Spiced Meat Pies Lahmejun Recipes

SPICED BEEF PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch cake pan with cooking spray and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, onions and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring, until the onions are soft and translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the beef, sprinkle it with the cumin, cinnamon, Aleppo pepper, allspice, 1 teaspoon salt and a few turns of black pepper and cook, breaking up the beef with a spoon or spatula, until it is fully cooked and no longer pink, 8 to 10 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning as desired.
• Soak the matzo in warm water for a few minutes until it has softened. Line the bottom and sides of the prepared cake pan with the matzo pieces, breaking it up as needed and packing it down firmly. It will look a little rustic which is ok. Use a paper towel to blot away excess moisture once the matzo is in the pan, then pour in the beef mixture and pack it down firmly. Cover the top with soaked matzo, pressing the edges to seal, and then brush it with a healthy coating of egg wash. Bake until browned, about 30 minutes.
• Let cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes, then invert onto a plate. Top with parsley or micro greens and serve.

SPICED MEAT PIES (LAHMEJUN)

Steps:

• 1. To make dough: Combine yeast and 2 tablespoons warm water and set aside for 5 minutes. Combine flour and salt in a large bowl; add oil, yeast mixture and a scant 1/2 cup warm water. Mix, using hands if necessary, until dough comes together: it should be elastic but not sticky. If needed, add a little more flour or water. Turn out onto a board (no need to flour it) and knead until soft and smooth, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place 1 hour. 2. When dough has risen, combine all ingredients for topping in a bowl. Divide dough in two and roll out on a floured surface to about 1/8-inch thickness. Cut 3-inch rounds with a water glass or cookie cutter, stacking them between layers of wax paper. Roll and cut remaining dough. 3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread a heaping tablespoon of meat mixture on each dough round, spreading all the way to the edge: meat mixture will shrink during baking. (Once assembled, pies can be frozen, stacked in wax paper, and then baked directly from freezer.) Arrange pies on 2 lightly oiled baking sheets. Bake 20 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking. Serve hot, sprinkled with lemon juice and coarse salt. *Note: Refrigerated pizza dough or dough from a pizzeria will work well in this recipe. Some Middle Eastern markets also stock frozen mini pastry rounds.

SPICY JAMAICAN MEAT PIES WITH ISLAND SALSA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• In large skillet, combine ground beef, onion, chile & garlic. Cook over med to high heat until beef is thoroughly cooked; stirring frequently; then drain fat.
• Add curry powder, thyme, turmeric, pepper, grnd red pepper & salt; mix well.
• Add bread crumbs and water; stir until thickened.
• Separate dough into 8 rectangles, firmly press perforations to seal.
• Place 2 heaping tablespoons of meat mixture on long half of a rectangle. Fold dough over filling & press edges to seal.
• Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake at 375F for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
• Meanwhile, in medium bowl, combine all salsa ingredients; mix well.
• Serve with meat pies.

FATAYER (LEBANESE MEAT PIES)

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add steak pieces, onions, parsley, salt, and pepper and cook until steak is browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Pat bread dough on a lightly floured surface into 4- to 5-inch rounds. Place about 2 tablespoons meat mixture on each dough round. Fold dough over the mixture to make a triangle. Pinch the edges of the dough together but make sure to leave the very center of the meat pie unsealed so steam can escape while cooking. Set on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough and meat mixture and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Let rise for 10 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake fatayer in the preheated oven until lightly browned, about 25 minutes.