Marko Hannula - stock.adobe.com
Helsinki / Finland - DECEMBER 5, 2021: Closeup of a traditional Finnish meat pastries on a kitchen towel.
4
SERVINGS
Ingredients
- Crust:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup cooked, mashed potatoes, with no added butter or milk
- 5 tablespoons cold water
Filling
- 2 cups cooked meat (ground or cubed beef, venison, etc.)
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 onions, minced
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- Salt and pepper
- 1 egg, beaten (for glaze)
Directions
- To make dough: In large bowl, mix together flour and salt. Using pastry blender, cut in butter until coarse meal results. Blend in mashed potatoes and cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until dough comes together. Press dough into ball; wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 2 hours or more.
- Heat oven to 425°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- To make filling: In large skillet, cook meat. Drain off excess fat.
- In another skillet, heat butter. Add onions and sauté over medium heat until soft. Stir into meat with sour cream. Season with salt and pepper.
- To assemble: On floured surface, turn out dough. Roll out slightly, then divide into four equal parts. Roll out each piece to 9-inch round; transfer to prepared baking sheet.
- Divide and spoon filling evenly in middle of each dough round. Fold edges over filling and press to seal — the seam should be on top. Brush tops with beaten egg. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Allow to cool slightly before serving or serve at room temperature. Serve with horseradish sauce or mustard. Yields 4 individual meal-sized Finnish Meat Pies.
According to Beatrice Ojakangas in The Great Scandinavian Baking Book (University of Minnesota Press, 1999), these potato-crusted meat pasties are traditional in Finland’s western province of Satakunta.
MAIN ARTICLE:
Savory Pie Recipes
My husband’s maternal grandmother was Finnish, and he remembers eating meat pies as a child; he loves this recipe. This meaty dish will warm up appetites on the coldest nights.
