04-08-2008, 06:25 PM
This is the basic recipe that is used for meat, spinach, cheese and leek pies. One batch makes around 18 pies. I cheat and use my bread machine on the 'dough only' setting for this!
Basic Dough for Pies
Ajeenat al-Fatayar
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup lukewarm water
1/4 oz package dry yeast
3 cups flour
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 cup warm milk
1 tablespoon olive oil
Dissolve the sugar in the luewarm water, then sprinkle the yeast in and stir. Allow to sit in a warm place until the yeast begins to froth.
Meanwhile, mix the flour, butter, salt and ginger in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the flour and add the milk and yeast mix and knead well. Add more wrm milk or flour if necessary. Do not allow the dough to become sticky.
Shape into a ball, then brush the entire outside of the ball with oil, and place on a floured sheet. Cover with a dampened cloth, then place in a wrm spot and allow to rise until double the size. The dough may be frozen at this point.
Defrost thoroughly before using for pies.