Cauliflower Spanakopita Melt

This Cauliflower Spanakopita Melt is the best of both worlds—the flavors of a classic Greek dish in a handy sandwich. Antioxidant-rich cauliflower and spinach get a flavor upgrade from earthy garlic, herby dill and sweet shallots. Briny feta cheese and funky fontina become all melty and hold everything together between two slices of nutty whole-wheat bread that get a marvelously crisp exterior from grilling on a hot skillet. Keep reading for our expert tips, including how to ensure everything cooks evenly.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

• Drain as much liquid as possible from the spinach after cooking it to prevent soggy sandwiches.
• If you cook the sandwiches in a skillet, place a second skillet on top to weigh them down. This will help them cook evenly by applying consistent pressure.
• You can use Cheddar cheese or your favorite melting cheese instead of feta and fontina.
• You can make this sandwich using whole-wheat pita bread instead of regular sandwich bread.

Nutrition Notes

• Cauliflower doesn’t exactly fit the “eat the rainbow” motto, but that doesn’t mean it’s not full of nutrition. It is, after all, one of the cruciferous vegetables, which are known for their disease-fighting phytonutrients. Plus cauliflower is low-carb and high in fiber, which will keep your gut happy.
• Spinach is a great leafy green to include in this sandwich because it holds up well to the heat. It’s also packed with antioxidants that support healthy eyes and vision and is rich in bone-strengthening vitamin K. 
• Cheese is what makes this sandwich a melt and provides that ooey-gooey factor. It also brings bone-building calcium and muscle-building protein to this sandwich. And because cheese is fermented, it adds some gut-friendly bacteria to your intestines—and those bacteria will happily nosh on the fiber in the veggies and whole-wheat bread. 
• Whole-wheat bread makes up the foundation of this handheld meal. The fiber in it not only feeds your gut’s beneficial bacteria but also helps make this sandwich filling and satisfying.