Albanian Pite Me Mish (Byrek Me Mish) Recipe
This traditional Albanian savory pie is made from a filling of minced meat, onions, paprika, and herbs, all wrapped in layers of flaky filo pastry.
Ingredients
- Ground beef or lamb – 500g
- Onion (finely chopped) – 1
- Garlic (minced) – 2 cloves
- Red bell pepper (diced) – 1
- Green bell pepper (diced) – 1
- Olive oil – 2 tbsp
- Dried oregano – 1 tsp
- Paprika – 1 tsp
- Salt and black pepper – to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped – for garnish
- Filo/phyllo pastry – 10 sheets
- Unsalted butter (melted) – 1/2 cup
- Plain yogurt – 1/4 cup
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing until they become translucent.
- Add the ground meat and cook until it's browned and crumbled.
- Stir in the diced red and green bell peppers and continue to cook until they become tender.
- Season the mixture with dried oregano, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix well and remove it from the heat. Set aside.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Brush a baking dish with melted butter.
- Lay one sheet of phyllo pastry in the dish and brush it generously with more melted butter.
- Repeat the process, layering and buttering each sheet until you have used half of them.
- Spread the meat filling evenly over the phyllo pastry layers.
- Continue layering the remaining phyllo sheets, buttering each one.
- After the final layer, brush the top with a mixture of plain yogurt and a bit of melted butter. This will give the pie a lovely golden color when baked.
- Using a sharp knife, score the top of the pie into diamond or square shapes.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 40-45 minutes, or until the pie is golden brown and crisp.
- Pour half a cup of water over the top and half a cup of water around the edges.
- Cover the pie with two tea towels and leave to stand for 1 hour before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 595kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 15gFat: 39gSaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 107mgSodium: 463mgFiber: 3gSugar: 17g
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