Olive and Leek Pies
Makes 14 pies
For
the patty:
2
cups warm water
1 tablespoon (one package) dry yeast
1 tablespoon sea salt
5 cups all purpose flour
½ cup lemon juice
¼ cup olive oil
For
the filling:
1/3 cup olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
2 leeks, white part plus
2 inches of the green, sliced to inch pieces
1 ½ cups black juicy olives, like Amphissa, pitted and halved
¼ cup pine nuts
2/3 cup parsley, chopped
1/3 cup fresh mint, chopped
Freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons milk for brushing
Optional:
3 tablespoons sesame seeds to sprinkle
Dilute
the yeast in ½ cup warm water. Place the flour in the bowl of a food processor
equipped with dough hooks. Add the salt and with the motor running, pour in the
yeast mixture, the lemon juice, olive oil and the rest of the water, as needed.
Process for about one minute, to get a smooth dough that forms a ball in the
processor.
Turn out onto a floured surface and shape into a ball. Place in an oiled bowl,
cover and let rise for about 35 minutes, until doubled.
Take cupful pieces of dough and flatten them with a rolling pin or your hands,
to make saucer size disks. Let them stand, while you prepare the filling.
Warm the oven to 200C. In a skillet warm the olive oil and saute the onions and
leeks, until soft and transparent. Add the olives, pine nuts, parsley and mint
and remove from the heat. Season with pepper and taste to adjust the seasoning.
To fill the little pies, put two tablespoons of the filling on each disk of
dough, brush the borders with a little water and fold them in half, to cover the
filling and obtain pillow like little pies. Brush with a little milk and
sprinkle with sesame seeds, if you like. Bake for about 45 minutes, until golden
brown. Let them cool on a rack, and serve them warm or cold.
NOTE: You can make the pies bite size with walnut size pieces of dough or
you can make a whole round or square pie, dividing the pastry in two and using
half for the bottom and half for the top of the pan, spreading the filling
evenly in between