Spicy Meat Pies Ojibway Food

JAMAICAN MEAT PIE FOOTBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
• Combine the thyme, scallions, garlic, scotch bonnet chile and bell pepper in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped (take care not to make a smooth puree).
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the beef, and cook, stirring, until slightly brown, about 2 minutes. Add the pepper mixture, curry powder and allspice, and cook, stirring, until the beef is deeply browned and the filling is fragrant, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the oil. Season the filling with 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and let the filling cool completely. Taste the filling and adjust the seasoning with more salt as needed.
• Roll each sheet of puff pastry to about 1/8 inch thick. Using a 4-inch football or oval-shaped cutter, stamp out 8 ovals of dough from each sheet; reserve the dough scraps. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the beef mixture onto the center of half the dough ovals and brush the edges with egg mixture. Top each oval with a second dough oval and crimp the edges with a fork to seal. Transfer the patties to the prepared baking sheets.
• From the dough scraps, cut sixteen 2-by-1/8-inch strips and forty-eight 1-by-1/8-inch strips, using a paring knife or pizza cutter. Arrange the long strips lengthwise across the center of each oval then arrange 3 short strips crosswise over the long strips to form the laces of a football. So as not to disturb the placement of the laces, carefully brush the tops of the ovals with egg mixture. Bake until puffed and golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Serve with barbecue sauce, chutney or ranch dressing for dipping.

TRADITIONAL MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Pie Crust: Mix flour and shortening. Add salt and cold water. Add all the cold water at once and mix delicately. Form a ball and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Once dough is chilled, flour your worktop. Divide dough in half. Roll out 2 pie crusts. One should be slightly larger than the other, this will be your bottom crust.
• Meat Filling: Heat the oil in a large pot. Add the pork and onion and cook over medium-low heat for 45 minutes, stirring often. When pork is cooked remove fat from pan. Add grated potato, salt, pepper, and allspice, to taste. Stir well, and let mixture rest for 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter the bottom of 9-inch pie plate. Place the bottom crust in the pie plate and poke several holes in the crust with a fork. Make sure an ample amount of crust spills over the edges of the pie plate. Fill the crust with the meat mixture. Level with a spatula. Wet edges of bottom crust and place top crust over meat mixture. Press top crust onto meat mixture to eliminate any air holes. Beat together the egg and the milk to make an egg wash. Pinch the crust edges together and brush the top crust with the egg wash.
• Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F and continue baking for 15 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
• Slice and serve hot or cold.

MEAT PIES

Steps:

• For the crust: Put the frozen rolls on a baking sheet. Cover with a tea towel and let thaw and rise for 2 to 3 hours.
• For the filling: Add the oil to a large skillet and set it over medium heat. Cook the peppers and onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes and garlic, then cook for another minute. Transfer to a bowl or plate and set aside.
• Put the same skillet over medium-high heat, add the beef and cook, breaking up any lumps. Add the chili powder, cumin and 3/4 teaspoon salt and cook until the meat is no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the tomato paste and 1/4 cup water and stir until combined. Mix in the cooked vegetables. Transfer to a bowl and set aside to cool. When the meat is cool, add the cheese and parsley, then season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• To form: Roll out each dinner roll on a lightly floured surface into a 4-inch circle about 1/4 inch thick. Put 1 1/2 tablespoons of the meat mixture in the center of each circle. Brush around the outside of the circles with the egg wash and fold over the dough to form half-moon shapes. Press the edges together and crimp them with a fork. Put on a parchment-lined baking sheet and brush the tops with the egg wash.
• Bake until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes.

SPICY MEAT PIES (OJIBWAY)

Steps:

• Combine all filling ingredients in frying pan and bring to a boil. Stir to break up meat, simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Chill for 2 hours.
• Roll pastry as for a pie...but make in 12 inch circles...the size of a saucer.
• Place portions of filling in the center of each pastry circle, and dampen the edges with a little water. That acts like glue. Fold each circle in half and press edges together with water. Put on greased cookie sheet. Brush with beaten egg.
• Bake in 425 degree oven for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Spices in this dish are a matter of choice. For spicy, add tabasco sauce, hot sauce, or jalepeno peppers. For milder, add parsley, sage, rosemary, etc. Your taste!

JAMAICAN BEEF PATTIES (AKA MEAT PIES OR PASTIES)

Steps:

• Make the crust: Combine flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder, and pinch of salt. Cut in 1/4 cup margarine and shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water until mixture forms a ball. Do not overstir; that makes tough crust. Shape dough into a log, and cut into 10 equal sections. Roll each section into a six inch circle (approximately 1/8 inch thick). Set aside.
• Next, prepare the filling.: Melt margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion until soft and translucent. Stir in ground beef. Season with 1 teaspoon curry powder, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper. Cook until beef is browned, stirring constantly. Stir in beef broth and bread crumbs. Simmer until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat.
• Now make the patties: Spoon some filling into each pastry circle. Fold over and press edges together, making a half circle. Use a fork to press edges, and brush the top of each patty with beaten egg.
• Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 25 - 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
• NOTE: If you have the time and organization, it might be best to make the filling in advance, long enough to cool down before fillng the pastry. Otherwise, it might melt the pastry somewhat. Just a thought from a review on another recipe.