Embark on a culinary journey to the heart of Mediterranean cuisine with our exploration of the tantalizing Greek lentil pie. This traditional dish is a symphony of flavors, textures, and aromas that promises to delight your palate and transport you to the vibrant streets of Greece. Discover the secrets behind crafting the perfect lentil pie, from selecting the finest ingredients to mastering the art of layering and baking. Whether you're a seasoned cook or embarking on your culinary adventures, this detailed guide will empower you to recreate this beloved Greek delicacy in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
GREEK LENTIL PIE
I consider lentils a convenience food, so quickly do they cook. I used up the last of my ripe summer tomatoes in a simple lentil and tomato stew and used the leftover stew to fill an amazing Greek phyllo pie, an idea I came across when I was reading about all the things Greeks do with lentils in Diane Kochilas's "The Greek Vegetarian."
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories dinner
Time 1h30m
Yield 1 9-inch pie, serving 6
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a medium-size heavy skillet and add onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt and garlic and stir together until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Remove from heat.
- In a medium-size bowl combine cooked onion and garlic with lentils, herbs, and feta.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine butter and remaining olive oil in a ramekin or pyrex measuring cup, or in a small pot, and heat gently until butter has melted. Brush a 9-inch straight sided tart pan or cake pan, either ceramic or metal, with butter and oil. Lay your phyllo dough out on a work surface and cover completely with a kitchen towel. Moisten another kitchen towel, and place on top of the dry towel. Remove phyllo one sheet at a time, replacing towels each time.
- Lay a sheet of phyllo in the pan, tucking it into the seam of the pan, with edges overhanging rim. Brush it lightly with butter and oil and turn pan slightly, then place another sheet on top, positioning it so that edges overlap another section of pan's rim. Continue to layer in 5 more sheets of phyllo, brushing each one with butter and oil and staggering them so that overhang on the rim of pan is evenly distributed and covers entire pan.
- Fill lined pan with lentil filling, then fold overhanging edges in over filling, brushing each one lightly with butter/oil mixture.
- Layer remaining 5 sheets of dough over top, brushing each sheet with butter and olive oil and rotating pan slightly after each addition. Crimp edges into sides of pan. Brush top with butter and oil. Pierce top of pie in several places with a sharp knife. Bake 45 to 50 minutes, until top is golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature. Re-crisp phyllo before serving if necessary in a low oven for 10 to 20 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 379, UnsaturatedFat 10 grams, Carbohydrate 42 grams, Fat 18 grams, Fiber 10 grams, Protein 14 grams, SaturatedFat 8 grams, Sodium 475 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams
GREEK LENTIL SOUP (FAKES)
Fakes (pronounced 'Fah-kehs') is a staple in the Greek kitchen, and an especially filling meal. It is traditionally served with a drizzle of olive oil and lots of vinegar. Though the vinegar is of course optional, try it. It lifts the lentils and adds another dimension of flavor!
Provided by Diana Moutsopoulos
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Beans and Peas Lentil Soup Recipes
Time 1h20m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Place lentils in a large saucepan; add enough water to cover by 1 inch. Bring water to a boil and cook for 10 minutes; drain.
- Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic, onion, and carrot; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Pour in lentils, 1 quart water, oregano, rosemary, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste and season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the lentils have softened, 30 to 40 minutes. Add additional water if the soup becomes too thick. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil and red wine vinegar to taste.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 357.4 calories, Carbohydrate 40.3 g, Fat 15.5 g, Fiber 18.7 g, Protein 15.5 g, SaturatedFat 2.2 g, Sodium 56.9 mg, Sugar 3.7 g
CRISPY GREEK-STYLE PIE
A crispy pie that you can adapt for your needs, add chicken or keep it veggie. A good fail-safe for your repertoire
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Dinner, Lunch, Main course, Snack, Supper
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Put the spinach into a large pan. Pour over a couple tbsp water, then cook until just wilted. Tip into a sieve, leave to cool a little, then squeeze out any excess water and roughly chop. Roughly chop the tomatoes and put into a bowl along with the spinach, feta and eggs. Mix well.
- Carefully unroll the filo pastry. Cover with some damp sheets of kitchen paper to stop it drying out. Take a sheet of pastry and brush liberally with some of the sundried tomato oil. Drape oil-side down in a 22cm loosebottomed cake tin so that some of the pastry hangs over the side. Brush oil on another piece of pastry and place in the tin, just a little further round. Keep placing the pastry pieces in the tin until you have roughly three layers, then spoon over the filling. Pull the sides into the middle, scrunch up and make sure the filling is covered. Brush with a little more oil.
- Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Cook the pie for 30 mins until the pastry is crisp and golden brown. Remove from the cake tin, slice into wedges and serve with salad.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 250 calories, Fat 13 grams fat, SaturatedFat 5 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 23 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 5 grams sugar, Fiber 3 grams fiber, Protein 13 grams protein, Sodium 0.3 milligram of sodium
GREEK PASTITSIO WITH LENTILS
Provided by Marian Burros
Categories dinner, weekday, casseroles, main course
Time 45m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Cook the macaroni in enough boiling water to cover for about 10 minutes, and drain. Cool under cold running water and reserve.
- Cook the lentils in 4 cups boiling water for about 25 minutes or until tender. Drain.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large skillet heat the oil. When hot, add the onion, and saute for 2 minutes. Add the wine, and simmer for 10 minutes or until the wine has evaporated and the onion is tender. Add the cinnamon, tomato sauce and lentils; simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.
- In a medium-size saucepan heat the milk. Whisk in the oat bran and nutmeg, and simmer for 1 minute, stirring constantly; remove from the heat. Stir the macaroni into the milk mixture, and mix well.
- Spoon half the macaroni mixture onto the bottom of a 9-inch-square baking pan. Spoon half the lentil mixture on top, spreading evenly. Repeat with the remaining macaroni and lentils. Sprinkle on the cheese. Cover with foil, and bake for 15 minutes or until the pastitsio is hot.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 307, UnsaturatedFat 2 grams, Carbohydrate 44 grams, Fat 10 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 12 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 347 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams
Tips:
- Use high-quality lentils: Look for whole, unsplit lentils that are free of debris. Avoid lentils that are cracked or broken, as these will take longer to cook and may not hold their shape as well in the pie.
- Soak the lentils before cooking: Soaking the lentils for at least 30 minutes before cooking will help to reduce their cooking time and make them more digestible.
- Don't overcook the lentils: Overcooked lentils will become mushy and lose their flavor. Cook them until they are just tender, but still hold their shape.
- Use fresh vegetables: Fresh vegetables will add flavor and nutrition to the pie. Choose vegetables that are in season and at their peak of ripeness.
- Don't skimp on the spices: Spices are what give Greek lentil pie its characteristic flavor. Use a generous amount of oregano, thyme, and cumin.
- Use a good quality feta cheese: Feta cheese is a key ingredient in Greek lentil pie. Choose a feta cheese that is made from sheep's milk or a blend of sheep's and goat's milk. Avoid feta cheese that is made from cow's milk, as it will not have the same flavor.
- Let the pie cool before serving: This will help the pie to set and make it easier to slice.
Conclusion:
Greek lentil pie is a delicious and satisfying dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make and can be customized to your liking. With its combination of lentils, vegetables, and spices, this pie is a great way to get your daily dose of protein, fiber, and vitamins. So next time you are looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give Greek lentil pie a try. You won't be disappointed!
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