Lamb In Phyllo Pastry Recipes

LAMB CHOPS IN PHYLLO PASTRY

Steps:

• The chops used must be cut from the rack. It is best that the butcher prepare them to order: The chine bone of a rack of lamb should be cut off and removed and the chops cut between the ribs, leaving the ribs intact and the meaty portion of each chop at least 1 inch thick. Have any fat or other coating trimmed from the perimeter of the meaty portion. Ask that each rib be scraped clean to make them ''French style.'' Sprinkle the chops with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Heat the oil in a small skillet and add the rosemary, shallots and peppercorns. Smash the peeled roasted garlic cloves (they will be soft after roasting) to a fine pulp. Add this pulp to the skillet. Cook briefly, stirring, about 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• Stack two rectangles of phyllo pastry, one atop the other. Brush the top rectangle with butter.
• The meat will be attached to the bottom of the rib. Insert a small paring knife in the center of the meaty portion at the base to make a hole for stuffing. Using the fingers, stuff each hole with an equal portion of the garlic filling. Press the meaty portion so that it will set flat with the rib standing upright.
• Place the chop, rib upright, on one corner of the buttered rectangle of dough. Bring up the pastry all around to completely enclose the meat, folding and tucking it under as necessary. Leave the rib exposed.
• Stack two more rectangles of pastry and brush the top rectangle with butter. Place the pastry-wrapped chop on the rectangles and neatly wrap these pastry pieces around the chop. Continue filling chops and wrapping them in the four layers of dough. Brush the outside of each pastry-wrapped chop with a little more butter.
• Place the chops, ribs up, on a baking sheet and bake 20 minutes or until pastry is browned.
• Spoon about 1/4 cup of well-heated yellow pepper sauce onto each of four plates. Spoon about 3 tablepoons of well-heated red-pepper puree in the center. Arrange one chop, rib upright, in the center of the red sauce. Garnish, if desired, with small cutouts of fresh green or red pepper.

BOREK

Steps:

• Cook onion and garlic: Heat oil on high in a large skillet. Cook onion and garlic for 2 to 3 minutes until softened.
• Cook lamb and spices: Add lamb and cook lamb, breaking it up as you go, until mostly changes from pink to brown. Then add all the spices and cook for 1 minute.
• Simmer: Add tomato passata and water, mix. Then add currants and pine nuts. Bring to simmer, turn heat down to medium low and cook until liquid reduces so the mixture is moist but not watery.
• Cool: Remove from stove and allow to fully cool before using.
• Mix ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside for at least 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 200°C / 390°F (180°C fan).
• Yogurt Wash (Note 4): Mix ingredients until combined.
• Prepare filo: Open the filo pastry packet and unroll the pastry. Peel one layer off and place on a piece of baking / parchment paper. Cover the remainder with a lightweight damp tea towel to stop them from drying out.
• Brush with yogurt wash: Drizzle / flick yogurt wash across filo using a pastry brush. Then lightly brush across surface in a thin layer. You don't need to cover every inch, just mostly cover the surface.
• Layer filo: Top with another filo pastry sheet, and brush this too with yogurt wash. Then repeat so you have 4 layers in total, but do not brush the last (4th) filo with yogurt wash once laid.
• Fill and roll: Place 1/3 of the Lamb filling along the bottom edge. Using the aid of a long kitchen knife to get it started, roll up into a log. Doesn't need to be tight and don't try, as the pastry is delicate.
• Make 3 logs: Repeat to make 3 logs, using all the Filling.
• Spiral: Take one log and place on a piece of baking / parchment paper. Coil into a spiral. Join a second log to the first by stuffing the ends inside each other, using yogurt wash to adhere. Continue forming the spiral. Log sides should be in contact but not tightly squished.
• Transfer to baking vessel: Brush a 26cm / 10.5″ cast iron skillet (Note 5) with melted butter. Then use the paper to transfer the borek into the skillet, and slide the paper out.
• Brush with butter: Brush the top with butter, sprinkle with sesame seeds.
• Bake for 40 minutes or until pastry is golden.
• Serve! Remove from oven. Cut wedges like pie. Serve with Lemon Yogurt Sauce!

LAMB IN PHYLLO PASTRY

Steps:

• Heat the oil with 1/4 cup of the butter in a skillet. Add the chopped onion and garlic, and fry for a couple of minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook a little longer. Add the parsley, mint, chives, thyme, lemon juice, salt and pepper, and bread crumbs and fry until the crumbs begin to brown. Remove from the pan and set aside. Remove the bone from the chops, place into the skillet, and sear both sides.
• Work with 3 (8 by 8-inch) sheets of phyllo pastry at a time (if they are bigger there is too much overlap), and cover the rest with a damp cloth to prevent them from drying out. Melt the remaining 1/4 cup butter. Brush each sheet with melted butter before covering with the next sheet. When you have buttered 3 sheets, place a lamb chop in the middle, add a quarter of the mushroom stuffing, and fold the phyllo pastry over to make a parcel. Repeat with the remaining lamb chops and phyllo pastry. (When you are making the parcel make sure the ones you have done remain covered with a damp cloth.)
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Put the parcels on a baking sheet and cook them in the oven for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 325 degrees F and cook for a further 30 minutes or until pastry is golden brown.;