Today I want to share with you the recipe of a very ancient dish: Sa Panada. And when I say “ancient” I mean it, as it appears that it was already known more than 2000 years ago! The name panada literally means “ball” and it is a traditional pie from the region of Sardegna (Sardinia), which is this week’s choice for my Regional Italian dishes series. It was traditionally made with eels, while now you also find panadas with other types of filling. Today I will share with you the recipe for a panada filled with lamb and potatoes, which is another typical filling as Sardegna is famous for lamb and sheep products (especially sheep milk cheeses). It is delicious and I think it also makes a great picnic meal! Enjoy!
Ingredients (for 4 panadas of 10 cm – 4 inches):
For the pastry
350 gms – 12.3 oz. all purpose flour
350 gms – 12.3 oz. durum wheat flour
70 gms – 2.5 oz. lard
1 ¼ tsp salt
Water, lukewarm
For the filling
500 gms – 1.1 lbs lamb, cut into big cubes
500 gms – 1.1 lbs. potatoes, thinly sliced
8 sun-dried tomatoes, minced
1 clove of garlic, minced
50 ml – 1.7 oz. extra virgin olive oil
½ tbsp parsley, minced
Salt and pepper
Put the flours, salt and lard in a mixer. Add 3 tbsp of lukewarm water and mix it. Keep adding the water 1 tbsp at a time, until your mixture comes together. Knead it on a lightly floured surface for a couple of minutes, then make it into a ball. Cover it with cling wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes.
Now, roll the dough into a 5 mm (0.2 inches) thick sheet and cut 4 rounds big enough to fit your pie pans (remember you have to have enough dough to completely cover the sides and leave about 5 mm (0.2 inches) above the border to be able to close the pie). Keep the remaining dough aside (cover it with cling wrap to prevent it from drying out).
Now you can fill the pies. To do this you have 2 options. You can either fill it in layers (sun-dried tomatoes & garlic & parsley, potatoes, lamb, oil and so on). Or mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and then fill the pies (1-2-3-4).
Roll the rest of the dough and cut 4 rounds to close the pies. To do so, place the rounds on the top of the pies and pinch well all around the borders (5-6). Make sure the pies are closed well as the meat cooks with the steam and if there are holes, the pie will become dry.
Bake them in a pre heated oven at 200°C – 390°F for about 2 hours. To check if the panada is ready, gently shake it: if the content moves, then it is cooked.
Serve warm.
Simply beautiful! I love this recipe…
That’s quite a new dish indeed…and looks really nice with the bud on top!
Those are adorable 🙂 And I’m so glad you went with the lamb and potatoes as opposed to the eel. They’re always my favorite when I find them on a dive so I couldn’t possible eat them!
BUZZED!
I like how the pies look, and I’m sure the inside is delicious…!!!
OMG!! This looks so good! Loved the rose and of course the yummy filling…saving the recipe for Easter holidays…
Great recipe….the pics are beautiful
These are BEAUTIFUL!!! And what a great recipe! Thanks for sharing =))
Such a beautiful presentation, Manu…love your pastry work! And I’m also glad you’ve made this with lamb instead of eel…I don’t think I could convince my family to eat the latter 🙂 Have a great week, my friend~
what a beautiful presentation! You are one talented lady. 🙂
Gorgeous! I love savory pies and the dough on this looks superior.
Oh yum – and how beautiful! I love your finishing on top, and the filling just sounds like I want to dive into it 🙂
I am so making these over the weekend. Would a standard butter pie crust work as well? This just looks so delicious. Thank you for sharing!
Hi there! I think it would work, even though I haven’t tried it. Let me know how they come out!!! 🙂
These look beautiful Manu! I love the picture of the cross section of this pie!
It’s a serious dish 🙂 And it’s so nice to have something traditional sometimes.. It looks really good
I have always been curious to taste the original sa panada with eel. You did a great job, and I love lamb too by the way.
I simply adore this entire recipe! Not only does it look delicous it has such a charm about it! Well done, you’ve made me want to make this! =)
These look adorable… I love how pretty the crust is.. and the pictures are gorgeous – especially that last one… I love lamb and I think this would taste fabulous! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I liked the whole recipe, it sounds delicious especially with the lamb, thanks for sharing, Manu.
I love the presentation! You are an artist Manu!
This makes a great dish for company, very impressive
Wow! Great post! However, I am an experienced cook, and I’ve never seen a recipe that directs a pie to cook at 390° F for “almost” TWO hours… maybe I’ve not looked at enough recipes, but….
Still, I’m inspired to bookmark this with the intention of making it sometime since I am very fond of savory pies.
LOL I know, it sounded strange to me as well… but it did work. 😉
They look fabulous. i will make this at Easter. May I use Butter or shortening for the lard?
Hi Evelyn! I think butter or shortening would work too… the crust was flaky and crunchy at the same time. I have not tried it myself, but I don’t think it would be an issue. 🙂 Let me know how you go!
You know I love savory dishes and this sounds delicious. Really like the rose you placed on top .. cute 🙂
Manu
I love the crust on this pie. They would be so delicious with that lamb in them
Oh Manu, these are gorgeous!! I pinned it, hope you don’t mind.
Hi Manu! I want to try making these beauties – what cut of lamb did you use? I’m not sure some of my family would be up to the lamb however – have you ever tried making this recipe with a cut of beef? Thanks so much, this post was very helpful!
Hello! I have used the leg (I bought it already cut) for this dish. I have never made it with beef, but as it has to cook for a long time, I would probably try with chuck steak… it should remain soft! 🙂 Let me know!
Hi again! I tried making Sa Panada last night and the beef worked really well! I used cubed sirloin, thinly sliced potatoes, a wee punch of garlic and some diced roasted tomatoes. I kind of screwed up the pastry I think – it was REALLY crunchy – but they were darned cute little pies! Definitely going to try my hand at the pastry again!