Macedonian Cheese Pie Recipes

MACEDONIAN CHEESE PIE

Steps:

• Mix the yeast with 1 cup warm water in a large bowl. Stir in 2 tablespoons oil, the salt and the pepper. Add 2 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup at a time, and mix well to make a soft dough that's still a bit sticky. Knead it in the bowl or on a floured surface, adding more flour as necessary, until most of the stickiness is gone and the dough is elastic and still soft.
• Grease a medium-size bowl with 1/2 tablespoon oil. Add the dough, cover with a towel or a paper towel and let rise until doubled, about an hour.
• Meanwhile, completely char the outside of the pepper over a gas burner or under a broiler. Scrape off charred peel. Remove core and seeds, and cut in slivers.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Grease a baking sheet or pizza pan with the remaining oil. Cut the dough in half. Stretch and roll one half into a 14-inch circle and place on pan. Scatter the cheese on the dough to within an inch of the edge. Scatter the pepper strips over the cheese. Roll and stretch the remaining dough into a 14-inch circle. Place it on top of the filling, fold the bottom edge over the top edge and pinch to seal. Cut a small slit in the center.
• Bake about 30 minutes, until browned. If desired, place the sprig of rosemary standing up in the slit for a festive touch. Cool 5 minutes before cutting into wedges.

GREEK CHEESE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans.
• Mix feta cheese and eggs together in a bowl for the filling; set aside.
• Lay out 1 sheet of phyllo on a work surface and brush liberally with olive oil. Top with another sheet and brush with oil. Repeat for a total of 4 sheets, but do not brush the top of the fourth sheet. Transfer the stack of oiled sheets to one of the greased cake pans. Drape over the bottom of the pan, trying not to be too perfect about it; you want some folds and wrinkles in the phyllo.
• Spread 1/2 of the filling over the phyllo in an even layer. Fold the overhanging phyllo over the filling, again letting natural folds and wrinkles occur. Loosely lay 1 sheet of phyllo over the top, brush with oil, and use the oiled brush to pat down the sides all around the circumference of the cake pan.
• Repeat with remaining phyllo, oil, and filling to assemble the second pie.
• Bake the cheese pies in the preheated oven until the tops are a deep golden brown, 45 to 60 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature.