Food Trending

Ingredients:

  • All-purpose flour : 2 1/2 cups
  • Granulated sugar : 2 tbsp
  • Salt : 1 tsp
  • Cold lard : 1/2 cup
  • Cold unsalted butter, cubed : 1/2 cup
  • Ice water : 8 tbsp

For Filling:

  • Fresh Apples, sliced : 6 cups
  • Granny Smith apples, sliced : 4 cups
  • Lemon Juice : 1 tbsp
  • Butter : 2 tbsp
  • Granulated sugar : 2/3 cup
  • Cornstarch : 1/4 cup
  • Lemon zest : 2 tsp
  • Cinnamon : 1/4 tsp
  • Salt : 1/4 tsp
  • Grated nutmeg : 1/4 tsp

Preparation:

Mix 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp salt and flour in a food processor until combined. Add lard and pulse 12 times. Add 1/2 cup butter and pulse 7 or 8 times until pea-size.

After that add ice water through the feed tube until dough just comes together. Divide the prepared dough into balls and make the balls. Wrap in plastic wrap. Flatten it into discs. Refrigerate for about 1 hr.

Put it in the lowest level of oven. Place a baking sheet on rack and preheat to 425 F. Roll the dough portion into a 12-in. circle on a lightly floured surface. Press onto a 9-in. pie plate, then refrigerate. Roll remaining dough portion into a 13-in. circle. Place on a large plate and refrigerate.

In a large bowl, toss the apples with lemon juice. Melt 2 tbsp butter in a large frying pan over medium. Add apples and cook, stirring, until liquid evaporates, 7 to 9 min. Transfer it to a baking sheet and set on a rack, turning occasionally, until cooled, 25 min. Stir 2/3 cup sugar, cornstarch, lemon zest, cinnamon, 1/4 tsp salt and nutmeg in a bowl. Sprinkle over apples and toss to combine. Pour apples and any juices into chilled pie shell, spreading evenly.

Spread the remaining dough over apples, pressing edges of dough together. Trim the edges with scissors, if needed, leaving 1/2-in overhang. Fold top edge under bottom edge, then crimp together using index finger and thumb. Cut 3 to 5 steam vents on top. Brush with egg wash without touching the edges. Sprinkle with coarse sugar.

Put the pie on hot baking sheet and bake for 20 min. Reduce heat to 375 F, then rotate the pie. Continue baking until crust is deep golden brown and a paring knife can be easily inserted into apples, 20 to 25 min. Cover with foil if browning too quickly. Cool on rack for at least 2 hr.

Image courtesy: chatelaine. com / images are subject to copyright

Food Trending

The Lampuki Pie is a tasty Maltese food. It is a delicious pie made with the lampuki (mahi-mahi) fishes.

Ingredients:

  • 500g prepared puff pastry or shortcrust
  • 1½kg lampuki fish (mahi-mahi fish)
  • Flour, for coating
  • 2 sliced onions
  • Cooked peas
  • 2 tomatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 1 small cauliflower or broccoli, half boiled
  • 1kg fresh spinach, cleaned and cooked or 500g frozen spinach cooked, drained
  • 2 carrots, peeled and boiled till tender
  • 2 tbsp tomato puree (kunserva)
  • 2 tbsp capers
  • 2 tbsp sultanas
  • 6 black olives, pitted and chopped
  • 1 tbsp parsley
  • 1 tbsp basil
  • 1 tbsp mint
  • 1 tsp mixed spice
  • 1 lemon’s zest
  • 1 tsp mixed spice
  • Olive oil
  • Salt
  • Pepper powder

Preparation:

Cut the fish into portions, excluding the head and tail. Dip in seasoned flour. Heat oil, and shallow fry until they are cooked through. Allow the fish to cool enough to be able to handle it. Remove all the skin and bones carefully and cut up into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.

Fry the sliced onions in olive oil until they become soft and transparent. Add the peeled chopped tomatoes, cook for 1 min after which add the cooked chopped cauliflower, the cooked chopped carrots, cooked chopped spinach and the peas. Add some water and simmer until all the vegetables are tender.

Add all the lemon zest, olives, herbs, spice, tomato puree, sultanas, and capers. Season and allow to simmer another 5 mins. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Roll out the pastry and line a shallow round, square or rectangular oven dish remembering to keep one third of the pastry for the top of the pie.

Take half of the vegetable mixture and spread out on top of the pastry base, then place the fried lampuki pieces evenly over all the vegetables, and finish off by spreading the remaining vegetables as a top layer over the fish.

Roll out the remaining pastry and place over the top sealing the edges well. Prick all over the pastry lid with a fork. Bake in a hot oven 200°C for 15 mins, then lower the heat to moderate 180°C and cook further until the pastry is golden brown. Let the pie settle for 10 mins and serve it warm.

Image courtesy: tescomamalta.com / images are subject to copyright