Greece takes spinach pies very seriously
there isn’t just one “spinach pie,” but a whole family of regional styles. Here’s a tasty tour of the main kinds you’ll run into across the country:
Spanakopita (Σπανακόπιτα) – The classic
This is the famous one most people know.
What’s inside: spinach, feta, herbs (dill, spring onions)
Crust: usually flaky phyllo
Where: literally everywhere in Greece
Styles:
Big tray-baked pie for home meals
Individual triangles sold in bakeries
Vibe: crispy, salty, herby perfection
Hortopita (Χορτόπιτα) – Wild greens pie
Think of this as spanakopita’s countryside cousin.
What’s inside: a mix of wild greens (spinach plus foraged greens like chicory, sorrel, nettles)
Cheese: often no cheese at all (especially in fasting seasons)
Where: mountain villages and rural areas
Vibe: earthy, herbal, very “grandma foraged this at dawn
Spanakotyropita (Σπανακοτυρόπιτα) – Spinach + cheese pie
This one’s closer to spanakopita but more explicit about the cheese.
What’s inside: spinach + feta (sometimes other local cheeses too)
Difference from spanakopita:
In practice, people use the names interchangeably
Traditionally, spanakotyropita emphasizes the cheese more
Vibe: richer, creamier filling
Epirus-style spinach pies
Epirus is the pie capital of Greece. No exaggeration.
Crust: handmade, thicker, rustic dough (not delicate phyllo)
Filling: spinach, herbs, sometimes rice
Special style: strifti pita (spiral-shaped pie)
Vibe: hearty, mountain-food energy
Spiral & folded village pies
These aren’t separate recipes as much as traditional shapes:
Strifti pita: rolled into a big spiral
Four-folded pies: folded like envelopes
Pan pies: one big rustic sheet of dough
Where: common in Thessaly, Epirus, and villages across northern Greece
Vibe: practical, handmade, no two look the same
Fasting (vegan) spinach pies
These show up during Orthodox fasting periods.
No cheese, no dairy
Flavor boosters: onions, herbs, olive oil, sometimes rice
Where: everywhere during Lent
Vibe: simple, surprisingly flavorful, very Greek
Quick mental map
If you’re trying to categorize “all spinach pies in Greece” in a useful way:
By filling
Spinach + cheese → spanakopita / spanakotyropita
Spinach + wild greens → hortopita
Spinach only (fasting) → nistisimi (νηστίσιμη) pies
By crust
Phyllo (bakery, urban style)
Handmade rustic dough (village, Epirus style)
By shape
Tray-baked
Triangles
Spiral (strifti)
About the Author
