Greek Onion Pie

Both my boys play sport nearly every weekend and usually both days on the weekend.  Our little family could seriously keep Mr Four'n Twenty in business entirely on our own if we relied on the canteen at the local footy ground or sport stadium for nourishment on Saturdays and Sundays. But as much has a love a good meat pie now and then, I prefer to eat my own food as much as possible.  So I try to bake something reasonably portable to take for a "car picnic" while watching the boys chase whatever ball is in season at the time and so they can have something homemade while on the road. ... And with this, they can still say they had a pie at the footy, which is after all,  a rite of passage and a cultural obligation all in one. 

Greek Onion Pie

Serves 6 - 8

adapted from here

60ml extra virgin olive oil

6 brown onions

2 cloves garlic

4 French shallots

2 leeks

A sprig of thyme

2 bay leaves

200g ricotta, well drained

200g feta, crumbled

Olive oil spray, for greasing

16 sheets filo pastry, cut to fit the baking pan

100g ghee, melted and cooled

Sea salt flakes

Freshly ground black pepper

If you have a food processor with a slicing blade, now it the time to use it.  Thinly slice the onions, garlic, shallots and leeks (or slice by hand, but keep a box of tissues handy!)  Set aside.

Heat the oil on medium heat in a large heavy-based frying pan.  Add the sliced vegetables and the thyme and bay leaves.  Lightly season with salt and pepper and cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, for about 45 minutes or until soft and slightly caramelised.  Set aside to cool.

Remove the thyme and bays leaves and add the ricotta and feta.  Mix thoroughly and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 170C and slip a baking sheet on the middle shelf of the oven.

Spray a 20cm x 30cm (or thereabouts) baking pan with olive oil cooking spray and line the base and sides with baking paper.

Brush the baking paper with the melted ghee and line the pan with a sheet of filo pastry.  Brush the pastry with ghee and top it with another sheet of filo pastry.  Continue layering the pastry until you have 8 layers.

Spoon the onion filling on top and spread it evenly to fill the pan to the edges and level the top.

Lay a sheet of filo pastry over the filling and brush it with ghee.  Top it with another sheet of filo pastry and continue layering until you have 8 layers.  Brush the final layer with ghee.

Pop the baking tray on the preheated baking sheet in the oven and bake for about 45 minutes, or until the pastry is golden.