Greek Kreatopites Recipes

KREATOPITA (GREEK MEAT PIE USING PHYLLO PASTRY)

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, coat bottom of pan with olive oil and add ground beef (and mushrooms, if using). Cook, breaking up meat with back of spoon, and stirring often until meat and mushrooms are browned and liquid emitted has evaporated (make sure all the liquid has evaporated - you don't want a soggy pita!).
• Add onions, garlic, tomato paste, oregano and cinnamon and cook until liquid emitted from onions has evaporated, too.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool for about 20 minutes, stirring a couple of times to bring hot filling up (to cool faster).
• Add cheese, parsley and eggs to meat filling and combine thoroughly to blend. Taste filling and adjust seasoning to suit your taste.
• In a 15 x 10 inch pan (or large pan), layer half the phyllo sheets, brushing each one generously with olive oil (use a pastry brush), before adding the next sheet of pastry.
• Pour the meat filling into the phyllo-lined pan.
• Layer the remaining phyllo sheets in the same way, over the filling, brushing each one generously with olive oil before adding the next sheet of pastry. When you reach the last sheet (the top one), brush this one slightly more generously than the rest, tuck in any overhang you have neatly into the pie and score pie, lengthwise, into 4, using the tip of a small, sharp knife and making sure you don't cut all the way through the bottom of the pastry (just the top crust and slightly into the filling).
• Position baking rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 190°C (375°F).
• Bring your pan next to the sink and run the cold water tap. Wet the tips of your fingers and shake the water onto the pastry. Do this a few times to ensure droplets of water fall all over the pastry (this ensures a crisp crust upon baking).
• Bake pie for approximately one hour, until you achieve a deep golden crust. If you have a flat-bottomed oven (no element), do put your pan on the floor of the oven for the last 20 minutes or so to ensure an even crisper bottom crust.
• The pita is best slightly warm or at room temperature.
• 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!

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.

GREEK KREATOPITES

Steps:

• In saucepan, melt butter over medium heat; add shallots and saute until soft. Add meat; mash with fork until browned. Add wine; simmer a few minutes. Stir in parsley, mint, dill and tomato sauce; season with salt and pepper and simmer 20 minutes. Cool.
• Add cheese and egg. If mixture appears too loose, stir in bread crumbs immediately before stuffing.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Remove filo from package, covering with waxed paper and damp towel.
• Take out one sheet at a time, keeping remainder covered. Place oblong on flat surface. butter filo, one sheet at a time, using pastry brush. Repeat with second sheet. Cut sheets into 2 inch wide strips.
• Place 1 teaspoon filling at bottom of strip. Starting from bottom, roll up like flag. Repeat until all filling is used.
• To bake, place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden. .
• Triangles can be kept frozen in a tightly sealed container for up to two months. To bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Do not thaw; bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden.

KREATOPITA ARGOSTOLI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool and chop.
• Lightly brush a 9x13 inch pan with melted butter. Place 1 phyllo sheet in pan and lightly brush with butter. Continue adding phyllo sheets for a total of 12, brushing each one lightly with butter (you don't need to completely cover each phyllo sheet with butter).
• Spread cooked rice over phyllo, then sprinkle with minced garlic. Add lamb in an even layer, and sprinkle with lemon juice. Place 1 cup diced potatoes over lamb.
• Arrange quarters of eggs, then sprinkle with parsley, mint and lemon zest. Add crumbled feta cheese.
• Pour on olive oil and beef broth. Sprinkle with oregano and pepper. Finally, add beaten egg.
• Top with remaining 12 phyllo sheets brushed lightly with melted butter.
• Bake for 40 to 50 minutes at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). during the last 10 minutes, raise the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove from the oven and cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Cut into diamonds or squares and serve warm.