What Sauces Go Best With Spanakopita (11 Best Options)
Spanakopita, a delicious Greek pastry filled with spinach and feta cheese, is a culinary delight cherished for its flaky layers and savory filling. But what if we told you that there’s a way to take this already delightful dish to the next level?
Comparison Table
| Sauce | Key Features | Review | |
| 1. | Tzatziki | Creamy, tangy, and refreshing Greek sauce; Made from yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, and dill; Pairs perfectly with spanakopita, cutting through the richness and adding zesty flavors. | Full Review |
| 2. | Tartar Sauce | Classic condiment with a tangy and creamy twist; Made from mayonnaise, pickles, capers, onions, lemon juice, and herbs; Complements spanakopita with contrasting yet delightful flavors. | Full Review |
| 3. | Tirokafteri | A fiery and flavorful Greek dip made from feta cheese, roasted red peppers, olive oil, and chili peppers; Adds a spicy kick to spanakopita, creating a harmonious and bold taste. | Full Review |
| 4. | Avgolemono Sauce | Traditional Greek sauce with a creamy and tangy flavor; Made from eggs, lemon juice, and broth; Enhances spanakopita with its velvety texture and citrusy taste. | Full Review |
| 5. | Red Pepper Crema | Creamy sauce featuring roasted red peppers, blended with sour cream or Greek yogurt, garlic, lime/lemon juice, and seasonings; Provides a vibrant and flavorful accompaniment. | Full Review |
| 6. | Garlic Aioli | Aromatic sauce combining garlic and mayonnaise for a rich and savory flavor; Complements spanakopita with its intense garlic taste, balancing the flaky pastry and creamy filling. | Full Review |
| 7. | Greek Yogurt (With Variations) | The creamy and tangy sauce pairs well with spanakopita, enhancing its flavors; Can be spiced up with ingredients like cucumber or lemon juice for refreshing variations. | Full Review |
| 8. | Basil Pesto | Vibrant and aromatic sauce made from basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil; Complements spanakopita with fragrant basil and nutty, tangy flavors. | Full Review |
| 9. | Lemon Dill Sauce | Bright and refreshing sauce combining lemon juice, zest, fresh dill, and a creamy base. Adds a zesty kick to spanakopita, enhancing the overall taste experience. | Full Review |
| 10. | Avocado Crema | Creamy and luscious sauce featuring ripe avocados, lime juice, cilantro, and garlic; Creates a luxurious contrast to spanakopita, adding a velvety and buttery element to the dish. | Full Review |
| 11. | Romesco Sauce | A bold and flavorful sauce made from roasted red peppers, tomatoes, garlic, almonds, and olive oil; Elevates spanakopita with its complex, smoky, and slightly sweet taste. | Full Review |
The secret lies in pairing it with the perfect sauce. A carefully chosen sauce can enhance the flavors, add an extra dimension, and create a culinary symphony with your spanakopita.
But how do you choose a sauce and which options will work best? Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. Our list today includes simple options like Tzatziki, Greek Yogurt, and garlic aioli. But, we’ve also included some more daring sauces like fiery tirokafteri, avocado crema, and romesco sauce.
Today, we will take a look at the best 11 sauce options that pair well with spanakopita. Some are more traditional pairings than others, but they all will work exceptionally well!
What Is Spanakopita?
Spanakopita is a delicious and savory Greek dish that will transport your taste buds to the sunny shores of the Mediterranean. It is often served as an appetizer or as a main course accompanied by a fresh Greek salad.
At its core, spanakopita is a phyllo pastry filled with a delightful mixture of spinach and feta cheese. It also usually includes some onions, garlic, and dill.
The filling is prepared by sautéing the spinach, onions, and garlic until tender and combining them with crumbled feta cheese, chopped dill, and various seasonings.
The mixture is then wrapped in layers of buttered phyllo pastry, creating a crispy crust when baked to golden perfection.
