Best Middle Eastern Lamb Pies Recipes

LEBANESE MEAT PIES

Steps:

• Combine the warm water, sugar and yeast in a bowl. Add the flour and salt and mix together until well combined. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead the mixture until sticky.
• Add the olive oil and continue kneading until the dough becomes soft and smooth and lightly sticky without leaving any dough on your fingers.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly greased and allow it to proof until doubled, about 90 minutes.
• Remove the dough and divide into 30 pieces and reshape to round balls. Let sit in an oiled tray until doubled, about 30 minutes.
• In a medium size pan over medium heat, heat the olive oil and cook the onions until soft and translucent, about 10 minutes.
• Add the beef and onions and cook until the beef is browned, about 8-10 minutes. Fold in the tomatoes and parsley, then season with salt, 7 Spice, sumac and cinnamon.
• Preheat the oven to 425ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Roll out the dough in 4-5 inch circles. Place 2 tablespoons of the mixture inside each circle.
• Hold two ends of the dough and seal them together over the filling, pinching the dough together to help bind. Fold the last side up to meet the first two sides, pinching the dough together with the first two sides to bind.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes until the tops are golden brown.
• Serve warm on their own or with plain whole milk yogurt as a dip.

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.