Small Fried Meat Patties Ijeh Recipes

MINIATURE MEAT PIES

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in chili sauce and soup mix; set aside. , In a large bowl, combine the flour, sesame seeds if desired, and salt. Cut in shortening and cheese until crumbly. Combine milk and vinegar; gradually add to flour mixture, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. , Divide dough in half; roll out to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a lightly floured 2-1/2-in. round cutter. Place half of the circles 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets; top each with a rounded tablespoonful of beef mixture. Top with remaining circles. Moisten edges with water and press with a fork to seal. Cut a slit in the top of each. , Bake at 425° until golden brown, 12-16 minutes. Serve immediately., Freeze option: Freeze cooled pies in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Bake, from frozen, on an ungreased baking sheet at 425° until heated through, 14-16 minutes.

SMALL FRIED MEAT PATTIES (IJEH)

Steps:

• Place the meat in a large bowl and mash with a fork for 2 minutes. Add the onions, parsley, eggs, bread crumbs, salt, allspice, cinnamon and pepper and mix well.
• Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium heat and cover the bottom with a generous layer of oil. When hot, working in batches, drop the meat mixture by slightly rounded tablespoons into the oil. Fry, turning once, until the patties are lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Transfer them to paper towels to drain. Repeat, adding more oil as needed, until all the meat is cooked.
• Serve the patties warm with small pita wedges and spicy ketchup.

LEMON GRASS-GINGER PORK SLIDERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the pork and turmeric and set aside.
• In a mortar or food processor, combine the lemon grass, garlic, shallots, ginger and salt. Process or pound to a coarse paste. Add the rice, chile powder and tomatoes and process again.
• Lightly brush a plate with oil. Add the aromatic paste to the meat and use your hands to knead together thoroughly. Shape the mixture into balls about 1 inch in diameter, then flatten each gently into a small, thick patty. Set aside on the oiled plate.
• Heat the oil in a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliders and cook for about 3 minutes, until browned. Turn over the sliders and keep cooking; if they start to release liquid, raise the heat to continue browning. Cook until just firm to the touch.
• Serve hot, garnished with cilantro sprigs.

KOTTBULLAR (SWEDISH MEATBALLS)

Steps:

• Put the beef in a bowl and set aside.
• Blend the bread crumbs and one cup of cream, and let stand half an hour or longer. Blend the meat and the crumb mixture and add the onion, salt, pepper and egg yolks. Stir to blend well.
• Add the seltzer and thyme and blend thoroughly.
• Shape the meat into 48 to 56 meatballs, each about 1 1/2 inches thick.
• Heat the butter in a large, heavy skillet and add the meatballs a few at a time. Do not crowd them. Cook until seared on one side. Cook, turning, until browned on all sides, and transfer to a dish. Continue cooking until all the meatballs are browned.
• Pour off the fat from the skillet. Add the flour and stir with a wire whisk. Gradually add the broth, stirring rapidly with the whisk. Stir in the jelly until it melts. Add the remaining cream and stir.
• Return the meatballs to the skillet with the sauce and reheat gently.

BEEF PATTIES

Steps:

• To make the pastry, combine the flour, salt, baking powder, and curry powder in a large mixing bowl. Cut the butter into small pieces and add to the bowl. Working quickly and using your fingertips, squeeze together the flour mixture and butter and toss it together by scooping under the mixture with both hands. When the mixture resembles a very coarse meal, add the water to the bowl.
• With floured hands, mix and squeeze the dough just until it forms a ball. Knead it once or twice to combine it fully (the less kneading, the better). Spread the dough into 2 pieces, flattening each into a thick pancake. Wrap in plastic and set them in the refrigerator to chill for at least 15 minutes. (The dough will keep in the refrigerator up to 5 days. Remove it from the refrigerator a few minutes before using it.)
• For filling, mix together the beef, onion, scallions, garlic, peppers, and thyme in a large bowl. In a large skillet, heat the oil over high heat until it is very hot, and add the beef mixture. Fry until the meat is brown and the moisture is evaporated, about 8 minutes. Add the curry powder, salt, and black pepper, stirring occasionally over high heat, allowing a crust to form on the bottom of the pan.
• Add the water and stir the mixture, scraping the bottom to incorporate the browned crust. Add the breadcrumbs and stir. The consistency should be like a thick stew. Add more water as needed. Cover, reduce the heat to very low, and cook for 15 minutes. Set it aside to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut each piece of the dough into 9 pieces. Using a rolling pin on a floured surface, roll out each piece of pastry into a rectangle shape with rounded edges. Spread a large spoonful of the cooled meat mixture over one side of the dough, leaving at least 1/2- to 3/4-inch border on the outside edge. Using your finger, paint water around the border. Fold the other side of the dough over, and roll and crimp the edges. Lightly press a floured fork around the edge of the patty.
• Place the patty onto a cookie sheet and repeat the procedure with the remaining dough. The patties may be covered in plastic and frozen at this point for later use. Brush each patty with the egg wash and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the patties begin to turn a golden color.

BITOKS OF BEEF

Steps:

• Put the beef in a mixing bowl.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter in a small saucepan and add 3/4 cup of the onions. Cook, stirring often, about 3 minutes without browning. Let cool.
• Combine the cooked onions, 1 cup of the bread crumbs, egg and milk and add to the beef. Add salt and pepper and blend well with the hands.
• Divide the mixture into 8 portions of more or less equal weight. Shape each portion into a ball. Flatten each ball into a patty and coat each with remaining bread crumbs.
• Heat the oil in a heavy skillet large enough to hold all the rounds in one layer. Cook until well browned on one side, about 3 minutes. Turn and cook about 3 minutes on the second side. Transfer bitoks to a warm platter.
• Heat a smaller skillet and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter.
• Add the remaining 1/4 cup chopped onions and cook until wilted. Add the paprika and stir. Add the vinegar and beef broth. Bring to a boil. Add the heavy cream and sour cream, stirring. Cook about 1 minute or less. There should be about 3/4 cup of sauce. Pour over the bitoks and dot the center of each with 1/2 teaspoon parsley. Serve immediately.