Savory Hamantaschen Mediterranean Style

Makes 3 1/2 dozens 3-inch cookies

Filling I
3 large red-yellow sweet peppers
1 teaspoon tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon garlic-chili sauce
Salt and sugar to taste

Filling II
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 pound white button mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1/4 cup dry cranberries, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped
Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Dough
2 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 cup water

Egg Wash
1 egg, lightly beaten

To make Filling I (It might be done a day before)

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Line a medium rimmed baking sheet with foil. Thinly grease with vegetable oil and spray with non-stick baking spray. Place peppers on a greased foil. Bake them until tender, 30-40 minutes. Remove from the oven and give 5-7 minutes to cool off. Place peppers into a plastic bag to cool completely and close the bag.

Open the bag, remove the skin and dry with paper towels. Place into a bowl of a food processor, add tomato paste, sprinkle with some salt and black pepper. Process until smooth. Remove from the food processor and check for salt, pepper, and even sugar. Mix everything well.

To make the dough, sift together flour. baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. In a small bowl whisk together the egg, vinegar, water, and oil. pour the egg mixture into dry ingredients and stir until it starts to come together. Then tip out onto lightly floured surface and knead for about 1-2 minutes, until dough is smooth. Clean the bowl, then place the dough back in the bowl and cover with a tea towel. Set aside for 1 hour in a warm, draft-free place.

To make Filling II (It should be done when dough relax)

Heat a frying pan with vegetable oil on medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and saute about 7 minutes. Lightly sprinkle with salt and mix well. Add mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until mixture is dry and starting to brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

Add soy sauce and saute for about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and cool completely.

Add onion-mushroom to a bowl of the food processor and process almost smooth. remove from the bowl and check for salt and pepper. Add chopped dry cranberries, dill and mix well.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Place a parchment paper on a baking sheet and spray with non-stick baking spray.

Divide dough into 4 equal parts.

Roll first part dough between 1/4 inch thick and cut into circles with a cookie cutter or glass rim that is at least 3 inches wide. Stretch the round out a bit.

Using a spatula, thinly spread about 1/2 teaspoon of roasted pepper filling all over each circle. Place a teaspoon of mushrooms filling into the center of each circle. Pinch the edges to form three corners - this will keep them from separating while baking. Place on a baking sheet. Re-roll your scraps until it is ALL used up!

Repeat with other parts of the dough.

Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.

Using a thin spatula, carefully remove the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Store cookies in a tightly covered container.

Dough recipe comes from "Kosher style" by Amy Rosen