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Lamb Phyllo Pie

By Russell Selander

Published on January 27, 2022

Time

1¼ hours, plus 15 minutes cooling

Yield

Serves 8 (Makes one 12-inch pie)

Lamb Phyllo Pie

Ingredients

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided1 onion, chopped 2 pounds (907 grams) ground lamb 2 tablespoons grated lemon zest, divided, plus 3 tablespoons juice1 tablespoon ground coriander 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 tablespoon paprika 2 teaspoons table salt 1½ teaspoons pepper ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon 8 ounces (227 grams) feta cheese, crumbled (2 cups)1¼ cups chopped fresh cilantro, divided½ cup golden raisins 1 pound (14 by 9-inch) (454 grams) phyllo, thawed¼ cup pistachio, toasted and chopped fine

Before You Begin

A straight-sided traditional metal baking pan works best to support the layers of this pie. Watch this video for more information on working with phyllo dough

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in lamb and cook, breaking up meat with wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 5 to 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer lamb to large bowl; wipe out all but 2 tablespoons fat left in skillet. Cook 1 tablespoon lemon zest, coriander, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, cayenne, and cinnamon in skillet until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add mixture to bowl with lamb, along with feta, 1 cup cilantro, raisins, and lemon juice.
  2. Stack 8 phyllo sheets in bottom of greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan, brushing sheets thoroughly with 5 teaspoons oil (a generous ½ teaspoon oil per sheet) before layering. Sprinkle half reserved lamb filling evenly over phyllo. Cover with 8 more phyllo sheets, brushing with 5 teaspoons oil (a generous ½ teaspoon oil per sheet), then sprinkle evenly with remaining lamb filling. Cover lamb filling with 8 more phyllo sheets, brushing all but final layer with 1 tablespoon oil (a scant ½ teaspoon oil per sheet). Working from center outward, use palms of your hands to compress layers and press out any air pockets. Brush top layer with remaining 2 teaspoons oil.
  3. Using serrated knife with pointed tip, cut pie into 8 squares. Bake until golden and crisp, 30 to 40 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking. Remove from oven and let cool for 15 minutes. Combine pistachios, remaining ¼ cup cilantro, and remaining 1 tablespoon lemon zest in small bowl. Sprinkle phyllo pie with pistachio mixture and serve.
Lamb Phyllo Pie
Photography by Kevin White. Styling by Chantal Lambeth.

Lamb Phyllo Pie

Headshot of Russell Selander
By Russell Selander
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Time

1¼ hours, plus 15 minutes cooling

Yield

Serves 8 (Makes one 12-inch pie)

Ingredients

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 onion, chopped
2 pounds (907 grams) ground lamb
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest, divided, plus 3 tablespoons juice
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons table salt
1½ teaspoons pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 ounces (227 grams) feta cheese, crumbled (2 cups)
1¼ cups chopped fresh cilantro, divided
½ cup golden raisins
1 pound (14 by 9-inch) (454 grams) phyllo, thawed
¼ cup pistachio, toasted and chopped fine

Ingredients

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 onion, chopped
2 pounds (907 grams) ground lamb
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest, divided, plus 3 tablespoons juice
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons table salt
1½ teaspoons pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 ounces (227 grams) feta cheese, crumbled (2 cups)
1¼ cups chopped fresh cilantro, divided
½ cup golden raisins
1 pound (14 by 9-inch) (454 grams) phyllo, thawed
¼ cup pistachio, toasted and chopped fine

Ingredients

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 onion, chopped
2 pounds (907 grams) ground lamb
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest, divided, plus 3 tablespoons juice
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons table salt
1½ teaspoons pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 ounces (227 grams) feta cheese, crumbled (2 cups)
1¼ cups chopped fresh cilantro, divided
½ cup golden raisins
1 pound (14 by 9-inch) (454 grams) phyllo, thawed
¼ cup pistachio, toasted and chopped fine

Why This Recipe Works

A potent seasoning blend of coriander, cumin, paprika, cayenne, and cinnamon complements the lamb flavor and ensures that every bite is packed with spice. Sauté the lamb just enough to make sure that it's no longer pink; add the spices; and then stir in fresh cilantro, sweet raisins, and briny feta. To build the dish, create two distinct layers of lamb sandwiched between oil-brushed sheets of phyllo in a rectangular baking pan. After it comes out of the oven, sprinkle a mixture of toasted chopped pistachios, cilantro, and lemon zest over the crispy top.

Before You Begin

A straight-sided traditional metal baking pan works best to support the layers of this pie. Watch this video for more information on working with phyllo dough

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in lamb and cook, breaking up meat with wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 5 to 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer lamb to large bowl; wipe out all but 2 tablespoons fat left in skillet. Cook 1 tablespoon lemon zest, coriander, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, cayenne, and cinnamon in skillet until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add mixture to bowl with lamb, along with feta, 1 cup cilantro, raisins, and lemon juice.
  2. Stack 8 phyllo sheets in bottom of greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan, brushing sheets thoroughly with 5 teaspoons oil (a generous ½ teaspoon oil per sheet) before layering. Sprinkle half reserved lamb filling evenly over phyllo. Cover with 8 more phyllo sheets, brushing with 5 teaspoons oil (a generous ½ teaspoon oil per sheet), then sprinkle evenly with remaining lamb filling. Cover lamb filling with 8 more phyllo sheets, brushing all but final layer with 1 tablespoon oil (a scant ½ teaspoon oil per sheet). Working from center outward, use palms of your hands to compress layers and press out any air pockets. Brush top layer with remaining 2 teaspoons oil.
  3. Using serrated knife with pointed tip, cut pie into 8 squares. Bake until golden and crisp, 30 to 40 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking. Remove from oven and let cool for 15 minutes. Combine pistachios, remaining ¼ cup cilantro, and remaining 1 tablespoon lemon zest in small bowl. Sprinkle phyllo pie with pistachio mixture and serve.

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