Chopped Meat Pies (Pitta Me Kima)

Ingredients

• 2 pounds chopped lamb
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 onions, chopped
• 1 1/4 pounds tomatoes, peeled, or 1 tablespoon tomato paste with 1 cup water
• 1 piece stick cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 slices toast
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 5 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3/4 pound phyllo

Instructions

1. Brown meat, half the butter, and onions in large pot, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up meat. Add tomatoes (or diluted tomato paste) cinnamon, parsley, salt and pepper. Simmer until all liquid is absorbed (about 30 minutes).
2. Meanwhile, soak toast in milk, then mash with fork. Remove cinnamon stick and add milk-toast mixture to the meat, remove from the heat. Add cheese and eggs, and mix well.
3. Melt remaining butter. Butter a pan about. 2 inches smaller than the phyllo. Put 7 to 8 phyllo sheets, buttering each before adding it, into the pan, letting phyllo extend on all sides. Pour in meat mixture and spread it evenly. Fold overlapping phyllo back onto meat. Butter these well. Carefully cut remaining sheets of phyllo to fit the top of the pan. Brush each with butter and lay on the filling to make the top of the pita. Pour on any remaining butter and sprinkle the top very lightly with a little water (to keep phyllo from rising too high).
4. Bake in preheated 350 degrees F oven for 30 to 40 minutes.
5. Cool for about 30 minutes, and cut into squares to serve.

Notes

It is easier to cut this if you score it lightly before baking.