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Indian Layered Pie

Serves 4 to 6 Pastry vegetarian, Breads & Pastry

Indian Layered Pie

Indian Layered Pie is a delightful home-cooked dish that has made its way through generations in Indian households. It is a staple at family gatherings and celebratory meals, where its layers of buttery pastry and melted cheese offer comfort and indulgence. This recipe captures the essence of home cooking, where the salt is felt between the fingers and the butter flows generously, embodying the warmth of an Indian kitchen.

Biting into the pie reveals a symphony of textures: crisp pastry giving way to soft, flavorful cheese, punctuated by fresh herbs. The layers are both a visual and culinary delight, with each bite offering a harmonious blend of richness and freshness. Set this pie at the center of your table, and watch it disappear as plates are filled and refilled with its irresistible layers.

Ingredients

  • 10pastry sheets
  • 200 gcheese
  • 100 gbutter
  • herbs — chopped

Method

  1. Begin by taking 100 g of butter out of the refrigerator and allowing it to come to room temperature. This will make it easier to work with when layering the pastry sheets. Also, grate 200 g of cheese and set it aside, allowing it to soften slightly.
  2. Melt the room temperature butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir occasionally to ensure it melts evenly without burning. Once fully melted, remove it from the heat and let it cool slightly.
  3. Lay out one of the 10 pastry sheets on a clean, flat surface. Brush it generously with the melted butter using a pastry brush, ensuring even coverage to prevent the layers from drying out during baking. Sprinkle a small portion of the grated cheese and herbs over the buttered sheet.
  4. Place another pastry sheet on top of the first, aligning the edges carefully. Repeat the process of brushing with butter and sprinkling with cheese and herbs. Continue layering in this manner until all 10 pastry sheets are used, ensuring each layer is well-buttered and evenly sprinkled with cheese and herbs.
  5. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Transfer the layered pastry onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Use a sharp knife to score the top layer into desired serving sizes, which will make it easier to cut after baking.
  6. Place the baking tray in the preheated oven and bake until the top is golden brown and crisp, about 25-30 minutes. The cheese should be melted and bubbling slightly, and the pastry layers should have puffed up and separated slightly, indicating they are cooked through.
  7. Once baked, remove the pie from the oven and let it cool slightly on a wire rack. This will help the layers set and make it easier to serve. Serve warm, allowing the flavors of the cheese and herbs to be at their most aromatic.
Cover of Authentic Indian Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Indian Cuisine

This recipe is from Authentic Indian Cuisine by Yassine Sbiti — the Indian volume in the ComidaTime International Cuisines series.

Available soon on Amazon…

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