Description
Flaky puff pastry pies filled with a fragrant blend of spiced ground beef, rice, peas, and carrots — a modern twist on traditional Middle Eastern Ouzi, golden, hearty, and irresistibly delicious.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (80% lean)
- 1 tablespoon allspice
- Salt to taste
- 2 cups calrose rice, soaked in water for 2 hours
- 2 1/4 cups boiling water
- 1 pound frozen peas
- 1 cup finely diced carrots (optional, same size as peas)
- 10 puff pastry squares
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Season with allspice and salt, then stir in peas and carrots. Cook until vegetables are tender.
- In a saucepan, cook the soaked rice in 2 1/4 cups boiling water until fluffy, about 10–12 minutes. Combine the cooked rice with the beef mixture. Let it cool slightly.
- Place a puff pastry square on a clean surface. Add 2–3 tablespoons of filling to the center and fold the corners over to form a parcel. Press or crimp edges to seal.
- Arrange the pies on the baking tray and brush the tops with beaten egg for shine.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes or until golden brown and puffed. Serve warm with yogurt or salad.
Notes
- Cool the filling before assembling to keep pastry crisp.
- Brush with egg wash for even browning.
- Freeze unbaked pies and bake directly from frozen when needed.
- Add toasted nuts like almonds or pine nuts for extra texture and flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pie
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 310mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 17g
- Cholesterol: 55mg