Do You Have to Serve Spanakopita With Sauce?
The decision of whether to serve spanakopita with sauce is ultimately a matter of personal preference.
While traditional spanakopita is typically enjoyed without a sauce, it can indeed be served with various condiments to enhance the flavors and add a touch of creaminess.
Arguably the most popular choice is tzatziki, a refreshing yogurt-based sauce that adds a tangy and creamy element to the dish. The garlic, cucumber, and dill in tzatziki provide a delightful contrast to the savory spinach and cheese filling.
Today, we will dive deep into the many, MANY options you can experiment with. Let’s get to it!
What Sauces Go Best With Spanakopita (11 Best Options)
The sauces that go best with spanakopita are listed and described in detail below.
1. Tzatziki
Tzatziki is a creamy, tangy, and refreshing Greek sauce.
It’s made from a heavenly combination of yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, and dill. However, there are some variations you can try as well.
This sauce pairs perfectly with spanakopita because it brings a cool and zesty element to the rich and flaky pastry. The tanginess of the yogurt and the freshness of the cucumber cut through the richness of the spinach and feta filling, creating a harmonious balance of flavors.
The garlic also adds a savory kick, while the dill lends a subtle herbaceous note.
2. Tartar Sauce
Tartar sauce is a classic condiment that adds a tangy and creamy twist to various dishes.
It is typically made from mayonnaise, pickles, capers, onions, lemon juice, and herbs like dill or parsley.
While tzatziki sauce brings a fresh and Mediterranean flair to spanakopita, tartar sauce offers a contrasting yet equally delightful pairing.
The tartness of the pickles and capers, combined with the creaminess of the mayonnaise, complements the richness of the spinach and feta filling in spanakopita.
The tangy flavors of the sauce help cut through the pastry’s flaky layers, providing a delightful contrast that enhances the overall taste experience.
3. Tirokafteri
Tirokafteri is a fiery and flavorful Greek dip that adds a spicy kick to any meal. It is made from feta cheese, roasted red peppers, olive oil, chili peppers, or hot pepper flakes. The ingredients are blended together to create a creamy and zesty dip.
When it comes to pairing with spanakopita, Tirokafteri is a match made in culinary heaven.
The bold and spicy flavors of this dip beautifully contrast with the milder and creamy taste of spanakopita.
Additionally, the chili peppers or hot pepper flakes bring a fiery punch, elevating the overall taste experience. But remember, if you make this sauce at home, you can easily adjust the level of spice to your liking!
4. Avgolemono Sauce
This is a criminally underrated sauce! Avgolemono is a traditional Greek sauce known for its creamy and tangy flavor.
It is made by combining eggs, lemon juice, and broth, typically chicken or vegetable broth. The sauce is gently heated and stirred to create a velvety texture with a delightful citrusy taste.
When it comes to pairing with spanakopita, Avgolemono sauce is a fantastic choice. The tangy and creamy nature of this sauce complements the richness of Spanakopita’s spinach and feta filling. You won’t regret giving this one a try!
5. Red Pepper Crema
Red pepper crema is a creamy and vibrant sauce that features roasted red peppers as the star ingredient.
It is made by blending these roasted peppers with sour cream or Greek yogurt, along with garlic, lime or lemon juice, and various seasonings. The result is a luscious and flavorful sauce with a hint of smokiness.
For a spicy twist, you can add a dash of cayenne pepper or a finely chopped jalapeño pepper. To enhance the herbaceous notes, you can incorporate fresh basil, cilantro, or parsley into the crema.
Additionally, you can experiment with different types of peppers, such as poblano or chipotle peppers, to create unique flavor profiles.
6. Garlic Aioli
A sauce that needs no introduction! Garlic aioli is a creamy and aromatic sauce that combines the rich flavors of garlic and mayonnaise.
It is created by blending fresh garlic cloves, lemon juice, and salt with mayonnaise until a smooth and velvety consistency is achieved.
