Sambousak Bi Lahm Egyptian Meat Pies 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.

PHYLLO MEAT PIE (EGYPTIAN GOULASH)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Carefully lay the thawed phyllo dough sheets between two lightly damp kitchen towels.
• Begin with preparing the meat filling. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large nonstick pan. On medium-high heat, saute the chopped onions briefly. Add the ground beef. Cook until fully browned, tossing regularly. Remove the pan from the heat briefly to drain any fat, then return back to the stove. Add in the spices and stir to fully combine. Remove from the heat.
• Now, to assemble the phyllo pie, lay three to four sheets of phyllo dough on the bottom of a lightly greased 9 1/2 x 13 x 2 1/4 inch baking pan. Fold any excess dough in. Brush the top phyllo sheet generously with olive oil (or oil and butter mixture). Repeat this step as you lay three to four sheets of phyllo at a time in the baking pan until you have used up 1/2 of the phyllo sheets.
• Now, as you have a nice base for your pie, spread the meat filling evenly on top of the last phyllo sheet.
• Layer the remaining sheets on top of the meat repeating the same process as before (again, three or four sheets at a time, fold excess phyllo and brush with the olive oil) until all phyllo is used up.
• Brush the top sheet with olive oil (or oil and butter mixture). With a sharp knife, cut the phyllo pie into 12 squares.
• Season the prepared milk and egg mixture with salt and pepper and pour evenly over the pie.
• Place the phyllo meat pie on the middle rack of the 350 degrees F heated-oven for about 30 to 45, or until cooked through. The phyllo should be crispy and it should turn a nice golden brown. Be watchful so that pie does not over bake or burn.
• Serve warm with a side salad! Enjoy!

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 :).

COUNTRY STYLE GROUND BEEF MEAT PIE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan heat butter over medium-high heat; add in onion, celery and garlic and saute about 3-4 minutes.
• Stir in ground beef or pork, cubed potatoes, water and half and half cream or milk;. cook while stirring until liquid has completely evaporated.
• Add in spices; cook stirring for about 5-6 minutes, then allow the mixture to cool.
• Fit bottom pie pastry into each 9-inch deep-dish pie plates.
• Divide the beef misture between each pie plate.
• Top each pie with top pie crusts then flute edges together.
• Cut slits in top of crust each, then place onto a baking sheet.
• Bake in 450 degrees F (bottom rack) oven for 15 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 350 degrees F and continue baking for another 30 minutes.
• Cool slightly before slicing.

EGYPTIAN MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a nonstick skillet, using a teaspoon of butter or oil, sweat the onions, pepper and garlic until soft.
• Add the ground meat and cook until no longer pink, then add the spices and mix well. Remove from heat and drain off excess fat.
• Prepare a rectangular baking dish (of a size similar to that of the phyllo sheets - I used 9" x 13") by lightly brushing the bottom and sides of the dish with the melted butter or oil.
• Layer the phyllo dough in the pan, brushing each two or three sheets with melted butter or oil.
• When 1/2 of the phyllo dough has been layered in the pan, spread the meat filling in and continue covering with the remaining phyllo dough, making sure to brush the last layer with a bit of extra butter or oil to ensure a nice golden color.
• Before baking uncovered in the oven, cut through the "pie" with a sharp knife into squares or diamonds.
• Bake until golden. May be eaten either hot or cold, with a large green salad.
• This dish may be made vegetarian by substituting a spinach/feta cheese mixture for the meat filling according to the original recipe, but I've always used the meat. I've also added feta cheese in with the meat mixture, and it makes a nice addition.

SFIHA (LEBANESE PIE)

Steps:

• Mix well meat, tomatoes, onion and spices. Add yoghurt, sesame paste and pomegranate. Mix all with fried pine nuts. Add butter.
• For Dough (check out my recipe #263355 for Ajeen) Divide dough into walnut size balls. Roll between hand palms to smooth.
• Roll out balls with a rolling pin to form 8 cm diameter circles. Put one tblp of meat mixture on dough circle seeing that a cube is in each spoon.
• Bring the edges up and press to make a square.
• Arrange meat pastries in a tray brushed with butter. Bake in a moderate heat oven (180°C) for 30 minutes or till dough is golden and meat is cooked.
• Serve hot with yoghurt.

LAHAM AJEEN (FLAT LAMB PIES)

Steps:

• Sift flour into a large mixing bowl and warm in a low oven.
• Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water, and stir in the remaining water and sugar and salt.
• Remove about 2 cups flour from bowl and keep aside.
• Make a well and pour the yeast mixture into the center and blend in a little of the flour to thicken the liquid.
• Cover with a cloth and leave until frothy.
• Stir in the rest of the flour in a bowl to make a soft dough, adding oil gradually.
• Beat by hand for 10 minutes.
• Turn onto a flour dusted board and knead until smooth and elastic, using just enough flour from the reserved flour to stop the dough sticking.
• Shape into a ball.
• Oil bowl, put dough in and turn over to oil top.
• Cover the top of the bowl with plastic wrap and leave in a warm spot until doubled in bulk- about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile make the topping.
• Gently fry the onion inoil until transparent, add garlic and increase heat.
• Add lamb and stir over high heat until juices evaporate and meat starts to brown.
• Add the remaining topping ingredients, cover and simmer over gentle heat for 30 minutes, removing the lid towards the end of coking so that the excess moisture can evaporate.
• The mixture should be thick.
• Allow to cool.
• Punch down the dough and turn onto a floured board.
• Knead for a couple of minutes and then divide into 24 equal portions shaping each into a ball.
• Roll out each ball to a 12 cm round and place on greased baking sheets.
• spread a generous tablespoon of topping on each and bake at 220 deg C/425F for 12-15 minutes until cooked.
• Serve hot or cold.

BELIZEAN MEAT PIES

Steps:

• Combine the first 9 ingredients (through the habanero pepper) in a deep skillet over medium heat. Brown, lower heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the pastry dough by combining the flour, baking powder, salt and shortening and mixing until it resembles fine bread crumbs. Slowly add 1 tablespoon cold water at a time, incorporating after each addition, until the mixture comes together in a firm ball. It should not be sticky. Divide the mixture into two discs and let rest for about 15 minutes before rolling out into a round about 1/8 - 1/4" thick. Cut out twelve 2 1/2 - 3" circles in each round.
• Place a circle at the bottom of each muffin well in a 12 muffin tin and press lightly along the bottom and sides to form the pie bottoms. Place the meat mixture in each pie bottom leaving about 1/4 " of dough above the filling on the sides. Place a circle on top of each filled pie and crimp to seal the edges. Pierce a small hole in the top with a knife point to allow steam to escape while baking.
• Bake the pies at 350 degrees F for 15 - 20 minutes until nicely browned. Let cool until they can be handled and serve.