Middle Eastern Meat Pies Recipe
These Middle Eastern Meat Pies are flavorful, savory pastries featuring a spiced ground beef or lamb filling with pine nuts and pomegranate molasses, encased in a soft homemade dough. Perfect as appetizers or a satisfying main dish, they combine aromatic spices with a tender, golden-baked crust.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 meat pies 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp instant yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 cup warm water (more as needed)
Filling
- 1 lb ground beef or lamb
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium tomato, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp pine nuts
- 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses
- 1 tsp ground allspice
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, combine the flour, instant yeast, sugar, and salt. Add olive oil and gradually pour in warm water, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Knead and Rise: Knead the dough for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover and place in a warm area to rise for 1 hour or until the dough doubles in size.
- Cook the Filling: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the finely chopped onions until soft and translucent.
- Brown the Meat: Add the ground beef or lamb to the skillet, cooking until browned and fully cooked through.
- Add Vegetables and Nuts: Stir in the chopped tomato, red bell pepper, pine nuts, ground allspice, cinnamon, salt, and black pepper. Cook together for another 5 minutes to allow flavors to blend.
- Finish the Filling: Mix in the pomegranate molasses and cook for an additional minute. Remove from heat and let the mixture cool to room temperature.
- Preheat Oven: Set oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Shape the Dough: Punch down the risen dough and divide it into small balls. Roll each ball into an oval shape approximately 5–6 inches long.
- Assemble the Pies: Place the dough ovals on the prepared baking sheet. Spread about 2 tablespoons of the cooled meat mixture over each oval, leaving a small border around the edges.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 12–15 minutes, until the dough is golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve: Serve the Middle Eastern Meat Pies warm, accompanied by yogurt or lemon wedges for added freshness and tang.
Notes
- You can substitute ground lamb for beef for a more authentic flavor.
- Pine nuts can be toasted beforehand to enhance their flavor.
- If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour as needed during kneading.
- Leftover pies can be reheated in the oven to retain crispness.
- Pomegranate molasses adds a unique tangy sweetness; if unavailable, a mixture of honey and lemon juice can be used as a substitute.
Keywords: Middle Eastern meat pies, spiced meat pies, baked meat pastries, ground beef pies, lamb pies, savory pastries, pomegranate molasses recipe
Find it online: https://frommamamaya.com/middle-eastern-meat-pies-recipe/
