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What is Moldavian Pie?
Moldavian pie, also known as Balkan pie or Vertuta pie, is a traditional pastry considered as a popular balkan dish.
It is made with a thin, flaky phyllo dough that is filled with a variety of ingredients, such as cheese, potatoes, apples, or walnuts. The pie is then rolled up into a spiral and baked until golden brown.
It is a popular dish not only for special occasions, such as holidays and weddings but also a well-liked snack or light meal. The pie can be served both hot or cold. It is often paired with sour cream or yogurt while serving.
Although it mainly serves as a main course dish, occasionally people can take it as a dessert.
Ingredients
- For the crust:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup water
- For the filling:
- 1 pound fresh feta cheese, crumbled
- 1 bunch fresh dill, chopped
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- [Optional] baked potato cubes
- [Optional] sliced apples
- [Optional] walnuts, almond, or any other nuts
Timeline
- Preparation time: 40-50 minutes
- Baking time: 1 hour
- Total time: About 2 hours
Instructions
- To make the crust:
- Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl.
- Add the water and stir until the dough comes together.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (or 175 degrees Celsius).
- To make the filling:
- Mix the shredded feta cheese, dill, eggs, and salt in a bowl.
- [Optional] Add baked potato cubes, sliced apples, walnuts or other fillings that you may like.
- Divide the dough in half.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out one half of the dough into a circle that is about 12 inches in diameter.
- Transfer the dough to a baking sheet lined with baking paper.
- Spread the filling evenly over the dough.
- Roll out the other half of the dough into a circle that is about 12 inches in diameter.
- Place the second circle of dough over the filling.
- Trim the edges of the dough and crimp them together to seal.
- Poke a few holes in the top of the pie crust with a fork.
- Bake the pie for 1 hour, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is cooked through.
- To serve it hot, let the pie cool slightly before slicing and serving.
- Alternatively, you can serve it cold after putting it in the refrigerator or ice box.
How to Serve Moldavian Pie?
- Serve the pie as a main course with a side of rice or potatoes.
- Serve the pie with a bowl of soup, such as chicken noodle soup or tomato soup.
- Serve the pie with a salad, such as a green salad or a Caesar salad.
- Serve the pie with vegetables, such as roasted vegetables or steamed vegetables.
- Serve the pie as an appetizer with a side of fruit or vegetables.
- Serve the pie as a dessert with whipped cream topped on it.
- Serve with tea or coffee.
Tips
- For a richer flavour, use a combination of feta cheese and ricotta cheese in the filling.
- If you don’t have fresh dill, you can use dried dill instead. Use 1 teaspoon of dried dill for every 1 tablespoon of fresh dill.
- If the pie crust starts to brown too quickly, cover it loosely with aluminium foil.
- Even if you are serving it hot, let the pie cool slightly before slicing and serving. This will help to prevent the pie from crumbling, and the lips from burning.
Nutritional Facts
- Although nutritional facts vary by the kind of ingredients you use, and the way you bake it. Yet, here is a ballpark for the recipe above:
- Calories: 240
- Fat: 12 grams
- Saturated fat: 6 grams
- Cholesterol: 30 milligrams
- Sodium: 400 milligrams
- Carbohydrates: 28 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Sugar: 2 grams
- Protein: 10 grams
- Moldovan cheese pie is a good source of protein and calcium. It is also a good source of vitamins A and D. However, it is important to note that Moldovan cheese pie is also high in fat and sodium.
- If you are watching your fat or sodium intake, you may want to limit your consumption of Moldovan cheese pie. You can also make some substitutions to the recipe to reduce the fat and sodium content. For example, you can use a low-fat cheese in the filling and reduce the amount of salt.