Kreatopita (Greek Meat Pie) Recipe
Kreatopita is a traditional Greek meat pie made with ground beef, rice, tomato sauce, and aromatic seasonings, all layered between crispy phyllo dough sheets and baked to golden perfection. This savory pie offers a delicious combination of tender meat filling and flaky, buttery pastry, perfect for a hearty meal or special occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Filling
- 500g ground beef
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup uncooked rice
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp oregano
- Water, splash (approx. 1/4 cup)
Phyllo Layers
- 10 phyllo sheets
- 1/2 cup melted butter or olive oil
Instructions
- Sauté onion: Heat some oil in a pan over medium heat and sauté the finely chopped onion until soft and translucent.
- Cook ground beef: Add the ground beef to the pan and cook thoroughly until browned, stirring to break up any clumps.
- Add rice and seasonings: Stir in the uncooked rice, tomato sauce, oregano, salt, and pepper. Add a splash of water to moisten the mixture and reduce heat to low.
- Simmer filling: Cover and simmer the mixture gently for about 10 minutes, allowing the rice to begin cooking and flavors to meld.
- Prepare phyllo layers: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a baking dish and lay down 5 phyllo sheets one by one, brushing each sheet thoroughly with melted butter or olive oil to keep them crisp and golden.
- Spread meat filling: Evenly distribute the meat and rice filling over the layered phyllo sheets in the dish.
- Top with phyllo sheets: Layer the remaining 5 phyllo sheets on top of the filling, again brushing each sheet with butter or oil for a flaky crust.
- Bake kreatopita: Place the assembled kreatopita in the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes until the phyllo is crisp and golden brown.
- Cool and serve: Allow the kreatopita to cool slightly after baking to set the filling, then slice into pieces and serve warm.
Notes
- Use melted butter or olive oil to brush the phyllo sheets for extra flavor and crispiness.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground lamb or a mix for a different flavor profile.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, adding herbs like mint or parsley if desired.
- For a quicker option, use pre-cooked rice, adding it at the end of cooking the meat filling just to heat through.
- Ensure phyllo sheets are covered with a damp towel while assembling to prevent drying out.
Keywords: kreatopita, Greek meat pie, phyllo pie, ground beef pie, savory pie, traditional Greek recipe
Find it online: https://kochenmitviktoria.com/kreatopita-greek-meat-pie-recipe/
