VASILOPETA (St. Basil's Pie) 
1 - 1 1/2 lbs. phyllo dough
3/4 lb. butter
2 1/2 lbs. pork, diced or ground
6 sm. leeks, cleaned well and sliced
1 lg. onion, chopped
Parsley
Salt and pepper
8 oz. can tomato sauce

Saute onion in 1/2 stick butter until golden. Add meat and cook until pink disappears. Add salt, pepper, parsley, tomato sauce and 1 can water. Add leeks and cook 20 minutes over medium heat. Cool.

Assemble in 13x9 pan. Melt remaining butter. Keep phyllo in large bowl covered with damp towel while working. Cover bottom of pan with several sheets of phyllo, brushing each with melted butter (scrunch sheets of dough to cover pan evenly).

Layer dough and meat mixture, ending with 2 sheets of phyllo, brushed with butter. Bake at 400 degrees 5 minutes and then lower heat to 325 degrees for 55 minutes. Serve in squares. Makes a luncheon size entree or nice accompaniment to dinner.

Greek cooks make this in a large round pan, tossing in a coin over the shoulder to hide. At the table, cut a piece for the house, plus one for each guest. The one that gets the coin is supposed to have good luck.

 

Recipe Index