Egyptian Lamb Pie Recipes

SAMBOUSAK BI LAHM (EGYPTIAN MEAT PIES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a large bowl, mix the oil, water and salt, until dissolved.
• Gradually work in enough flour to make a soft, malleable dough.
• You may roll it out right away to use, or if you want to set it aside for an hour or so you can, but keep it covered and at room temperature.
• Now make the filling: Brown the meat in a large skillet, breaking up into small pieces.
• Add the onions and cook until they are translucent and starting to brown.
• Add the salt, pepper, allspice and cinnamon, and stir well.
• Add the water to deglaze the pan and cook another 5 minutes or so.
• Add the toasted pine nuts and mix well. Turn off the heat.
• Now divide your dough in pieces, either 12 pieces for large pies or 20 pieces for small pies (appetizer-sized).
• Without using flour for the rolling board or rolling pin, roll each piece into circles or ovals, less than 1/4 inch thick, if possible (equivalent to less than 1/2 cm). This is an oily dough and won't stick to your rolling board or your pin, and doesn't need extra flour.
• For small pies put 2 heaping teaspoons of filling, for large pies put 3 generous tablespoons, just off-center.
• Fold one half of the dough over to cover, and make a half-moon shape. Seal the edges by pinching, folding and twisting.
• Lightly oil (or spray with Pam) your baking sheets, and place the pies spaced at least 1/2 inch apart.
• Mix the egg yolk with about one teaspoon of water, and use to glaze the pies, if desired.
• If desired, sprinkle the sesame seeds on top.
• Bake for about 30 minutes, until golden brown.
• Let cool a few minutes before eating, as filling will be very hot. These are also good cold the next day, if you have any left!
• Freezes well.

EGYPTIAN LAMB PIE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan combine the apricots with 1 1/2 cups water and them over moderate heat for 10 minutes. Drain the apricots and quarter them.
• In a skillet cook the onion in the olive oil over moderately low heat, stirring, for 8 minutes, or until they are softened. Add the garlic and cook the mixture for 2 minutes. Add the lamb and cook the mixture over a moderately high heat, stirring for 5 minutes, or until the lamb is no longer pink. Add the cumin, the coriander, nutmeg, cloves, beef stock, and the apricots and simmer the mixture, stirring stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes. Add pepper to taste and let the mixture cool for 15 minutes.
• Brush a 10 inch cast iron skillet with some of the butter, put 1 piece of phyllo in the skillet, and brush it with butter. Layer 7 more pieces of the phyllo in the skillet,, brushing them with butter in the same manner, spoon the filling with a slotted spoon into the skillet and smooth the top. Layer the remaining 8 pieces of phyllo buttering them, over the top of the filling and tuck the edges under. Score the top layer of phyllo into 6 wedges and bake the pie in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 30 minutes, or until it is golden.
• Let the pie cook for 15 minutes and cut into wedges.

LEGENDARY LAMB PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
• Season lamb meat with a pinch of salt & pepper, before adding 2 Tbsp of oil to a dutch oven on medium-high heat. Brown Meat until golden brown all over, you may do this in batches.
• Remove meat from pan add remaining olive oil along with the onion, garlic, celery and carrots. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until browned.
• Add meat back to the pan along with red wine, cook for 1-2 minutes until wine reduces to bubbles, pour in stock and add the bay leaves, thyme rosemary and a pinch of salt & pepper.
• Bring to a boil cover with a lid and place in the oven to cook for 4-6 hours or meat falls apart. Remove from the oven and cook on stove top with lid off until sauce reduces by a third.
• Meanwhile, bring another pot of water to a boil add a pinch of salt and cook potatoes for 8-10 minutes or until easily pierced with a knife. Drain and mix in a bowl with 1 tbsp of butter and season with salt and pepper.
• Turn your broiler or grill on, spoon ricotta on top of lamb mix, followed by potato mix, and cook for 5-7 minutes or until slight little bits of golden color appear on the surface. Take straight to the table :).

INDIVIDUAL LAMB PIES

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium-heavy pot over medium-high heat. Season lamb with salt and pepper. Cook lamb until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl. Add remaining tablespoon oil to the pot. Add onion, celery, and mushrooms; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, about 6 minutes. Stir in ginger, thyme, cloves, lamb, stock, wine, and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a simmer; cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Gently simmer until lamb is tender, about 2 hours. Stir in prunes. Season with salt and pepper. Let cool completely.
• Divide dough in half. Wrap half in plastic; refrigerate until ready to use. Roll out other dough half on a lightly floured surface to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out four 6-inch rounds. Transfer 1 round to each of four 5-inch pie plates. Divide stew among pies. Roll out remaining dough a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out four 7-inch rounds. Randomly punch out circles from rounds with a 1/2 inch round pastry tip (such as Ateco #806). Cover each pie with a round. Tuck edges under; press gently to seal. Refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Whisk cream and egg yolk in a small bowl. Brush crusts with egg wash. Bake pies on a rimmed baking sheet until crusts are golden brown and juices are bubbling, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly, about 15 minutes.