My family LOVES food with lots of flavor and trying new and interesting things.  When I saw this recipe on Pinterest, Turskish Meat Pies at Jocooks.com, I knew they would love it.  My son especially loves trying “real” ethnic cuisine.

Of course we are on a strict budget this month.  You know those months where you go on vacation and come home having had a wonderful time but need to pinch pennies the rest of the month?  That is where we are.  But, luckily I had everything to make this except for the pine nuts so I just left them off.

We will definitely be making this recipe again.  The dough was light and heavenly.  Even heated up the next day for breakfast the leftovers were still delicious.

I am thinking I may even use the dough in other recipes.  My family thought it was amazing.  The original recipe called for using a mixer with a bread hook but I did mine all by hand and still thought it was yummy.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup plain yogurt
• 2 tsp active dry yeast
• 1/2 tbsp sugar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup warm water

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup yogurt
• 1 tbsp Arabic spice mix
• 1/2 cup of pine nuts (if desired)

• 2 tbsp ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp coriander
• 1 tbsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tbsp cardamom
• 1/2 tbsp cinnamon

Directions:

1. In a small bowl proof the yeast by mixing it with the warm water and sugar. Let it sit until it bubbles.
2. In a bowl add flour and salt mixing thoroughly.  To the flour mixture add yogurt, the yeast mixture and olive oil. Mix well until dough is soft.
3. Place the dough in an oiled bowl and rub some additional olive oil over the top of the dough.   Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2-4 hours.
4. While the dough is refrigerating mix all the spices for the Arabic spice mix together in a small bowl. I
5. In a skillet heat a tablespoon of olive oil and add the ground beef and chopped onion and garlic. Stir well and cook for 4 minutes.  Add a tablespoon of the spice mix,  sugar and stir well. Cook until the meat is fully cooked.
6. Drain off any excess grease from your meat.
7. Add the yogurt to the meat and mix well. Let it cool.
8. Pre-heat oven to 400 F degrees.
9. Take the dough out of the fridge and cut it into 8 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball. Take each ball and roll it out, do no use extra flour, use olive oil to stretch the dough as needed. The meat pies should be about 3 to 4 inches in diameter.  Spread a couple of tablespoons of the meat mixture over the rolled out dough and spread it evenly. (Sprinkle the top with pine nuts if desired.)
10. Bake the pies for about 15 minutes.   They will be brown around the edges.