Middle Eastern Lamb Pies Food

SPICED MIDDLE EASTERN LAMB PATTIES WITH PITA AND YOGURT

Steps:

• For the sauce:
• In a small bow, whisk the yogurt with the lemon juice. Stir in the chopped herbs, season with salt and refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the patties and pita:
• In a bowl, use your hands to mix together all of the ingredients, except for the pita. Form the mixture into twelve 3-inch oval patties (about 1 inch thick). Arrange the patties on a plate and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, until firm
• Preheat a grill for at least 10 minutes and prepare it for grilling over moderately high heat. If you are using a charcoal grill, leave one area where you can grill the pita indirectly.
• Oil the grill grates and grill the patties until dark brown grill marks form on the bottom, 5 to 6 minutes. Flip the patties and grill for 4 to 6 minutes longer, until just cooked through.
• Meanwhile, wrap the pita in foil and set the package on the top shelf of a gas grill or in the cooler spot of a charcoal grill and allow them to warm through, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Wrap 2 or 3 patties in each pita, spoon some of the yogurt sauce alongside and serve with herb sprigs, passing the remaining yogurt sauce at the table.

MIDDLE EASTERN LAMB PIES

Steps:

• Heat the oil in the frypan and saute onion for 1 to 2 minutes until just softened and then add garlic and lamb mince and cook for 5 minutes or until lamb mnce has browned.
• Add spices and tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
• Blend flour with the stock and then add to the lamb mixture and simmer for 5 to 6 minutes until thickened and then season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat oven to 200C, 180C fan forced.
• Spray a sheet of filo with oil, top with another sheet and spray with oil, fold sheets in half and cut into 4 squares, repeat with remaining filo.
• Push the filo squares in 12 x 1/3 cup capacity greased muffin pans and fold in edges slightly.
• Bake in a hot oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden.
• Combine the cream cheese with half the mint.
• Spoon the lamb filling into the filo cases and dollop with the cream cheese mix and sprinkle with remaining mint and pine nuts.
• Serve immediately.

MEDITERRANEAN MEAT PIES (SFEEHA)

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and stir in the ground beef and ground lamb, chopped onion, pine nuts, cinnamon, and salt and black pepper. Cook and stir until the meat is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease.
• Stir in the lemon juice; taste and adjust the seasonings, and let the meat mixture cool.
• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper.
• Roll out the thawed pastry sheets to about 1/8-inch thickness. Using a sharp 3-inch round cookie cutter, cut out at least 9 rounds per sheet. Lightly brush the inside edges with a little water, and place about 2 teaspoons of filling into the middle of each round. Fold the pastry round in half to cover the filling and seal the edges well. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the remaining dough circles.
• Brush each pie with a little egg wash. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.