Finnish Meat Pie Recipes

KARJALAN PIIRAKKA (KARELIAN PIE) WITH EGG BUTTER

Steps:

• For the Filling:.
• In a saucepan combine the water and rice. Bring to a boil.
• Stir, cover, and cook over low heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the milk, cover, and continue cooking until the milk is completely absorbed and the rice is soft and creamy.
• Preheat oven to 450°F
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• For the Pastry:
• In a medium-sized bowl, combine the water, salt, and rye and white flours to make a stiff dough.
• Shape the dough into a log and cut into 16 portions and shape each into a round.
• On a lightly floured board, roll out each round into a 6-inch circle.
• Spread about 3 tablespoons of filling evenly on each round.
• Fold two opposite edges of the pastry over the filling and crimp the edges of the dough toward the center to make an oval-shaped pastry, allowing about 1/2-inch of the crust to overlay the filling and leaving the center of the filling exposed.
• Place on the prepared baking sheet.
• In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter and hot milk and brush on the pastries.
• Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, brushing once during baking, until the pastries are golden on the edges.
• Remove from the oven and brush again.
• For the Egg Butter:.
• In a small bowl, cream the butter. Stir in the eggs.
• Season with the white pepper and ground ginger, if desired.
• Yield: 1 cup.
• Cool the pastries and serve with the egg butter at room temperature.

FINNISH MEATLOAF/FINNISH MEAT PIES

Steps:

• In frying pan add margarine, mushroom, onion and bread. Fry until onion, mushrooms and bread are slightly browned.
• In large bowl, mix meats together, add vegetables,bread pieces, parsley and 3/4 cup cheese. Mix together.
• Add evaporated milk and pepper and mix.
• Place in loaf pan.
• Add remaining cheese on top.
• Preheat oven 350*.
• Bake one hour. Makes 8 large slices.
• For: Pies.
• Roll out pie crust pastry for each slice.
• Place slice or half slice on one half of pastry.
• Add tomato, then onion, then sour cream.
• Fold over. Seal edges with the tines of a fork.
• Make as many pies as desired.
• In a cup, beat egg and water.
• Brush egg wash over the pastries.
• Preheat oven 425*.
• Bake until golden brown about 20 minutes.
• This is a basic satisfying taste recipe, no heart stopping spice, or zesty tomato or zingy hot pepper. You will taste the cheese and that is the idea. My personal addition is to add 1/2 tsp creamy horseradish sauce before I seal the edges of the pastry but it is not called for in the recipe.

FINNISH MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Place shortening in a large bowl. Add boiling water; stir until shortening is melted. In a small bowl, mix flour and salt. Add to shortening mixture; stir until a soft ball forms. Cover and refrigerate until cooled, about 1 hour., Preheat oven to 350°. Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll 1 dough portion into a 17x13-in. rectangle. Transfer to an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Press onto bottom and up sides of dish. Trim pastry to 1/2 in. beyond rim of dish., In a large bowl, combine filling ingredients. Spoon into pastry. Roll out remaining dough into a 13x9-in. rectangle. Place over filling. Fold bottom pastry over top pastry; press with a fork to seal. In a small bowl, whisk egg and milk; brush over pastry. Cut slits in top. Bake 1-1/4 hours or until golden brown.

FINNISH BLUEBERRY PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C), and line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
• Beat 3/4 cup sugar with the butter until the mixture is smooth and creamy, and beat in the egg. Add the baking powder, and stir in the flour, 1/2 cup at a time, alternating with a few tablespoons of the milk, until all the flour and milk have been incorporated. The dough will be sticky, like sugar cookie dough. Spread the dough into the prepared baking dish, creating a raised edge of dough around the dish.
• Place the blueberries in a bowl with 1/2 cup of sugar, and mash the berries with a potato masher. Spread the blueberry mixture on top of the crust in an even layer.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the crust has browned slightly and the filling is thickened and bubbling, 15 to 25 minutes.