the harmonious alignment of flavors and wellness with approximately 3 Smart Points per serving across all three plans—Blue, Green, and Purple.

Culinary Versatility: Feel free to customize the Smart Points values based on your ingredient choices. For precise calculations, consult the Weight Watchers app or materials to ensure an accurate representation of your culinary creation.

Conclusion: Our Weight Watchers Greek Spanakopita isn’t just a dish; it’s a culinary journey through the Mediterranean, bringing together the freshness of spinach, the richness of feta, and the crispness of filo pastry. As you savor each bite, relish in the fact that this creation isn’t just a recipe; it’s an experience—a testament to the artistry that can be achieved in your own kitchen. Elevate your cooking endeavors with this Greek Spanakopita, a flavorful treat that seamlessly marries the joy of eating with the wisdom of mindful choices.

Servings: 12 (serving size: 1 piece)

Ingredients:

  • Olive oil spray
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil (3 Smart Points)
  • 2 bunches of English spinach (about 400g), trimmed and coarsely chopped
  • 4 green shallots, thinly sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 75g reduced-fat feta cheese, crumbled (3 Smart Points)
  • 1 cup 97% fat-free cottage cheese (5 Smart Points)
  • 4 medium eggs (8 Smart Points)
  • 1 tbsp. fresh dill, chopped
  • 8 sheets of filo pastry (48 Smart Points)
  • Olive oil spray (for misting)
  • Cherry tomatoes (250g), halved
  • Green string beans (150g), trimmed and halved
  • ½ small red onion, thinly sliced

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 190°C. Lightly spray a 23 cm pie dish with olive oil.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large, deep non-stick frying pan over medium heat.
  3. Cook the spinach for 3–4 minutes until wilted. Transfer to a colander placed over the sink, cool, and press to squeeze out excess liquid.
  4. Heat the remaining olive oil in the same pan over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic and cook, stirring, for 2–3 minutes until softened. Transfer to a large bowl.
  5. Stir in spinach, crumbled feta, cottage cheese, eggs, and dill. Season with salt and pepper.
  6. Lay a sheet of filo on the bench and lightly spray with olive oil. Repeat with remaining filo, placing each sheet on top of the last, at a 45-degree angle. Ease the layered filo into the pie dish, allowing filo to overhang the side of the dish.
  7. Pour the spinach mixture into the pastry shell. Fold overhanging filo over the filling, overlapping to cover completely. Lightly spray with olive oil.
  8. Bake for 40 minutes or until the filling is set, and the top is golden brown.

Weight Watchers Smart Points per Serving:

  • Blue Plan: Approximately 3 Smart Points per serving
  • Green Plan: Approximately 3 Smart Points per serving
  • Purple Plan: Approximately 3 Smart Points per serving