Description
A recipe for making basic baked meat esfihas, a type of savory Middle Eastern meat pie.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
Instructions
- Mix warm water, yeast, and sugar in a small bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes until foamy.
- In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture and olive oil. Mix until a dough forms.
- Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 5 to 7 minutes until smooth. Place in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- While the dough rises, prepare the filling. In a bowl, combine ground beef, chopped onion, tomato paste, cumin, black pepper, and lemon juice. Mix well.
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
- Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a small ball.
- On a floured surface, roll each ball into a thin circle, about 4 inches in diameter.
- Place about 2 tablespoons of the meat mixture onto the center of each dough circle.
- Pinch the edges of the dough together to form a square or boat shape, leaving the center of the filling exposed.
- Place the esfihas on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
Notes
- You can substitute ground lamb for ground beef in the filling.
- For a brighter flavor, add a pinch of dried mint to the meat mixture.
- If the dough is too sticky, add flour one tablespoon at a time while kneading.
- Prep Time: 30 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 esfiha
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 18
- Cholesterol: 55
Keywords: esfihas, meat pies, savory pastry, ground beef, Middle Eastern bread