Greek Style Hand Pies with Cheese (Tiropitakia Kourou)

I think this is one of the classic baked goods, that you can find in almost every bakery around Greece. Light and flaky pastry with a heart of cheese filling. There many different recipes of kourou but all are equally delicious. Classic version hides inside feta cheese filling,  however, a mix of other cheese like anthotiro, xynomyzitra, goat cheese or even fresh herbs takes the pies to another lever.

Kourou pies are usually made with combination of yoghurt and butter or butter and margarine, but in my recipe I used only butter (I truly love butter) and non classic mix of three different flours. The dough I ultra flaky and crumbles in your mouth. Absolute deliciousness!

Some time ago I shared the recipe of kourou pies in my column on Food and Leisure site,  but it magically disappeared! Maybe it was Greek patriot hacker who didn't want the national secret recipe spread around the world or maybe that was just an error, but will remain a mystery... ;)

 

 

Greek Style Hand Pies with Cheese

(makes about 30 pies)

the dough

500 g wheat flour

300 g buckwheat flour

200 g millet flour

400 g butter, soften

300 g margarine, soften (I used a full amount of butter)

2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp sugar

3 eggs

100 ml water or milk

1 tsp baking powder
 

the filling

200 g feta cheese, crumbled

200 g Anthotiro cheese, crumbled

1/2 cup Kasseri or Gruyere cheese

2 lightly beaten eggs

freshly ground black and pink pepper to taste (optional)
 

 moreover

egg wash

black and white sesame seeds

za'atar (optional)



1. Make the pastry. Place all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until the mixture forms a ball. Cover in plastic wrap and let it rest in the fridge for about half an hour.

2. Make the filling. In a medium size bowl lightly mix all the ingredients and set aside until needed.

3. Roll the chilled dough to about 3-5mm thick and cut out 12cm rounds.

4. Place 1 tbsp of the filling in the center of each round, fold the dough in half and seal the edges.

5. Place ready pies onto a baking tray lined with a parchment paper, brush them with egg wash, and sprinkle over some sesame seeds or za'atar (not very Greek, but worth to try).

6. Bake in the oven preheated to 190'C for about 30 minutes or until golden.