When it comes to pairing it with spanakopita, garlic aioli is one of the best safe choices out there.
As mentioned before, the intense garlic flavor of the aioli complements the savory notes of the spinach and feta filling in spanakopita. And the tanginess from the lemon juice also provides a refreshing contrast to the flaky pastry.
7. Greek Yogurt (With Variations)
Greek yogurt is a fantastic choice to accompany spanakopita, despite its simplicity as a sauce. Its creamy and tangy nature complements the flavors of the dish perfectly.
Greek yogurt is distinct from other plain yogurt types because it undergoes a straining process that removes the whey, resulting in a thicker and creamier texture.
If Greek yogurt is not readily available, double-thick plain yogurt can be a suitable alternative. It shares similarities with Greek yogurt in terms of texture and creaminess.
When using either option, you can spice up the yogurt sauce by adding refreshing ingredients like cucumber or a squeeze of lemon juice.
8. Basil Pesto
Basil pesto is a vibrant and aromatic sauce that originates from Italian cuisine. It is traditionally made by blending fresh basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil.
The fragrant basil complements the earthy flavors of the spinach in spanakopita, while the garlic adds a savory kick. The nuttiness from the pine nuts and the tanginess of the Parmesan cheese provide additional layers of complexity to the dish.
As a variation or alternative, you can try sun-dried tomato pesto. This alternative offers a sweeter and tangier flavor profile compared to traditional basil pesto.
9. Lemon Dill Sauce
As you have probably noticed by now, spanakopita is a dish that works well with citrussy, tangy, and herbaceous flavors. So, what simpler way to incorporate all of them than by making a lemon-dill sauce?
This sauce is a bright and refreshing sauce that combines the vibrant flavors of lemon and dill. It is typically made by mixing lemon juice, zest, fresh dill, and a creamy base such as yogurt or mayonnaise. The result is a tangy and herbaceous sauce that adds a zesty kick to various dishes.
For a creamier texture, you can use Greek yogurt or sour cream as the base instead of mayonnaise. This will give the sauce a tangy and velvety consistency.
Adding a hint of garlic can bring a savory note to the sauce. You can also experiment with additional ingredients like capers, chopped cucumbers, or a touch of honey to create unique flavor profiles. These variations allow you to customize the lemon-dill sauce to suit your taste preferences and to complement different dishes.
10. Avocado Crema
An avocado crema is a creamy and luscious sauce that features the smooth and buttery goodness of ripe avocados. While we haven’t discussed avocado as a flavor pairing with spanakopita yet, avocado crema works wonderfully alongside it.
This sauce is typically made by blending ripe avocados with lime juice, cilantro, garlic, and a touch of salt. The result is a silky and flavorful sauce with a hint of citrusy tang.
The creamy texture of the avocado creates a luxurious contrast to the flaky pastry of spanakopita, adding a velvety element to each bite. The mild and buttery flavor of the avocado harmonizes well with the savory spinach and feta filling, creating a delightful combination of tastes.
11. Romesco Sauce
Romesco sauce is a bold and flavorful sauce originating from Catalonia, Spain. It is known for its robust taste and vibrant red color.
The base of the sauce is made from roasted red peppers, tomatoes, garlic, almonds, and olive oil. These ingredients are blended together with a touch of vinegar and spices to create a complex and harmonious flavor profile.
When it comes to pairing with spanakopita, romesco sauce offers a delightful contrast. The smoky and slightly sweet flavors of the roasted red peppers and tomatoes complement the earthy spinach and savory feta cheese filling in spanakopita.
The garlic adds a pungent kick, while the almonds bring a pleasant crunch and nuttiness. The tanginess from the vinegar adds a bright note, tying all the flavors together.
The richness and depth of romesco sauce elevate the overall taste experience of spanakopita. It’s bold flavors and unique blend of ingredients create a harmonious combination that adds an exciting twist to the traditional dish.
