Braided beef pastry logs

This is an appetizer I make for all parties, family gatherings and events and is much enjoyed and cherished by all. The guests come in for seconds and thirds and it disappears from the table so fast. I happened to learn this recipe from my sister-in-law who was a great cook. It is sad that she is no more with us and we miss her so much. Earlier during one of my visits to Montreal to see her, I got to taste her pastry puffs. She made them into squares with ground beef and red pepper filling. They were so delicious that I enjoyed every bite of them!  I loved the texture of the pastry dough so much that I got this recipe from her to share with you all.

I gave a twist to this recipe by shaping the puffs in the form of a braided log. This not only gave a unique look but also kept the filling moist. I use different kinds of fillings in combination with potatoes, cheese,  red peppers etc. This time I used my own indian style filling with beef and flavourful spices. You can use any filling of your choice. And shape the pastry in your own way. You could make the filling ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze it, then use it in the pastry as per your convenience. The pastry dough can be frozen as well. It keeps well in the refrigerator for 3 days and in the freezer for 3 months.

As it is holiday time now, I am going to be making lots of it to enjoy with my family and friends. These stuffed braided pastries bring a cheer and a smile on everyone’s face and just so perfect for holiday entertainment.

Here’s the recipe!

Ingredients: 
For the Pastry Dough:
3 cups all purpose flour –
1 egg
1/2 cup unsalted butter (chilled)
3/4 cup sour cream
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbs sugar
For the beef filling:
1 lb ground beef (preferably coarsely ground)
2 onions  (medium size)
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
1 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tbs tomato paste
2 small green chillies
1/4 cup cilantro chopped
4 cloves
4 green cardamoms
2 tbs vegetable oil

Egg wash
1 egg beaten with one tbs milk

Pastry dough:
1. Process the chilled butter in the food processor with the egg and sour cream and pulse to blend well.

2. Combine together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt by straining through a sieve.

3.Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in the processor little by little to form a moist dough

4. Remove dough and knead it with a little flour if it is too moist. If too dry add a tsp of sour cream. Make into 2
rounds/balls, cover with a damp towel and set aside.

Ground Beef Filling:

1. Quickly rinse the ground beef in a strainer under the faucet. Drain and set aside.

2. Fry half the sliced onions in a saucepan on medium heat till soft and slightly golden.

3. Add ginger garlic paste, salt, turmeric, red chilli and coriander powders. Mix well.

4. Add the ground beef to the pan and sauté well in the masala till the water drains and it leaves an aroma. This will take 4-5 mins. Add the tomato paste, adjust the salt and mix well.

5. Chop the green chillies with the remaining onions after sprinkling a little bit of salt. Crush the onions with the green chillies and salt and incorporate everything together with the knife. This makes  the onions sweat a little and also infuses flavour into the filling.

6. Layer this onion mixture on the ground beef in the saucepan. Keep the cloves and cardamoms on one side of the pan. Top the onion mixture with chopped cilantro. Cover the pan and simmer for 5 minutes till the water is absorbed and the filling is moist. Remove from stove.

7. Now remove the cloves and cardamoms from the saucepan and discard them. Mix the beef filling well and leave it to cool.

Instructions:

1. Roll and shape each pastry round/ball into a rectangle around 4″x9″.

2. Mix grated cheddar cheese with the ground beef filling and spread it horizontally on one side of the pastry sheet as seen in the picture.

3.   Gently roll the pastry over half way while tucking the filling inside like a log. Cut long slits in the dough to make strips 1/2 -3/4 inches wide from the inside to the edge on the side towards you as in the picture. Brush the edges of the strips with egg white.

4. Brush the edges of the strips with egg wash.

5. Now criss-cross the strips on the log and stick them on the opposite side with the help of the egg white. Braid in the same fashion till the end of the log.

6. Brush with egg wash and finally to decorate sprinkle with black poppy seeds, sesame or black seeds. Make sure the bottom of the logs is dry. So dust the pastry board with flour before working on the logs.

7. Transfer the logs to a cookie sheet, greased and dusted with flour.

8. Bake the logs in an oven preheated at 350 degrees fahrenheit for 20 – 25 mins till golden brown. Cut the braided pastry logs into 3 inch pieces and enjoy!

Recipe

Braided Stuffed Pastry logs

Author: Mamasecretrecipes

This is an appetizer I make for all parties, family gatherings and events and is much enjoyed and cherished by all. The guests come in for seconds and thirds and it disappears from the table so fast.

Ingredients

  

Ingredients:

For the Pastry Dough:

• 3 cups all purpose flour -
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter chilled
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbs sugar

For the beef filling:

• 1 lb ground beef preferably coarsely ground
• 2 onions  medium size
• 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tbs tomato paste
• 2 small green chillies
• 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
• 4 cloves
• 4 green cardamoms
• 2 tbs vegetable oil

Egg wash

• 1 egg beaten with one tbs milk

Instructions

 

Pastry dough:

• Process the chilled butter in the food processor with the egg and sour cream and pulse to blend well.
• Combine together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt by straining through a sieve.
• Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in the processor little by little to form a moist dough
• Remove dough and knead it with a little flour if it is too moist. If too dry add a tsp of sour cream. Make into 2 rounds/balls, cover with a damp towel and set aside.

Ground Beef Filling:

• Quickly rinse the ground beef in a strainer under the faucet. Drain and set aside.
• Fry half the sliced onions in a saucepan on medium heat till soft and slightly golden.
• Add ginger garlic paste, salt, turmeric, red chilli and coriander powders. Mix well.
• Add the ground beef to the pan and sauté well in the masala till the water drains and it leaves an aroma. This will take 4-5 mins. Add the tomato paste, adjust the salt and mix well.
• Chop the green chillies with the remaining onions after sprinkling a little bit of salt. Crush the onions with the green chillies and salt and incorporate everything together with the knife. This makes  the onions sweat a little and also infuses flavour into the filling.
• Layer this onion mixture on the ground beef in the saucepan. Keep the cloves and cardamoms on one side of the pan. Top the onion mixture with chopped cilantro. Cover the pan and simmer for 5 minutes till the water is absorbed and the filling is moist. Remove from stove.
• Now remove the cloves and cardamoms from the saucepan and discard them. Mix the beef filling well and leave it to cool.
• Roll and shape each pastry round/ball into a rectangle around 4"x9".
• Mix grated cheddar cheese with the ground beef filling and spread it horizontally on one side of the pastry sheet as seen in the picture.
• Gently roll the pastry over half way while tucking the filling inside like a log. Cut long slits in the dough to make strips 1/2 -3/4 inches wide from the inside to the edge on the side towards you as in the picture. Brush the edges of the strips with egg white.
• Now criss-cross the strips on the log and stick them on the opposite side with the help of the egg white. Braid in the same fashion till the end of the log.
• Brush with egg wash and finally to decorate sprinkle with blue poppy seeds, sesame or black seeds. Make sure the bottom of the logs is dry. So dust the pastry board with flour before working on the logs.
• Transfer the logs to a cookie sheet, greased and dusted with flour. Bake the logs in an oven preheated at 350 degrees fahrenheit for 20 - 25 mins till golden brown. Cut the braided pastry logs int 3 inch pieces and enjoy!

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