INDIAN BEEF FILO PIE

SERVES 4

PREPARATION TIME: 30 MINUTES COOKING TIME: 1 HOUR 20 MINUTES

1 tbsp vegetable oil

2 brown onions, finely chopped

600g beef mince

3 garlic cloves, crushed

¼ cup madras curry paste

2 tomatoes, roughly chopped

14 sheets filo pastry Canola oil cooking spray

2 eggs, lightly beaten

⅓ cup finely chopped coriander leaves, plus extra leaves to serve

⅓ cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves

60g mixed salad leaves

2 extra tomatoes, cut into wedges

1 Lebanese cucumber, roughly chopped

½ red onion, thinly sliced

1 lemon, cut into wedges, to serve

Cucumber raita

1 Lebanese cucumber, grated

½ cup plain Greek-style yoghurt

½ tsp ground cumin

1 tsp caster sugar

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 180C/160C fanforced. Grease a 4cm-deep, 20cm x 28cm metal baking dish.

2. Heat oil in a large, deep frying pan over high heat. Add onion. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until softened. Add mince. Cook, breaking up lumps with a wooden spoon, for 6 to 8 minutes or until browned.

3. Add garlic and curry paste. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until fragrant. Add tomato. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until tomato softens and liquid has evaporated. Set aside to cool.

4. Place filo on a clean work surface. Cover with a damp tea towel to prevent it from drying out. Spray 1 filo sheet with oil. Top with another filo sheet. Spray with oil. Repeat layering with 7 filo sheets. Place filo stack over base of prepared dish, allowing pastry to overhang.

5. Combine egg, coriander, parsley and mince mixture in a bowl. Spread mince mixture over filo. Spray 1 remaining sheet of filo with oil. Top with another filo sheet. Spray with oil. Repeat layering with remaining filo sheets. Place stack over mince mixture in pan. Fold in overhanging pastry to form a rough border. Spray with oil. Using a small knife, cut slice into 8 pieces. Bake for 1 hour or until golden and crisp.

6. Meanwhile, to make cucumber raita: Combine cucumber, yoghurt, cumin and sugar in a small bowl. Season.

7. Combine salad leaves, extra tomato, cucumber and onion in a bowl. Serve slices of pie with salad, raita and lemon wedges.