Natchitoches Beet Pies Recipes

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat; whisk in flour, and cook until flour turns from white to a nutty brown color, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in onion and cook until transparent, about 5 minutes. Add meats and brown until no longer pink, 10 to 12 minutes; stir in Cajun seasoning and garlic powder; drain fat. Cool to room temperature.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch. Use a 5 inch diameter round cookie cutter or cut around a saucer to make a round of dough. Place a heaping tablespoon of meat filling in the center of each round. Fold dough over filling and seal edges closed by pressing with a fork or fingers. Repeat to make 15 pies, re-rolling dough scraps as needed.
• Heat oil for frying in deep fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Deep fry pies in small batches until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Or bake pies on greased cookie sheets in preheated 350 degree F (175 degrees C) oven 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Steps:

• In a large skillet heat oil and cook beef and pork, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the onions, bell peppers, celery, salt, Essence, cayenne, and black pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are wilted, about 10 to 12 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Dissolve the flour in the water and add to the meat mixture. Stir until the mixture thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the green onions. Mix well and let cool.
• In a mixing bowl, sift together flour, salt, and baking powder. Cut in the lard until mixture resembles coarse meal. In a small bowl, beat the egg with the milk. Gradually add the egg mixture to the flour mixture, working it to make a thick dough. Divide the dough into 12 equal portions and roll each portion of dough into a thin round about 5 inches in diameter. Place about 1/4 cup of meat filling in the center of each round and brush edges lightly with egg wash. Fold edges together and crimp closed with a fork.
• Heat shortening in a deep pot or electric deep-fryer to 360 degrees F. Fry the pies, in batches, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and serve immediately.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

Steps:

• To make the filling: Make a roux of shortening and flour.
• Add all other ingredients and salt and pepper to taste.
• Allow to cook thoroughly, and let cool before placing on dough.
• To make the dough: Sift flour, baking powder, and add shortening and then eggs.
• Add enough milk to make a stiff dough.
• Roll very thin, and use a saucer to cut a circle of dough the same size as the saucer.
• Fill half of the circle with meat mixture, fold dough over, and press closed with a wet fork.
• Fry in deep fat until golden brown.

Steps:

• Make the filling: heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add in beef, pork, scallions, and garlic; cook/stir and break up the meats, until the beef loses its red color.
• Add in the remaining filling ingredients; continue to cook and stir, until the mixture is almost dry, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer to a bowl, let cool, then chill.
• Make the pastry: sift the flour,baking powder, and salt into a mixing bowl, add in the shortening, and cut with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
• Add in the egg and milk; stir until a ball of dough forms.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface, roll out about 1/2 inch thick, and using the lid of a coffee can, cut out rounds of dough.
• To assmble: place a heaping tablespoon of filling on one side of each round of dough; with your fingertips, dampen the pie edges with water, fold the other sides of dough over the filling, and seal the edges with a fork dipped in water; prick twice with a fork on top.
• To fry: heat the oil in a medium cast-iron skillet to about 350°; quickly fry each pie until golden, about 2 minutes on each side, and drain briefly on paper towels; serve hot.