Do you remember what the famous dessert Baklava is made of? Filo pastry (a.k.a. phyllo), of course! So, today you’re about the meet it in another role – as part of Kreatopita (κρεατοπιτα), which is a delicious Greek meat pie. Let’s give it a try, shall we?
So, you’ll most often find Kreatopita on the Ionian island of Corfu, but it’s basically popular all over Greece. People usually cook it during Apokries (the period before Greek Orhodox Easter) until the Clean Monday when Lent begins.
Ingredients:
400g Filo pastry
1kg chopped lamb
1x onion
1-2x garlic cloves
100g rice
150g cheese
2tbsp tomato sauce
1 cup red wine
2 cups meat broth (or water)
60ml olive oil
1tsp salt
1/2tsp black pepper
1tsp oregano
1tsp red pepper
3x bay-leaves
Cinnamon stick, nutmeg
Fennel, parsley
Start with the filling as you season the meat with salt and pepper. Then fry it in 3-4tbsp olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and cook until golden. After that put the rice and fry for a while. Pour with the tomato sauce, the wine and the dried spices and let the wine get half reduced. Gradually add the broth (as for risotto) – stir until there’s almost dripping only. Take the cinnamon stick away, then add the fennel and parsley, mix and let it cool.
Preheat the oven to 200C°. Line a large baking dish with parchment paper and place 4-5 pieces of filo pastry as you leave part of them hang out of the baking dish. Sprinkle with olive oil, add ½ of the rest of the filo sheets and put oil between them. Then spill the meat filling and grate cheese on top.
Cover the filling with the hanging phyllo and add all sheets that are left as you put olive oil between each of them (+ over the last one). After that stab the meal with a sharp knife in different places.
Bake for 40-45 minutes. Cover with aluminum foil if needed.
Serve hot with strained yogurt and garlic, olives or fresh salad. Bon appetite!
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