Lebanese Meat Pie Recipe, otherwise known as Sfeehas, are triangles of bread dough that are baked with a rich, warm flavored ground beef mixture. Serve your meat pies with yogurt, hummus and a tabbouleh salad. The leftovers freeze great for later!
1package of dough or 1 package of Rhodes 36 count frozen dinner rolls
1 to 1 1/2poundsof ground beef {I used 80/20}
1sweet onionfinely chopped
4garlic clovesminced
1teaspooncumin
2Tablespoonsolive oil
1teaspooncinnamon
1/2teaspoonallspice
1/4teaspooncloves
1/4teaspooncayenne pepper {optional}
1/4teaspoonsalt
1/8teaspoonblack pepper
Instructions
Place frozen dough in your refrigerator 6 to 12 hours before using. Dough will not rise, but will be thawed and ready to use.
Spray two baking trays with non-stick spray. Lay out the dough on the tray if not using the frozen rolls and cover with a kitchen towel to rise for about 1 hour. When the dough has doubled in size form the dough into 2 inch round balls and make about 24 of them. Cover with kitchen towel for another 30 min to rise again.
If using the frozen roll dough place 24 of the frozen dough rolls on two of the baking sheets. Spray the top of the dough with non-stick spray and cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough thaw and rise, which takes about 2 to 3 hours.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
To prepare the beef mixture: In a medium skillet heat 2 Tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes or until soft. Add the ground beef or lamb and the spices and continue to cook until the meat is browned. Drain the fat from the ground beef and place in a mixing bowl.
To prepare the meat pies: Set out of a large cutting board or another work surface that has space to roll out the dough. Flour the surface your working on. Use a rolling pin to roll each dough round out so there are three sides.
Fill each dough round with enough beef mixture to fill the dough but leave room around the edges to close the meat pie.
Bring the three sides of the dough together to a point in the middle. Use your fingers to pinch the dough together and make sure they are closed completely.
Spray the each meat pie with a bit of olive oil or use a brush to brush them with olive oil.
Bake for about 20 minutes, or until just golden brown. To get a nice golden brown on the edges you can turn the heat up to 450 the last 2 minutes of baking. Remove from oven and let cool for a couple of minutes. Serve warm or freeze for later.
Notes
To freeze your spinach pies let them cool completely and then either store them in the freezer in an airtight container or a ziplock bag. When I am ready to use the meat pies I will let them thaw overnight in the fridge and then reheat them in the oven.