Best 3 Karjalan Pies Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Karjalan pies, a beloved traditional dish from the Karelia region, boast a fascinating culinary history dating back centuries. These savory pockets of goodness, also known as Karelian pasties, are a testament to the region's rich cultural heritage and culinary prowess.

These pies are characterized by their unique boat-like shape, crispy rye crust, and delectable filling. Traditionally, they were filled with rice porridge, but over time, variations emerged, including fillings made from mashed potatoes, quark cheese, or a combination of the three. Each filling offers a distinct flavor profile, catering to diverse palates.

The preparation of Karjalan pies is an art form in itself, requiring careful attention to detail and time-honored techniques. The intricate folding and crimping techniques used to seal the pies contribute to their distinctive appearance and ensure the perfect balance of crispy crust and tender filling.

Whether you prefer the classic rice porridge filling, the hearty mashed potato variation, or the creamy quark cheese filling, Karjalan pies promise a delightful culinary experience. Embark on a journey through the diverse recipes presented in this article, each offering a unique interpretation of this cherished Karelian delicacy.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

KARJALAN PIES



Karjalan Pies image

These savory pastries were my favorite thing to eat in Finland. Rice porridge surrounded by a rye flour crust, baked until slightly browned. In Finland, they're often eaten at breakfast or lunch. Delicious topped with ham, cheese, or just (real!) butter.

Provided by Sara A

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Scandinavian

Time 1h5m

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 cups water
1 cup uncooked white rice
2 cups milk
salt to taste
½ cup water
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup rye flour
¼ cup all-purpose flour, or as needed
3 tablespoons butter, melted

Steps:

  • Combine rice and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, or until water is absorbed. Stir in milk, cover, and cook until milk is absorbed by the rice, about 20 minutes. Season with salt to taste.
  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (220 degrees C). In a medium bowl, stir together the salt and rye flour. Stir in water. Mix in all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon at a time until dough is just past the sticky stage. Divide the dough into 16 equal portions.
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece of dough out into a thin circle 6 inches in diameter. The dough should be as thin as possible. Place about 3 tablespoons of the rice mixture in the center of each circle. Spread the mixture out to within 1 inch of the edges. Fold the edges of the dough upward, and crimp the edges so as to allow the pastries to hold their shape. Pinch the sides at each end to form a little boat. Place pastries about 3 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet, and brush the tops with butter.
  • Bake for 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until the dough is firm, and the rice porridge is slightly browned on the top. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 106.2 calories, Carbohydrate 17.1 g, Cholesterol 8.2 mg, Fat 3 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 2.7 g, SaturatedFat 1.8 g, Sodium 174.9 mg, Sugar 1.5 g

KARJALAN PIIRAKKA (KARELIAN PIE) WITH EGG BUTTER



Karjalan Piirakka (Karelian Pie) With Egg Butter image

This is very good served with Hapankaalikeitto (Finnish Sauerkraut Soup). This recipe calls for a rice filling, but other traditional fillings include mashed potatoes, meat, fish, and cheese. Posted for Zaar World Tour 05

Provided by Amis227

Categories     Rice

Time 1h45m

Yield 16 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/2 cup butter, melted
2 cups water
1 cup uncooked rice
2 cups milk
salt
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup rye flour
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1 pinch fresh ground white pepper (optional)
1 pinch ground ginger (optional)

Steps:

  • For the Filling:.
  • In a saucepan combine the water and rice. Bring to a boil.
  • Stir, cover, and cook over low heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the milk, cover, and continue cooking until the milk is completely absorbed and the rice is soft and creamy.
  • Preheat oven to 450°F
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • For the Pastry:
  • In a medium-sized bowl, combine the water, salt, and rye and white flours to make a stiff dough.
  • Shape the dough into a log and cut into 16 portions and shape each into a round.
  • On a lightly floured board, roll out each round into a 6-inch circle.
  • Spread about 3 tablespoons of filling evenly on each round.
  • Fold two opposite edges of the pastry over the filling and crimp the edges of the dough toward the center to make an oval-shaped pastry, allowing about 1/2-inch of the crust to overlay the filling and leaving the center of the filling exposed.
  • Place on the prepared baking sheet.
  • In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter and hot milk and brush on the pastries.
  • Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, brushing once during baking, until the pastries are golden on the edges.
  • Remove from the oven and brush again.
  • For the Egg Butter:.
  • In a small bowl, cream the butter. Stir in the eggs.
  • Season with the white pepper and ground ginger, if desired.
  • Yield: 1 cup.
  • Cool the pastries and serve with the egg butter at room temperature.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 204.2, Fat 13.5, SaturatedFat 8.2, Cholesterol 58.1, Sodium 270.7, Carbohydrate 17.5, Fiber 1, Sugar 0.1, Protein 3.6

KARELIAN PASTIES - KARJALAN PIIRAKAT



Karelian Pasties - Karjalan Piirakat image

North Karelia is the birthplace of the delicious Karelian pasties. Although they are eaten throughout Finland, the Joensuu version, spread with real butter, is the genuine article. Butter, often mixed with boiled egg (munavoi), is spread over the hot pasties before eating. They are eaten for breakfast as well as snacks. Following are two versions, with rice being the more traditional/popular variation.

