Sfeeha: Middle Eastern Lamb and Pine Nut Pies with Tzatziki
User Reviews
3.1
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Prep Time
20 mins
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Cook Time
20 mins
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Total Time
40 mins
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Servings
18
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Calories
180 kcal
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Course
Appetizer
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Cuisine
Middle Eastern
Sfeeha: Middle Eastern Lamb and Pine Nut Pies with Tzatziki
Description
This Sfeeha recipe uses a dough made from a mixture of all-purpose and self-rising flour with olive oil and water, kneaded for elasticity and rested before rolling into small circles. The filling combines lean ground lamb with minced onion, tomato, garlic, toasted pine nuts, and a spice mix that includes cumin, clove, cardamom, coriander, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, rosemary, plus lemon juice and optional pomegranate molasses for brightness and depth.
The filling is portioned onto the dough circles, which are then folded and pinched at four corners to create square-shaped pies. After baking at 350°F (175°C) until the dough turns light golden and the filling cooks through, these individual meat pies offer a mix of tender, spiced lamb, crunchy pine nuts, and the freshness of accompanying tzatziki sauce made with Greek yogurt, thinly sliced cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, and fresh mint.
Sfeeha provides a balanced combination of savory meat flavors and cool, herby yogurt sauce, making it suitable as an appetizer or part of a meal.
Ingredients
Dough
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup self-rising flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2/3 cup water
Filling
- 1 lb ground lamb lean
- 1/2 large white onion finely minced
- 1 tomato finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/2 cup pine nuts toasted
- 2 tsp spice mix or a 1/4 tsp each of cumin, clove, cardamom, coriander, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, rosemary, Middle Eastern
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper fresh cracked
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
- 1 tsp pomegranate molasses optional
Sauce
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 cucumber peeled and very thinly sliced, Persian
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
- 1 bunch mint thinly sliced or chopped, fresh
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F
- To make the dough: whisk the dry ingredients together. Add the olive oil and the water, adding just enough water to make the dough come together.
- Knead the dough for a few minutes until it's smooth and elastic. Put back in the bowl, cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
- Break off ping-pong sized rounds of dough and either roll out into 3 to 4 inch circles, or let the tortilla press do it for you.
- To make the filling: mix all the ingredients in a bowl, taking care not to overwork the meat.
- Place one heaping tablespoon full of meat in the center of each circle of dough. Lightly apply a little water to the outer rim of the circle of dough with a wet finger, and bring it up around the meat and pinch together four corners of the dough to make a square shape. Squeeze the corners together so they stay closed.
- Place on a lightly greased or lined baking sheet and bake for about 20-25 minutes until the meat is cooked through and the dough is light golden brown.
- Serve hot with Tzatziki and more pomegranate molasses for drizzling on top.
- To make the sauce: mix everything together and taste to adjust the seasonings. Keep refrigerated until needed.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 18Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 180 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 180kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 13g | 4% |
| Protein | 8g | 16% |
| Fat | 11g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Trans Fat | 0.4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 19mg | 6% |
| Sodium | 219mg | 9% |
| Potassium | 88mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 73IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 3mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 23mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
3.1
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