Quarantine at Home Series: Basque Pepper Pot Pie

     

      I decided to launch this series of Quarantine at Home Recipes for folks to plan some different menus down the road when you've exhausted the normal rotation.  Not fancy, just simple and delicious.  All these recipes serve 2, often with leftovers.  This is another such recipe.
       The Basque people live in Northern Spain near the French border.  They keep to themselves, their culture centering on their love of family, farming, and ranching sheep.  Most of their recipes are 'meat and potatoes' style as is their family style dining.  We discovered this cuisine after retirement touring the communities around Reno, NV.  Delicious food.

1 pound lean pork roast, cut into 1/2" by 3 " strips
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp crumbled saffron threads (you can substitute turmeric)
1/4 cup minced parsley
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 onions, peeled and chopped
3 bell peppers, peeled seeded and cut into 1/2" strips
1/4 cup dry white wine
pastry shells for pie

      In bowl or zip loc bag toss pork with oregano, saffron, parsley, garlic, and 1/4 cup olive oil.  Cover and let pork marinate overnight.

Marinade pork & spices overnight

     Preheat oven to 400F.  Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in Dutch oven or heavy skillet until light haze forms.  Add onions and green pepper and saute for a few minutes.  Reduce heat to medium, cover and cook for 15 minutes.  Remove vegetables from heat skillet.

Simmer vegetables and then swap out with meat to simmer

     Add pork and marinade, cook over high heat, stirring, for 1 minute.  Add wine and cook 1-2 minutes longer.  Remove from heat, add onions and onions and peppers. Season to taste with salt/pepper.  I used a two crust deep dish pie pan for this, but a small baking dish works as well.  If you do a two crust setup, remember to bake the bottom crust for about 10 minutes at 400 F to firm it up before adding filling.

Filling the crust

Fork crimped, buttered and pierced

       When cool, spoon into baking dish, adjust top crust and crimp edges.  Butter top and poke fork holes for steam to escape.  Bake in preheated 400F oven for 10 minutes.  Reduce heat to 350 and bake 45-50 minutes.  Cut into wedges when cool and serve.

Serve warm

"A life without friends means death without company"  

Basque Proverb

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