Greek Ground Beef Roll

evelyn/athens's Note:

Great dinner or brunch dish. Make tomato gravy to serve alongside.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 5 mins
• Prep Time: 35 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion , minced
• 1 ½ lbs ground beef
• 1 medium tomato , peeled, seeded and chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme , crumbled
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• salt and pepper , to taste
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg , beaten to blend
• ¼ cup pine nuts
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 garlic clove , minced
• 8 ounces fresh spinach , cleaned and chopped
• ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg
• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1⁄3; cup butter , melted
• 10 sheets phyllo pastry

Directions:

1. Heat oil over medium-low heat. Add onion and cook about 10 minutes. Add meat and cook, breaking up meat, until all liquid evaporates and meat is browned. Add tomato, thyme and cinnamon. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Meanwhile, melt 3 tblsps butter in small saucepan over low heat. Add flour and stir 3 minutes. Pour in milk, increase heat to medium-high and stir until sauce boils and thickens. Remove from heat and whisk in egg. Place over medium heat and continue stirring 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
3. Melt remaining 1 tblsp butter in small skillet over medium heat. Add pine nuts and stir until golden-brown.
4. Heat 2 tblsps olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat.
5. Add garlic and sauté just until it begins to release its fragrance. Blend in spinach, cover and cook just until spinach is wilted, about 2 minutes. Season with nutmeg, salt and pepper.
6. Stir sauce, pine nuts and cheese into meat. Taste and adjust seasoning.
7. Let cool. (this can be prepared up to 1 day ahead and refrigerated until ready to use).
8. Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Lightly grease rimmed baking sheet.
9. Cover work surface with towel. Place 2 filo sheets on towel with long edge nearest you. Brush with melted butter. Repeat 4 more times, brushing each double layer with butter. Spread cooled meat mixture on filo, leaving 1 ½ inch border. Arrange spinach in lengthwise strip along center of meat. Using towel as aid, roll filo up lengthwise. Transfer, seam side down, to baking sheet. Brush butter over top.
10. Bake until crisp and golden, about 1 hour.
11. Let stand 10-15 minutes before slicing. (can be assembled ahead to this point and refrigerated overnight before baking).

Reviews

[lizstarr]

OH MY GOSH! This was incredible and my husband has asked for it again and again! I made an easy cream tomato sauce (simple mixture of tomato paste, chicken broth, worcestershire and heavy whipping cream) and it was absolutely divine! Thank you SO much for sharing this uniquely fabulous meal!

[puppitypup]

LOVED IT! Perfect flavor combination and it made a lovely main course. I cut the recipe in half and added a bit of salt to the meat mixture and to the white sauce mixture. Thank you for posting Evelyn, made for ZWT, please see my rating system as I rate tougher than most.

[Susie D]

Simply excellent! This recipe is much easier to do than the long instructions looks so don't let that scare you away. :) I made the filling one evening and then rolled & baked it the next. The results were wonderful! Thank you Evelyn for another great meal.