Albanian Cornmeal Pie Recipes

PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH CORN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together the potato, whole kernel corn, creamed corn, hard cooked eggs, salt, pepper and milk. Simmer for about 15 minutes.
• Press one of the pie crusts in to the bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch pie plate. I like to use clear glass so I can check the bottom crust for doneness. Pour the hot filling into the crust. Dot with pieces of butter. Cover with the top crust, and flute the edges to seal. Cut a few slits in the top crust to vent steam. Place on a cookie sheet that has been lined with aluminum foil for easy clean up.
• Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the crust is browned. Serve hot.

CORNMEAL PIE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add corn syrup, milk and vanilla; mix well. Fold in cornmeal and flour. Pour into pastry shells. , Bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Reduce heat to 300°. Bake 20-25 minutes longer or until set (cover edges with foil during the last 15 minutes to prevent overbrowning if necessary). Cool on a wire rack. Garnish with whipped cream if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.

ALBANIAN CORNBREAD - PITE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 deg. Grease an 8" square baking dish.
• In a large bowl combine all the ingredients except the scallions for garnish.
• Pour into the baking dish and spread out evenly.
• Bake until lightly browned and an inserted toothpick comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
• Garnish with the remaining scallion and serve warm.

ALBANIAN MEAT PIE

Steps:

• In a saucepan add the olive oil and fry the onions for 2 minutes before adding the mince and browning.
• Add the tomotoe puree, salt, pepper, paprika, potatoes and beef stock. Bring to the boil, leave to simmer for 10 minutes/ When the mixture has thickered and water boiled away turn off the heat and leave to cool for 10 minutes.
• If using homemade pastry, place a filo pastry disc in a large baking tray and add filling on top the add the second disc on top and seal the edges by tucking them down.
• For premade pastry, layer sheets of filo pastry on top of each other brushing a layer of olive oil after each one before the next one is place down. Once 6/8 sheet are laid add the filling on top. Repeat the layering until a further 6/8 sheets are on top of the filling - olive oil brushed on each one.
• Put a thin layer of oil over the top.
• Bake in the oven at 180 degrees for 1 hour or until golden brown.
• Once removed from the oven, pour half a cup of water over the top and half a cup of water around the edges. Cover the meat byrek with two tea towels and leave to stand for 1 hour before serving. You can skip this step if you prefer a crisper pie.

ARGENTINE CORN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Place 1 egg into a saucepan cover with water by 1 inch. Cover the saucepan and bring the water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, immediately remove from the heat and let the egg stand in the hot water for 15 minutes. Pour out the hot water and cool the egg under cold running water in the sink; peel and chop the egg. Meanwhile, bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Stir in the corn and return to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes; strain and set aside to cool.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion, and cook until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Pour the milk into the saucepan and whisk in the cornstarch. Add the butter, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer whisking constantly, then cook for 2 minutes until the butter has melted and the sauce has thickened. Stir in the hard boiled egg and corn; pour into the pie crust. Brush the crust with the beaten egg.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the crust and the pie are golden brown, about 25 minutes.