Kreatopita Greek Meat Pie Using Phyllo Pastry Recipes

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!

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!

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

Steps:

• In a skillet, saute ground meat in olive oil with onions until browned; season with salt, oregano and pepper; add tomato sauce & cinnamon.
• In a small bowl, beat eggs and stir in Parmesan cheese; when ground meat has cooled, fold in the eggs and cheese mixture.
• Butter a 9x13 inch baking pan; arrange six sheets of Phyllo pastry on bottom of pan, buttering each sheet with the melted butter.
• Spread a layer of cooled meat mixture evenly on Phyllo & cover with remaining six phyllo sheets, brushing each with melted butter.
• Trim edges of Phyllo to fit pan with a sharp knife; slice through top of pastry to form diamond shapes.
• Bake in a preheated 350°F oven until pastry is golden crisp, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• May be served hot or cold.

KREATOPITA (MEAT PIE WITH PHYLLO CRUST) RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Sauté the onion and garlic in hot olive oil.
• When the onion softens, add the meat and brown well.
• Dissolve the tomato paste in the wine and stir in, along with salt, pepper, herbs, and water.
• Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours until the meat is very tender and there's some liquid in the pan. (Cooking time and the amount of water needed will depend on the meat. If more water is needed during cooking, add boiling water.)
• Stir in rice and turn off heat. Prepare the phyllo.
• Preheat oven to 340F (170C). Oil a 16 1/2 x 12 inch pan (or equivalent).
• Place the bottom sheet of phyllo on the bottom and spread filling evenly.
• Place the smallest sheet of phyllo on top of the filling, brush with olive oil, and place the final sheet of phyllo on top, and brush with oil.
• Tuck or crimp edges of the dough, and bake at 340F (170C) for 1 hour.
• The kreatopita is done when the corners of the crust don't stick to the pan.
• Remove the pan from the oven and cover with a clean towel for 1 hour before serving.
• Cut into 4-inch pieces and enjoy!