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3.1 from 129 votes

Sfeeha: Middle Eastern Lamb and Pine Nut Pies with Tzatziki

Sfeeha: Middle Eastern Lamb and Pine Nut Pies with Tzatziki ~ deliciously little appetizer pastries filled with spiced ground lamb and pine nuts.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 18
Calories: 180 kcal
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Middle Eastern

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 lean ground lamb
  • 1/2 large white onion finely minced
  • 1 tomato finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
  • 2 tsp Middle Eastern spice mix or a 1/4 tsp each of cumin, clove, cardamom, coriander, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, rosemary
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp Fresh cracked pepper
  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
  • 1 tsp pomegranate molasses optional
Sauce
  • 1 cup Greek yogurt
  • 1 Persian cucumber peeled and very thinly sliced
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
  • 1 bunch fresh mint thinly sliced or chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350F
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. To make the filling: mix all the ingredients in a bowl, taking care not to overwork the meat.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Serve hot with Tzatziki and more pomegranate molasses for drizzling on top.
  9. To make the sauce: mix everything together and taste to adjust the seasonings.  Keep refrigerated until needed.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 180kcal (9%) Carbohydrates 13g (4%) Protein 8g (16%) Fat 11g (17%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 5g Trans Fat 0.4g Cholesterol 19mg (6%) Sodium 219mg (9%) Potassium 88mg (3%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 73IU (1%) Vitamin C 3mg (3%) Calcium 23mg (2%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 18Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 180

% 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.