Sfiha in a tray " meat pie"

Sfiha is an authentic Lebanese pie that can be found in every bakery or delicatessen on practically every corner. This meat pie I am featuring here is a recipe that I make at home which is sfiha in a tray. This amazing recipe is easy to prepare especially it is done in a tray and by pieces too as yo desire. Today’s recipe is one of my family's favorite. It can be a main meal, a snack or a party appetizer depending on your preference and the size you make them.

Prep. time: 30 mins

Cooking time: 20 mins

Serves : 6

INGREDIENTS:

Dough:

3 cups of flour

1 tsp salt

2 tsp sugar

2 tbsp oil

2 tsp yeast

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup hot water

The stuffing:

500 grams ground beef mixed with 1/4 of it ground lamb if you desire

2 tbsp olive oil

One large onion chopped

2 medium tomatoes chopped

3 tbsp pomegranate molasses

1/4 cup pine nuts

1 tsp salt

3/4 tsp 7 spices

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

2 tsp lemon juice

1/2 cup of chopped parsley

PREPARATION:

To make the dough: In a large bowl combine the flour, salt, sugar and yeast then add the oil. Mix the milk and the hot water together before pouring it on top of the ingredients to make it warm for the yeast to rise. Knead for few mins or until you have a soft dough or you can even mix it in a processor. Grease and roll the dough with a bit of oil then let it rest for 30 mins. In the meantime prepare the filling.

The filling: In a fry pan heat the olive oil then put the onions, stir for few mins until transparent. Add the meat and continue stirring over medium heat until well done. Add the chopped tomatoes, the parsley, the rest of the ingredients and the spices except the pine nuts. Let it simmer for 10 mins. Meanwhile roast the pine nuts in a saucepan until golden then add it to the filling. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Flatten the dough in a greased rectangle tray size 33 x 20 cm then scatter the filling all over the top. Bake for 20 mins until the bottom is dark golden.

How to make sfiha pies: Sprinkle some flour on a surface and flatten the dough using the rolling pin until it gets about 35 mm thick. Cut into round pieces using around 6 cm diameter cup. Place a heaped tbsp of the filling in the middle pinch 2 opposite sides then pinch the 2 other ends. Arrange the pies on a tray and bake for 10 mins or until they are golden.

Sfiha is a family favorite and everyone will love it especially with the flavor of the pomegranate molasses which adds to it a very distinctive taste. Give it a try yourself and I am sure your family or guests are going to love it either by pieces or in a tray which is the faster way. It is worth the try.

Enjoy!!