Sfiha Meat Pies - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 1/4 teaspoons dry yeast
1 cup warm water
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cups flour
16 ounces ground lamb
2 firm tomatoes, finely chopped
5 medium onions, finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 dash ground cayenne pepper, ground cinnamon, and ground allspice
2 tablespoons butter, diced
2 tablespoons yogurt
1 tablespoon sesame paste (Tahini)
1 tablespoon pomegranate juice, thickened (if available)
4 tablespoons fried pine nuts

Preparation

For Dough:Combine yeast, water and sugar and let sit for ten minutes.
Add olive oil.
Slowly add flour, half cup at a time until all combined, add a tsp of water if needed to combine dough.
Mix well meat, tomatoes, onion and spices.
Add yoghurt, sesame paste and pomegranate.
Mix all with fried pine nuts.
Add butter.
Divide dough into walnut size balls.
Roll between hand palms to smooth.
Roll out balls with a rolling pin to form 8 cm diameter circles.
Put one tbls of meat mixture on dough circle seeing that a cube is in each spoon.
Bring the edges up and press to make a square.
Arrange meat pastries in a tray brushed with butter.
Bake in a moderate heat oven at 350 for 30 minutes or till dough is golden and meat is cooked.
Serve hot with yogurt.