Saturday, January 11, 2020

Rustic Spinach, Feta and Haloumi Pie, a Scottish vegetarian recipe



This is the most delicious Spinach and Cheese Pie I have ever eaten, and I know that's a big call as I've eaten quite a few. Perhaps it's the grated haloumi that gives it the edge, and the garlic is a must my friends. Presentation can be as rustic as you like, feeds 4-6 easily, and is a cinch to make. It's a big pie.  I'm cleaning out my freezer, it needs to be done, so I used Puff pastry instead of shortcrust  because that's what I had and it didn't make a lot of difference. I always have packets of frozen spinach in my freezer as it is so easy to work with and easier than using fresh I find in this kind of savoury vegetarian pie.

This recipe brings back fond memories of a holiday  we had in Dunbar in Scotland nearly 13 years ago, with friends Alice and Lawrence, whom we met in Mackay when they were out here on a teacher exchange. Lawrence is a vegetarian, does most of the cooking, and I think it's fair to say that this is his signature dish. We lost contact for a while over the years as happens, and then this year I found their address and sent them a Christmas card and asked Lawrence if he still had the recipe. I have been craving the dish since I lost the recipe a few years after we came back from Scotland. Yes they sent me the recipe and a lovely letter and here is the pie, and we were so happy to eat it again. I hope you enjoy it too.

Food is such a form of connection and embedded in so many memories, and now I think of these dear friends every time I make this pie.

 Spinach Pie
Pre-heat oven to 170 C

Ingredients:
 500g frozen spinach thawed, and squeeze as much moisture from it as possible
1 onion thinly sliced
2 gloves of garlic chopped
1 packet of haloumi cheese grated (+ 1 packet of feta cheese crumbled - optional)
1 egg beaten with some creme fraiche or double cream, about 100 mls
Short crust pastry, enough to line a baking dish of your choice with 40-50 mm overlap at edges.

Method:

Mix spinach, onion, garlic, cheese(s), egg and cream all together in a bowl.



Roll out pastry and oil dish, line with pastry and add spinach filling spreading out to fill dish.






Fold over pastry and make rustic looking.



Bake in oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until set.



Enjoy with a simple and delicious  salad of your choice.



This is a very quick post my friends as more holidays are in the wind and there are a lot of things to do.
We feel very fortunate to be living in our part of the world, as so many people in our beautiful but
fire ravaged country are doing it so very tough.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
I will try to keep up with reading and responding to all of the blogs I love to read, and you know who you
are, and there will be some posts from me as technology and time allows as we are now down to one
 computer for a while.

Best wishes and please stay safe

 Pauline

An original recipe by  Happy Retirees Kitchen (c)2020.

28 comments:

  1. Another yummy recipe, Pauline. Thanks. How I would love to go to Scotland to see my family over there as Mum was born in Glasgow. I think we might be related to half of Scotland as one of my grandfather's sisters had 16 children :-)

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    1. Chel perhaps we are related being fellow Glaswegians, ha, ha. We love it there.
      There is a lot on my other blog about Glaswegian history if you have nothing better to do. https://artisticadventuresofthomasdudgeon.blogspot.com/. Thanks, Pauline

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  2. Such a perfect meal! Both savoury filling and that crust sound and look terrific!

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  3. Thanks Angie. It is the perfect meal. You would love it.

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  4. It looks so delicious. I love the combination of spinach and cheese.
    Thanks for the recipe, Pauline.

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  5. Pauline as I've wondered through life I've found that my greatest memories are usually connected to a food memory and I love having those moments. As we're pondering an early summer tour of Scotland and all the ingredients are in hand, this shall be our Sunday brunch today.

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  6. I'm so making this Pauline!! I am going through an absolute love affair with all things cheese at the moment :D

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  7. Hi again Paula. Just an update, we had the pie for brunch today and it was divine. We didn't have enough spinach, so I added broccoli steamed and well drained and sauteed mushrooms we needed to use. I add more cream and an egg and end up making a dough-less lower carb version. Images are up on my Instagram Lostinapot board. Oh,and referred viewers to your site for the recipe. Cheers.

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    1. Thanks so much Ron love the idea of your variation with this recipe. I'm with you, using whatever I have. Must check out your Instagram board. Best wishes , Pauline.

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  8. I've been cooking a lot of vegetarian dishes lately, but I hadn't considered spinach pie. And I love spinach pie! Thanks for reminding me, and thanks as well for the recipe.

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    1. Lovely to hear from you Jeff. I hope you enjoy the pie, but I know you well.

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  9. I shall try using haloumi next time I make a spinach pie. Sounds like a great choice :)

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    1. Thanks Tandy, yes I was trying to make it using other cheeses but haloumi makes the difference.

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  10. What a lovely dish! It's been ages since I've had a spinach pie, and suddenly I feel in great need of one. :-) This looks excellent -- thanks.

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  11. i do love a cheese and spinach pie, pauline! this looks lovely. i think you're right - use whatever pastry or cheese or veg. you have around the kitchen for these sorts of pies. Yum!

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    1. Thanks Sherry. Hope you have managed to make this and enjoyed it. Cheers, Pauline

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  12. oh yum how delicious! i adore spinach and cheese in a pie. I used to make it often but haven't done for years. i must give it another go. cheers sherry

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    1. Thanks Sherry. Hope you have given this one a try and loved it. Cheers, Pauline

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  13. Pauline, this is wonderful! I love spanakopita and this looks similar. I have never thought to add haloumi - great idea.

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    1. Thanks Marcellina. Just another variation on a wonderful theme of deliciousness.

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  14. I love pies made from spinach and cheese! Such a comforting combo of flavors. Puff pastry is a good idea -- makes for an easy dish. Very nice -- thanks.

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    1. Thanks KR. I'm quite late with replying, but I am back. This is the easiest pie, that's for sure.

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