CAIRO: Whenever you hear that friends or family are coming over to watch a football game or even a movie, food delivery is always the first choice. Pizza and chips and dips, of course, are all time favorite for large informal gatherings.
But adding some homemade snacks to the table gives the guests more options to choose. It also shows that you have given this informal gathering. Here are some recipes to consider if you plan on inviting your friends to watch World Cup games at your home.
Bread pizza
Ingredients (for four people): 3-4 round loaves of bread, either Baladi or Shami/Pita bread; 5-6 tablespoons of tomato puree; around a half kilogram of cheese (cheddar, gouda, mozzarella); half a cup of vegetable oil; half kilogram of black olives; 4 tomatoes; 2-3 tins of anchovies; oregano
Recipe:
1. With some kitchen scissors, cut each bread loaf into 12 wedges.
2. Slightly water down the tomato puree, season and spread thinly on each piece of bread. Cover each piece of bread with one or two slices of cheese.
3. Thinly slice the tomatoes and put a slice on top of the cheese then cut olives, remove the stones and put on top of the tomatoes.
5. On each pizza put a sliver of anchovy. Drizzle the pizzas with some oil and sprinkle with oregano.
6. Place in a medium high oven for about 20 minutes.
Filo Minced Meat Pie
Ingredients: 14-16 sheets of Filo pastry; 2-3 tablespoons of butter; half a cup of beef or chicken stock. For the filling: half a kilogram or one pound of lean minced beef; 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil; 1 big onion; salt and pepper
Recipe:
1. Start by preparing the filling: Finely chop the onion, heat the oil in a saucepan on a medium light for a couple of minutes and add the onion and sautee for a few minutes until translucent then add the minced meat and stir.
2. Leave to cook on a medium to low heat while stirring occasionally until the meat loses its color and starts to turn slightly brown. This should take around 10-15 minutes.
3. Add a little water, stir and leave to reduce. Add some more, stir and simmer to reduce again, and so on until around one cup of water has been incorporated with the meat. Half cover and leave to simmer and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The meat mixture at the end should not be too soft or watery.
4. Line the bottom of a greased oven tray with 7 to 8 sheets of filo-pastry, then spread the minced meat and cover with another 7 or 8 sheets brushing with melted butter as you go on.
5. Preheat the oven to a high temperature.
6. With a knife, cut the pie lightly in wedges or otherwise according to preferences. Just before putting in the oven pour over the top half a cup of stock.
7. Cook for about half an hour until top is crispy and golden brown.
Baked Potatoes
Ingredients: Allow one big potato for each person; quarter teaspoonful of butter for each potato.
Recipe:
1. Start by heating the oven to a medium high temperature. When hot, put an oven tray in for a few minutes to heat.
2. Wash the potatoes very well, dry with a kitchen towel and prick all over with a fork. Coat and grease each potato with the butter.
3. Put on the hot oven tray and leave to cook. After 30 minutes, turn the potatoes over and leave for another 30 minutes, or until cooked.
4. Split in the middle and serve with all or any of these toppings: butter, grated cheese, sour cream, Bolognese sauce, yoghurt, and, of course, salt and pepper.
