Fydzhyin (Ossetian meat pies)
Description
Delicious pastries for the whole family. Fydgyn (also known as Ossetian pie) is a traditional and well-known dish. Today we will prepare it using a classic recipe kindly shared by a native Ossetian woman I know from work. I can't say the recipe is simple or quick to make, but the taste of the baked goods is absolutely amazing, so the time spent is definitely worth it! Since the specified amount of ingredients yields three pies, you can make them different. These pies can be made with any filling, but today we'll be making meat ones. Let's get started. Serve with tea or coffee.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
In a separate container, mix water (must be warm!), yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for 10–15 minutes until the yeast dissolves.
- 2
Step 2
Into a separate bowl, sift the flour. Add a pinch of salt. Gradually pour in a thin stream the water mixed with yeast and sugar. Knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- 3
Step 3
Grease a bowl with vegetable oil, place the dough in it, and also brush the top of the dough with oil. Cover the bowl with a towel and let it sit in a warm place for an hour and a half.
- 4
Step 4
While the dough is rising, prepare the filling: mix the minced meat with diced onion and minced garlic, add salt to taste.
- 5
Step 5
After an hour and a half, the dough should increase in size by approximately three times.
- 6
Step 6
Knead the dough (no need to knead vigorously!) and let it rise a second time (this time for 40 minutes).
- 7
Step 7
When the dough has risen for the second time, we will divide it into three equal parts. Gently knead each part and let it rest on the counter for 10-15 minutes.
- 8
Step 8
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to maximum temperature—mine is 250°C, ideally 280–300°C—and place the baking dish inside to heat up as well. Generously flour the work surface and flatten the dough ball with your hands into a circle about 20 cm in diameter. Pile one-third of the filling in the center in a mound, then tightly seal the dough over the top.
- 9
Step 9
Then press down with your hands to fit the size of the pan in which you will bake the pie.
- 10
Step 10
Carefully transfer the pie into the pan that was heated in the oven. If necessary, gently stretch the round to the desired size (remember, the pan is hot!). Now pay attention! At 300 degrees, the pie bakes for 12 minutes; at 280 degrees — 15 minutes; at 250 degrees — 20 minutes! It's essential to follow these baking times! Brush the finished pie with butter on top.
- 11
Step 11
As a result, we get three wonderful and incredibly delicious pies :)