Do you have new Syrian neighbours? Perhaps your neighbourhood or church is welcoming a resettled family into your community. Even an attempt at food that tastes-like-home can go a long way. Here’s an authentic appetizer that is easy to prepare to help you say ‘Welcome!’ to a Syrian family that is new to your area:
Pepper & Olive Pot Pies
Borak Zaitoon
Ingredients
Ajeen Dough:
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup canola oil
2 tsp instant yeast
1 cup milk (warm)
¼ tsp salt
Filling:
Filling:
½ lb green olives, pitted & chopped
2 red bell peppers (fresh, sun-dried, or marinated)
1 white onion (small)
1 tbsp olive oil
½ tsp sumac spice (optional) *we couldn't find any
Chili pepper to taste
Black pepper to taste; no salt (the olives are salty enough)
Makes 20 pot pies
Preparing the dough
Mix the flour, yeast, and salt.
Add oil and knead, then gradually add warm milk and knead until smooth.
Cover dough in a lightly oiled bowl and let rise for an hour.
Add oil and knead, then gradually add warm milk and knead until smooth.
Cover dough in a lightly oiled bowl and let rise for an hour.
Cut up onions, marinated peppers, and olives.
Saute in olive oil for 5 (or so) minutes.
Lightly knead dough. Pull off handfuls and roll into balls.
Flatten into oval patties.
Spoon a portion of the sauted filling onto the dough.
Fold up dough at the side and pinch shut along the seam. Place an inch apart on a lightly sprayed baking sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes at 375 F.
Serve warm, with whole green olives on the side.
Enjoy! Sahtain!
*Find a variety of olives from an import grocery store. The middle eastern varieties have a very different taste from regular jarred green olives common in Canadian grocery stores.
Special thanks to syriancooking.com for this recipe. The site was started when its founder, Ghinwa, a native Syrian living in Iowa with a passion for middle eastern dishes, was unable to find good Syrian recipes online. Ghinwa’s site has become a resource for those welcoming Syrian refugee families into their communities. It compiles recipes, cooking tips, grocery lists, and even cultural tips and Arabic expressions - a fantastic source for authentic and easy-to-prepare Syrian dishes!
