Lamb Pie and Lamb Gyros with Leftovers

Usually, as a big family, we don’t have a lot of leftovers.  On Monday I prepared lots of food as it was my eldest son’s name day but none of my sons ate much, as they were not feeling well.   On Tuesday I made a Lamb Roast, tabbouleh, tzatziki and a Birthday Cake but unfortunately again I had lots of leftovers as they DID NOT EAT.

They were both not feeling well and the doctor diagnosed gastroenteritis.  They are now feeling much better  but they are still on a diet, so today I prepared four different meals.

I prepared lappas, for one of them which is a soup with boiled carrots with rice, with a little olive oil, salt and lemon juice, as the doctor prescribed, which is good for the stomach,  whilst my other son who is feeling better needed something light, but tastier to eat so I added a potato to his lappas as well as some fresh cod fish.

Well as I said I had lots of leftover lamb from Easter in the refrigerator so I had to make good use of it.  I made a search on the internet but I did not  find anything interesting to cook with the leftovers.   My husband wanted to go out shopping as he had to go to Athens later in the day for some other business and he was pressuring me to decide what to cook.   I kept thinking and thinking and then I found the solution on my own site. I would make a Lamb Pie, based on my Meat Pie.

My husband went out to buy some fish for soup for the boys and as I was preparing the pie he called me to tell me that he found some fresh anchovies called gavros in Greek and asked me if we wanted some for tomorrow.  I could have said “no thanks” but it’s been a while that I wanted to make anchovies so I told him that it was a great idea but only ½ a kilo as the boys would still eat something light tomorrow.Of course that added some extra time in the kitchen as I had to prepare the fish as well.

The pie I decided to make would be somewhat different to the one I usually make and instead of using ground beef I would use the leftover lamb.  However, as I had so many things to prepare I would use ready made puff pastry instead of making the phyllo myself.  Apart from all the above my daughter did not want to eat the meat pie so she asked me to reserve some leftover lamb for her as she planned to make something herself.

Leftover Lamb Pie

Ingredients:

1 Puff Pastry

1 egg for glazing

Sesame seeds

For the filling:

• leftover roasted lamb or goat (about ½ kilo)
• 2 medium sized leeks chopped in slices
• 5 – 6 spring onions
• ½ cup of dill finely chopped
• Salt and pepper
• 1 spoonful of olive oil
• ½ cup graviera cheese

Directions:

Boil leeks until tender, then strain them.

1. Sauté the onions, with one tablespoon of olive oil in a non stick frying pan, add leeks and add salt and pepper before adding the leftover meat, which is already salted. (I removed all visible fat from the meat and finely chopped it). Remove pan from the heat and then add the dill and let it cool down.
2. Cut the puff pastry into square pieces 15 x 15 cm and wet the edges with a brush either with water or olive oil.
3. Place some filling in the centre and add a spoonful of graviera cheese on top of the filling.Join the two sides, by pressing together and then join the other two.You can leave them square or continue folding the edges towards the centre and make them round.
4. Place them on an oiled tin or a baking tin lined with parchment paper.
   
5. Beat an egg with a fork and with a brush glaze them and sprinkle some sesame seeds on top.
6. Preheat oven to 180o C / 350o F and bake them for about one hour or until golden brown.

 

Greek Lamb Gyros

Gyros is a street food sold in Greece.   Big chunks of meat are skewered on vertical skewer, which rotates in front of heat.  When the outer layer is cooked, it is “shaved” with an electric knife.  Pieces of meat are added in a Greek pita (flat bread) and served with tzatziki, fried potatoes, thinly sliced onion, tomato, salad etc.

This is food is not easy to recreate at home but as a substitute you can used roasted lamb, chicken or pork.

My daughter used the leftover lamb to make some gyros.

She asked me to fry some potatoes.

I prepared the pita for her by spraying some olive oil in a non stick frying pan.

I let it warm up and heated the pita on both sides for a few minutes.

She added leftover tambouli, leftover lamb meat, finely sliced, tzatziki and potatoes et voila.

 

 

I have been tagged and given an Award from dear friends.

Peter, of Souvlaki for the Soul and Susan, of Food Blogga have tagged me for the 6 Word Memoir Meme.

(At this point I want to apologize to my dear friend Peter G, who had tagged me for the same Memoir during the week before Easter, but everything was was hectic that week that I planned to deal with it after Easter, but it seems that I am growing old and I forget).

To play in the Six Word Memoir, simply tell readers 6 characteristics that describe you.

Well I’m going to give you only the good side of my character.

• Spontaneous
• Caring
• Honest
• Hard working
• Compassionate
• Generous

This tag I have decided to pass on to new blogger friends. This is done in an effort to help people find new and interesting blogs to read, which obviously will lead to more good kitchen stories and recipes!

Sam, of Greek Food, Recipes and Reflections

Lulu, of Mama’s Taverna

Erik, of My Life as “Chef Erik”

Mike, of Mike’s Table

Lore, of Culinarty

Anamika, of Sugarcrafter

One other dear blogger friend, Deeba of Passionate About Baking, has honoured me with a nomination for for the Arte y Pico Award.

Here’s how it works:

You select 5 blogs that you feel excel in creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.

Thank you, Deeba and Val, for your kindness; I am honoured that you consider that my blog fits in all the above. :

Time for me to pass this phenomenal award on now…

The rules for the Arte y Pico Award are:

1. You pick five blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.

3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and the link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.

4. Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of Arte y Picoblog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

It was really difficult for me to pick 5 blogs.Deeba apart from myself has passed this award on to three other friends of mine to Val, Ben and Cynthia and of course to Jai and Bee whom I only know through the click event.As much as they all deserve it again, I would like to pass it on to some other friends as well.

Nuria, of Spanish Recipes

Pixie, of You say Tomahto I say Tomayto

Jenn, of The Leftover Queen

Rosie, of Rosie Bakes a Peace of Cake

Emiline, of Sugar Plum

Kopiaste and Kali Orexi,

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