Description
A festive and delicious bread shaped like a Christmas tree, filled with spinach and feta. Perfect for holiday gatherings!
Ingredients
Scale
- 500 g all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (7 g) instant dry yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 240 ml warm water
- 60 ml olive oil
- 250 g frozen spinach, thawed and well-drained
- 200 g feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds or poppy seeds (optional)
- 2 tbsp melted butter (optional, for brushing after baking)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, instant yeast, sugar, and salt. Add the warm water and olive oil, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 5–7 minutes, until smooth and elastic. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 45 minutes or until doubled in size.
- In a bowl, combine the well-drained spinach, crumbled feta, minced garlic, black pepper, oregano, and parsley. Mix thoroughly.
- Punch down the dough and divide into 32 even pieces. Flatten each piece into a small disc.
- Place about 1 tsp of filling in the center of each disc. Pinch the edges to seal, forming a ball.
- Arrange the filled balls seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet in a Christmas tree shape: start with one ball at the top, then each subsequent row increases by one ball, forming a triangle (e.g., 1, 2, 3… up to 7 balls for the base row). Use any extra balls for the tree trunk at the bottom.
- Brush the tops with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds if desired.
- Bake for 22–25 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Remove from oven and brush with melted butter, if desired. Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Ensure the spinach is well-drained to prevent soggy bread.
- This bread can be made ahead of time and reheated before serving.
- Feel free to add other herbs or spices to the filling for additional flavor.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg