Kreatópitakia
Meat & Tomato Appetizers

A sumptuous combination of ground meat simmered in a cinnamon perfumed tomato sauce with tangy feta cheese and surrounded by crispy, flaky layers of fillo dough. The triangles make perfect appetizers. Use the filling in a traditional pan pita for a fantastic family meal!

Ingredients:

  • Filling of choice (see filling recipes below)

  • 1-pound fillo dough (thaw frozen dough at room temperature for 5 hours or in refrigerator overnight)

  • Unsalted butter or extra virgin olive oil

  • 1 lb. lean ground beef or lamb

  • 1 large onion (grated or finely chopped)

  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

  • Salt & pepper to taste

  • 1 can tomato paste

  • 1-cup water (or 1/2 cup water & 1/2 cup red wine)

  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 2 eggs, beaten

  • 2 tablespoons dried breadcrumbs

  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese or 8 ounces chopped feta cheese

Filling:

  • Saute onion in olive oil; do not brown.

  • Brown ground beef or lamb; drain well.

  • Add browned ground meat, tomato paste, water (or water & wine), cinnamon, and nutmeg to onion mixture.

  • Simmer about 20 minutes over medium heat; sauce will not be juicy.

  • Remove from stove; let cool for about 10 – 15 minutes.

  • Season to taste with salt and pepper (do not over salt; cheese is salty).

  • Add feta or Parmesan cheese, beaten eggs, and dried breadcrumbs; mix well.  

Assemble Triangles:

  • Prepare desired filling.

  • Cover fillo sheets with a moist tea towel to prevent drying.

  • Place 1 fillo sheet on clean work surface and brush with either oil or butter.

  • Cut buttered/oiled sheet in half.

  • Place 1 teaspoon of desired filling at bottom right hand corner of fillo strip.

  • Fold corner over to opposite edge, making a triangle.

  • Continue folding (as you would a flag), keeping triangular shape with each fold.

  • Place each completed triangle seam side down on baking sheet.

  • Repeat with remaining filling and fillo; brush each triangle top with melted butter.*

  • Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 - 20 minutes until golden brown.

*  Triangles may be frozen unbaked. When baking from frozen state, do not defrost first. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and bake for about 20 - 25 minutes until golden brown. You may have to bake them a little longer or flip them over in the oven.

 **  Low fat version: use non-fat cottage cheese (or ricotta cheese or cream cheese), non-cholesterol egg substitute (such as Egg Beaters), and an olive oil vegetable spray (such as Pam)  

 

***  May substitute one large tub of ricotta cheese or two 8-ounce packages of cream cheese.  


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