Kulebyaka or Coulibiac is an authentic Russian hot pie, which has an oblong shape and features several fillings.The word became from old Russian verb – 'kulebyachit', that means to make with hands, to shape, to bend and to knead. Pies are always have been loved in Russia.

Large pies stuffed with several ingredients were really popular, they were baked on Butterweek and Easter and served in taverns and small tea-houses, where each owner had a special recipe. Kulebyaka is very similar to a Russian pie (pirog), with the difference that it has different fillings layered one on top of another, with pastry in between, and has a lot more filling than a pirog. 

 Ingredients   

For the dough  

Plain all purpose flour - 1 kg 20 gr of dry active yeast 4 tbsp of melted butter 4 tbsp of oil ( I used olive oil) Pinch of salt 2 tbsp of sugar 1 1/2 cups of milk  4 egg yolks    

For the Blini  2 cups or 500 ml of milk  3 Eggs  1 1/3 cups or 280 gr of flour  1-2 tbsp of Sugar 1 tsp of salt  3 tbsp of vegetable oil  Butter for greasing finished pancakes  

For the meat filling  1- 2 large onions Oil 1 kg of minced beef ( you can also use pork mince) 2-3 tbsp of dour cream  Greens ( use green onion, dill, parsley) Salt & Pepper   

For the mushroom Filling 1-2 large onions 250 gr of mushrooms  Salt & Pepper Oil  

For the egg & rice Filling  3 boiled eggs 1/2 cup of boiled rice Greens ( use green onion, dill, parsley) Salt & Pepper 1 raw egg

Directions 

Step 1 : In a small cup, add sugar, yeast and warm milk. Mix everything together and then add couple of table spoons of flour, keep mixing until the dough becomes thicker. Set aside to activate for 15-20 min in a warm place. Add your dough into the stand mixer. Then add the rest of the flour, slowly incorporate melted butter, egg yolks and olive oil. If you need to add more milk, then add couple of table spoons until the dough comes together. In a large clean bowl, add olive oil and spread it around. Then add your dough. Move it about and add more olive oil on top, so the dough doesnt dry out. Cover with damp towel and set aside for 1 hour or more to prove in a warm place. The dough should double in size. After the first proving, punch the dough several times and then cover again with damp towel and set to prove one more time.  

Step 2 : Make the blini. Mix your eggs with sugar and salt. Add milk and mix again. Add sifted flour and oil and mix well. it will be nice and thin batter. Add a bit of butter or oil into your pan. Pour one ladle of the pancake mixture an cook for few minutes on each side until cooked and golden. Set the pancakes aside to cool down.  

Step 3 : Make the meat filling. Chop your onions finely and fry for 5-7 min in a pan with oil, then add meat of your choice. Season the meat with salt and pepper. Chop greens and add that into the meat. Then add sour cream and mix everything together and cook for further 5-8 min until its done.  

Step 4 : Make the mushroom filling. Chop your onions and mushrooms and fry them in a pan for 5-10 min until golden brown. Season well with salt and pepper and set aside to cool down. 

Step 5: Make the last filing, boil white rice or get pre boiled rice. Add into a bowl with greens, and boiled chopped eggs and add 1 raw egg. Season well with salt and pepper and mix everything well.  

Step 6 : Make sure all your ingredients have cooled down.Prepare your dough. Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces. Add flour onto your surface and roll out each ball into a large square. Place the first rolled out square onto a baking sheet, and roll out the rest of it. ( This will be the bottom of the pie). Roll out the top of the pie and set aside.  

Step 7 : Assemble the pie. First add the meat filling, add about half of the meat filling, spread it around and then add 2 pancakes on top covering the meat. Then add egg and rice filling and cover with pancakes. Then add the meat filling and cover with pancakes. keep pressing it down, so it flattens. Lastly add mushroom and onion filling, cover with pancakes and then add your second layer of the dough. Pinch the dough and press both pieces together so the pie is sealed. You can decorate your pie as you like, I used a fish net decoration style ( you can watch on the video how to do it). Place that over the meat pie and pinch the sides.  

Step 8: Use eggs for egg wash. I used 3 large egg yolks to cover the whole pie. Bake your meat pie for 45-50 min at 210 C or 410 F. If you see that the pie is starting to brown faster, add foil and cover the pie. Once its cooked, set aside, cover with towel and leave for 15 min before cutting. Enjoy! 

Happy Easter ;) xxxx