Swedish Meat Pies

Swedish Meat Pie

This is a dish I simply loved at my friends place in Delhi. Made from few ingredients and an easy dish to prepare. This can be served as both a snack and as a dinner dish accompanied by a hearty salad. Though it is made of minced beef, I often opt for minced mutton. It is baked hnce easy on the calories too. You can prepare this on week nights too.

Preparation Time  :  20 minutes

Baking Time         :  20 minutes

Difficulty              :  Easy

Serves                   :  6 - 8

Ingredients :

• Butter                 : 1 tbsp
• Minced Mutton  :  500 grams
• Onions               :  2 medium (finely chopped)
• Parsley               :  2 Tbsp finely chopped
• Ground Allspice:  1/4 tsp
• Nutmeg              :  1 pinch
• Potato                 :  2 medium grated
• Cheddar Cheese :  1 cup finely grated
• Salt                     :  To taste
• Shortening          :  3/4 cup ( you can use cold butter instead)
• Flour                   :  2 cups (use all purpose if available, otherwise add 1/4 tsp baking powder)
• Sour cream         :  6 tbsp (if you don't get sour cream, use hung curd)

Method : 

1. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Take care that the butter does not burn.
2. Add the minced meat to the melted butter and fry till it is no longer raw.
3. Add onions, parsley, ground allspice, nutmeg, potatoes and salt to the mixture and cook well till the meat is well cooked.
4. Once the meat is completely done, add the cheese and mix well.
5. If any extra fat gathers, drain well and allow the mixture to cool.
6. In a big bowl add the flour and the shortening (or cold butter cut into very small pieces) and mix with a light hand till it looks like a crumble.
7. Add sour cream to it and bring it together to form a dough.
8. Wrap the dough in a cling film and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
9. Take out the dough and kneed well on a floured surface.
10. Cut into 6 - 8 balls. Roll into rounds 18 inch thick.
11. Put mixture onto the lower half and cover with the upper half to form a half moon shape.
12. Seal the edges with water and set on a baking sheet.
13. Preheat oven to 180 degree Celsius. 
14. Bake the pies for 20 minutes or till they are golden brown.
15. Serve hot with a bowl of crunchy salad. You can also serve it as a snack accompanied with a yogurt dip.

Note : To bring variations to the dish you can add cubed bell peppers. If you want it to be slightly hot you can also add 1/4 tsp of coarsely ground black pepper powder.