Pite Me Mish, also known as Byrek Me Mish, is a traditional Albanian savory pie made with a mixture of minced meat, onions, paprika, and herbs encased in layers of filo pastry. Pite Me Mish is considered one of Albania’s staple dishes.
Pite Me Mish is created by simmering the minced meat, onions, and herbs in a pan until it reaches a thick consistency before being placed between layers of filo pastry. The pie is then cooked in the oven. Once the pie is cooked, it is removed from the oven, and water is poured over and around the pie, with a towel placed on top to soften the filo pastry.
Origin and Cultural Significance
The hearty dish can be traced back to the Ottoman Empire and is deeply rooted in Albanian history as one of the country’s most popular dishes. Pite Me Mish has elements of both Turkish and Mediterranean influence, a nod towards Albania’s diverse cultural influences.
Culturally, the dish is commonly prepared at home with the family and often enjoyed during special occasions such as family gatherings and religious holidays. Pite Me Mish can be enjoyed as a snack or as part of a larger meal and is enjoyed both hot and cold.
Pite Me Mish
A traditional Albanian savory pie, created from a mixture of minced meat, onions, paprika, and herbs encased in layers of filo pastry.
Ingredients
- Ground beef or lamb - 500g
- Onion (finely chopped) - 1
- Garlic (minced) - 2 cloves
- Red bell pepper (diced) - 1
- Green bell pepper (diced) - 1
- Olive oil - 2 tbsp
- Dried oregano - 1 tsp
- Paprika - 1 tsp
- Salt and black pepper - to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped - for garnish
- Filo/phyllo pastry - 10 sheets
- Unsalted butter (melted) - 1/2 cup
- Plain yogurt - 1/4 cup
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing until they become translucent.
- Add the ground meat and cook until it's browned and crumbled.
- Stir in the diced red and green bell peppers and continue to cook until they become tender.
- Season the mixture with dried oregano, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix well and remove it from the heat. Set aside.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Brush a baking dish with melted butter.
- Lay one sheet of phyllo pastry in the dish and brush it generously with more melted butter.
- Repeat the process, layering and buttering each sheet until you have used half of them.
- Spread the meat filling evenly over the phyllo pastry layers.
- Continue layering the remaining phyllo sheets, buttering each one.
- After the final layer, brush the top with a mixture of plain yogurt and a bit of melted butter. This will give the pie a lovely golden color when baked.
- Using a sharp knife, score the top of the pie into diamond or square shapes.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 40-45 minutes, or until the pie is golden brown and crisp.
- Pour half a cup of water over the top and half a cup of water around the edges.
- Cover the pie with two tea towels and leave to stand for 1 hour before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 595Total Fat: 39gSaturated Fat: 21gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 107mgSodium: 463mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 3gSugar: 17gProtein: 15g
Nutrition is provided and calculated by Nutritionix. It is for general information purposes and is only a rough estimation.