Arni Exohiko (surprise Lamb Country Style )

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 16 cherry tomatoes, peeled
• 8 lamb loin chops
• 1/2 lb kasseri cheese, small pieces
• 18 sheets phyllo dough
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 6 tablespoons butter, hot and melted
• 3/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 cups peas, cooked and drained
• 1 pinch dried oregano

Recipe

• 1 in a heavy skillet heat the oil or butter and fry the garlic with the lamb over medium heat turning frequently.
• 2 lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes then remove from the heat.
• 3 meanwhile unroll the filo sheets and cover with a damp towel.
• 4 in a small pan over low heat have the butter hot without letting it brown.
• 5 remove two sheets of filo brush with hot butter over the first then cover with the second sheet and brush it with butter.
• 6 in the center of the buttered filo place 1 lamb chop 2 tablspoons peas 2 potato balls 2 cherry tomatoes and a slice of kasseri.
• 7 sprinkle with salt and pepper a heaping tablespoon of parsley and a pinch of oregano.
• 8 fold the filo around the lamb and vegetables like a sealed parcel.
• 9 place seam side down on a buttered baking pan (approximately 11 x 15 x 3 inches) and set aside while you repeat the procedure with the remaining ingredients to make 8"parcels".
• 10 brush hot butter on the tops then bake in a moderate oven (350 f) for 45 to 50 minutes or until golden in color.
• 11 remove from the oven and arrange on a warm platter or on individual dishes.
• 12 serve warm with a fresh-cooked or raw vegetable salad.
• 13 arni exohiko can frequently be prepared using buttered waxed paper parchment paper or aluminum foil if you prefer.