Kreatopita Greek Meat Pie Using Phyllo Pastry Food

GREEK MEAT PIE (KREATOPITA)

Steps:

• To make the filling for this traditional Kreatopita, heat the olive oil in the bottom of a large heavy bottomed, lidded saucepan or casserole dish set over a medium high heat. Salt the meat well and fry the meat in batches until well browned, adjusting the heat if necessary to make sure you don't get burnt bits on the bottom of the pan. Set the meat aside.
• Lower the heat to medium low. Finely chop the onion and gently fry it along with another pinch of salt in the fat leftover from the meat for 6-8 minutes until the onion has softened and started to brown. Peel and crush the garlic cloves and add them to the onion, cooking for a further minute until aromatic.
• Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another minute or two until slightly caramelised. Roughly chop the tomatoes and stir them in too, cooking for another few minutes until they start to break down. Add the dried marjoram.
• Add the wine and allow to reduce by half. Add 200ml / 3/4 cups water, and turn up the heat to bring the filling up to a boil. Reduce to low, clap on the lid and leave to simmer for an hour, until the meat is tender.
• Roughly chop the herbs and stir them into the pie filling, along with the uncooked rice. Leave to cool to room temperature.
• Check the seasoning of the cooled pie filling, adding pepper and more salt if necessary.
• To assemble the Kreatopita, pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius / 350 Fahrenheit and liberally butter your deepest square baking dish roughly 22 cm / 9 inches square.
• Divide the puff pastry block into two, one half slightly smaller than the other to make the lid.
• On a well floured surface, roll the larger pastry block out into a large square, large enough to comfortably line the dish with a few centimetres / at least 1/2 inch to spare above the filling line. Use this to line the dish, using your fingers to push the pastry into the corners.
• Spoon in the filling. Lightly beat the egg, and brush the exposed edge of the pastry along the top.
• Grate the cheese and sprinkle it evenly across the top of the pie filling.
• Roll out the second block of pastry and top the pie with it, pressing down to seal the pastry along the egg wash line and trimming off any excess. Brush the top with egg wash and cut two small holes in the middle of the pie to allow steam to escape.
• Bake for 1 hour until the pastry is golden. Leave to stand for 15 minutes before cutting and serving. Enjoy!

GREEK MEAT PIE RECIPE (KREATOPITA)

Steps:

• In a pan over medium-high heat, warm up some olive oil.
• Once hot, add in the onions cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Next, add in the ground beef, break apart and brown.
• Once the meat is brown, add in oregano, dill, pepper, some salt, and tomato paste, mix everything together.
• Add in the wine and reduce.
• Add chicken broth and reduce.
• Once all liquid has been reduced, remove from heat and empty into the bowl.
• Add in the feta and egg - mix well.
• Set meat mixture aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 F.
• Brush a square baking pan with some melted butter.
• Unroll the phyllo sheets and lay them flat.
• Cut the phyllo sheets to match the size of your baking dish.
• Take one phyllo sheet and lay it in the baking dish.
• Brush with some melted butter and lay another sheet down of phyllo.
• Brush that with butter and repeat six more times (phyllo, butter, phyllo).
• After the 8th phyllo sheet, pour the meat mixture into the pan and smooth out evenly.
• Now, repeat Steps 14 and 15, placing 8 more phyllo sheets over the meat mixture.
• When done, score top and place in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Remove, cut, and serve hot!

TRADITIONAL GREEK FILO MEAT PIE (KREATOPITA)

Steps:

• For the meat filling: heat the olive oil in a large skillet under medium-high heat. Cook the onion for a few minutes and then add the garlic. Cook for two minutes more until softened and lightly browned.
• Add the ground beef to the skillet and brown well, breaking it up as you go with a wooden spoon. Stir in the seasonings and spices and cook for a few more minutes.
• Add the tomato passata and the water and reduce the heat. Simmer the mixture until most of the water is evaporated but it is still moist. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Stir in the fresh parsley and set aside to cool completely.
• For the yogurt-egg mixture: in a small bowl, stir the yogurt, egg, and cooled melted butter together and set aside.
• Turn on the oven to 375°F.
• For the filo: open the thawed filo packet and unroll it. Remove one layer of filo and place on a clean surface. Cover the remainder of filo with a tea towel while you work so the rest of the stack does not dry out.
• Lightly brush the surface of the filo with some of the yogurt mixture (you do not have to cover every inch). Repeat with a second layer of filo, and brush that too with some of the yogurt mixture. Top with a third layer of filo, but do not brush that layer with the yogurt mixture.
• Place one third of the cooled meat mixture along the left edge of the filo stack. Gently roll up the filo towards the right side, making sure the log is not rolled too tightly.
• Gently twist the filo log to form a spiral. Lift it carefully and place it in a heavy bottomed skillet lined with parchment paper. Create a second and a third filo log following the same procedure. Continue forming the spiral by placing each log inside the end of the previous one. It does not have to be perfect!
• Brush the top of the spiral with some melted butter, or olive oil, sprinkle with some sesame seeds, and bake for about 40 minutes, or, until the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven, slide into a platter, and let it cool. Cut into wedges and serve with a nice, green salad.

GREEK MEAT PIE (KREATOPITA)

Steps:

• Filling: Place sliced onion in a colander. Pour salted boiled water over them, rinse and drain well.
• Add onions to a coated pan and fry for 2 minutes.
• Add beef, cinnamon, salt and pepper and stir well.
• Add 1/2 cup of water and boil until just the mixture is left.
• Transfer mixture to a mixing bowl and cool.
• Prepare béchamel Sauce by melting butter in small pan whisk in flour and add hot milk. Whisk.
• Add 3 eggs, cheese, bread and béchamel sauce to the filling and set aside.
• Pastry: Combine the pastry ingredients, except for the egg yolk/milk, in a mixing bowl.
• Knead it into a pliable, non-sticky dough.
• Separate the dough into 2 balls, one slightly larger than the other.
• Take the larger ball and roll out enough to more than cover your oven dish. Place it in a buttered pie pan, covering the bottom, and sides, going slightly over the edge at the top.
• Now place the filling on top of the crust and level it.
• Roll out the second dough ball and cover the filling.
• Butter the edge of the bottom crust and fold it over inwards to cover the edge of the top crust and make a border by pressing the edges with your fingertips.
• Mix the milk and egg yolk and brush the surface with the mixture.
• Poke a hole in the middle to allow the steam to escape and stick the rest of the pastry with a fork.
• Place in a preheated oven at 325F degrees for about 45 minutes, until it is golden brown.