Kreatopita – meat and leek pie

KreatopitaKreatopita – meat pie [or more correctly, Kreatoprasopita – meat and leek pie] is what my Mother made to celebrate the New Year. She would hide a coin in one of the corners of the crust for one of her 4 children. The child that chose the piece with the coin was said to have good luck in the coming New Year.  Kreatopita ingredients
Ingredients: ground beef [or lamb], leeks, eggs, butter and phyllo…oregano & basil
…salt, pepper, oregano and basil.

leeks and butter
Sauté the washed and finely cut leeks in butter. Melt butter for phyllo.

ground beefIn a separate pan, brown the ground meat. Season with salt, pepper, oregano and basil. Set aside to cool.

golden leeksSauté leeks until wilted and golden. Set aside to cool.

While leeks and meat are cooling, place 10 individually buttered phyllo pastry sheets on the bottom of a baking pan. Butter each one of the phyllo sheets with a pastry brush. Be gentle, but know that the phyllo is forgiving. Similar to papier-mâché or wallpaper. Have courage! Work fast. Don’t let it dry out.
Kontos phyllo comes in different thickness:
#4 = thin and pliable – ideal for panned pastries and small hors d’oeuvres
#5 = thin and crispy – for wrapped triangles or baklava
#7 = thicker but flexible – for large entrées or desserts
#10 = thickest – more rustic for country style pies and spanakopita

If you are very brave you can make phyllo from scratch. See Chef Diane Kochilas’ Greek Food TV – Classic Greek Phyllo Dough.

meat leek egg mixtureCombine cooled leeks and ground meat with eggs. Pour meat, leek and egg mixture into the phyllo.

phyllo layersTop with 10 individually buttered phyllo pastry sheets. Remember to score/cut the phyllo into desired pieces with a sharp knife before baking [because I forgot]. Bake at 350 degree F for 30 minutes.

Kreatopita

Maybe a bit too flaky and broken apart on top [because I didn’t score it] but still delicious!

5.0 from 1 reviews
Kreatopita - meat and leek pie
 
Prep time
Cook time
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Kreatopita / Kreatoprasopita Meat & Leek Pie with phyllo dough
Author:
Recipe type: Savory
Cuisine: Greek
Serves: 16
Ingredients
  • 4 cups of finely sliced leeks
  • ½ cup of butter of butter melted
  • ¼ butter for sauté
  • 1 lb. ground beef or lamb
  • 6 eggs
  • ½ lb. phyllo pastry sheets - approx 20 sheets per box
  • Dried oregano and basil
  • Salt and pepper
Instructions
  1. Sauté the washed and finely cut leeks in butter until wilted and golden.
  2. Salt and pepper leeks.
  3. Set aside to cool.
  4. In a separate pan, brown the ground meat.
  5. Season with salt, pepper, oregano and basil.
  6. Set aside to cool.
  7. Combine leeks and ground meat with eggs.
  8. Mix well.
  9. Place 10 individually buttered pastry sheets on the bottom of a baking pan.
  10. Pour meat, leek and egg mixture into the phyllo.
  11. Top with 10 individually buttered pastry sheets.
  12. Score/cut the phyllo into desired pieces with a sharp knife before baking.
  13. Bake at 350 degree F for 30 minutes.

 

Food of the Greek Isles

I assisted Chef Nicholas Cornfield last night at a Sur la Table cooking class called “Greek Foods of the Greek Isles“.* The menu included recipes for:

  • Phyllo Cups with Tomatoes, Feta and Oregano
  • Flaming Prawns with Ouzo
  • Tomato Roasted Summer Vegetables with Dill
  • and Caramelized Figs in Port and Orange Sauce Phyllo Cups

A photo of a couple of the Phyllo Cups above. The recipe was easy to assemble and serve. These would make great hors devours  for a cocktail party.

Summer roasted veggies

The Roasted Summer Vegetables with Dill includes:

      • Eggplant
      • Onions
      • Garlic
      • Tomatoes
      • Potatoes
      • Zucchini
      • Peppers
      • Parsley

This vegetable dish is very similar to my Baked Veggies – Tourlou Tava. That post includes a how-to video. Now I would saute the onions and garlic, roast the peppers before hand and also add fresh herbs as well.

Prawns with OuzoAbove, the Flaming Prawns with Ouzo plated on top of the Roasted Summer Vegetables.

Caramelized Figs

Finally for dessert, the Caramelized Figs in Port and Orange Sauce plated with the sauce reduction and served with Greek yogurt. (You could also substitute the yogurt with ice cream.) This is such a delicious dessert. I’ve taken the liberty to add the recipe below. Fresh figs are in season right now. These were purchased from Whole Foods Market.

Caramelized Figs with Port and Orange Sauce
 
Prep time
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Caramelized Figs with Port and Orange Sauce served with Greek yogurt
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Serves: 8
Ingredients
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ teaspoon coarse salt
  • 2 pints fresh figs (about a dozen) halved lengthwise
  • ½ cup tawny port wine
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon of fresh orange juice
Instructions
  1. In a shallow dish, stir together the sugar and salt
  2. Press the cut side of each fig into the sugar and salt mixture to coat
  3. Heat a large skillet over high heat
  4. Add figs, cut side down
  5. Cook until sugar and juices caramelize, approximately 3 or 4 minutes
  6. Remove skillet from heat
  7. Add port
  8. Return skillet to heat
  9. Cook to reduce the syrup, approximately 30 seconds
  10. Scrap up any caramelized bits on the bottom of the pan
  11. Remove from heat again
  12. Add butter and orange juice
  13. Gently swirl pan to combine
  14. Cool at room temperature or serve warm

Kali orexi! Come take a class at Sur la Table. Ping me for details or visit their site.

*Disclosure – I am employed by Sur la Table. I am an Assistant in the Cooking School.
All these photos were taken during last night’s class.