Provided by NcMysteryShopper

Categories     Breads

Time 1h

Yield 20 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 18

500 ml fine rye flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
200 ml water
1 -2 tablespoon oil
150 ml short-grain rice
300 ml water
650 ml whole milk
1 -2 eggs or 1 -2 egg yolk
1 pinch salt
700 g potatoes, peeled (reserve 50 - 100 ml potatoes' cooking liquid)
50 -75 ml cream
2 eggs
lump butter
1 pinch salt
1 whole milk
1 tablespoon butter
4 eggs (for optional egg & butter spread)
40 -60 g butter (for optional egg & butter spread)

Steps:

  • Rice Filling. Start making filling by bringing water to the boil. Add rice and simmer until water is absorbed in rice. Add milk, bring mixture to the boil and let it cook for a couple of minutes, stirring continually with a wooden spoon. Reduce heat to the minimum - or turn it off completely - cover pan with lid and let mixture simmer for about 30 - 40 minutes, stirring every now and then. Filling is ready, when it has thickened into a velvety, white porridge. Add a lump of butter, mix, cover pan with lid and set aside to cool. After cool, Mix egg(s) or yolk(s) in rice porridge and season with salt. Note: filling mustn't be too runny, it should hold its shape when spread on pie disks.
  • Potato Filling: Cook potatoes in water until tender. Reserve liquid. Puree potatoes through food mill and let cool a bit. Add eggs and enough cooking liquid and cream to get smooth mixture. Amount of liquid depends on the quality of potatoes - filling mustn't be too runny. Add a lump of butter and mix. Season with salt, cover and set aside to cool.
  • Prepare pasty dough: mix flour and salt, add oil and water little at a time and mix to get a non-sticky dough. Divide dough in 15 - 20 equal pieces and roll them into small balls. With a tapered rolling pin, roll out balls one at a time into very thin disks, about 1 mm thick and 10 - 15 cm in diameter. (You could also try and use a pasta machine for rolling.) Cover pie disks lightly with plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out.
  • Spread filling (either potato or rice) on centre of pie disks. Raise edges of pie disks towards the centre, pinching with your fingers to make an oval ridge - center will be open.
  • Place pasties on baking sheet covered with parchment paper and bake at 255 - 300°C for about 5 - 7 minutes or until pasties start to turn darkish brown. Meanwhile, heat about 150 ml whole milk in saucepan, add big lump of butter and let it melt. Dip hot pasties one at a time into hot milk-butter mixture and place them in large bowl. Cover bowl tightly with parchment paper and towel, and let pasties soften for about half an hour.
  • Warm pasties are traditionally served with egg and butter spread. Pasties may also be eaten topped with plain butter, cheese, ham or reindeer roast slices, gravlax, shrimps or whatever you happen to like! Pasties can be reheated in oven or toaster.
  • Egg & Butter Spread: Cook eggs in boiling water for 10 minutes. Rinse eggs with cold water and shell them. Using a fork, finely mash warm eggs together with the butter. Season with salt, if necessary. You can use an egg slicer to slice the eggs before mashing. Slice them first crosswise and then lengthwise.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 163.6, Fat 6.6, SaturatedFat 3.1, Cholesterol 76.9, Sodium 135.4, Carbohydrate 20.8, Fiber 2.2, Sugar 2.1, Protein 5.5

Tips:

  • Ensure your dough is well-chilled before rolling it out. This will prevent the dough from becoming too sticky and difficult to work with.
  • Don't overwork the dough. Overworking the dough will make it tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
  • Use a pastry brush to brush the beaten egg onto the pies before baking. This will help the pies to brown beautifully.
  • Bake the pies in a preheated oven. This will help to ensure that the pies cook evenly.
  • Let the pies cool slightly before serving. This will allow the filling to set and the pies to hold their shape.

Conclusion:

Karjalan pies are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They are easy to make and can be tailored to your own preferences. Whether you like your pies with meat, vegetables, or cheese, you are sure to find a recipe that you'll love. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give Karjalan pies a try.

Related Topics