Preheat the Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 180°C (350°F). This ensures that the oven is at the perfect temperature for baking the mini pies. Next, grease your muffin tins or tartlet molds with butter or line them with paper liners. The butter will help prevent the pies from sticking, while the paper liners make for an easy cleanup.
Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, crack the 3 eggs and beat them well with 220ml of milk and 100ml of oil. Use a whisk or an electric mixer to blend the ingredients until they are smooth and well combined. The oil adds moisture to the batter, while the eggs help bind the ingredients together and provide structure.
Add Dry Ingredients: Incorporate the 250g of all-purpose flour and 10g of baking powder into the wet mixture. Stir the ingredients together until no lumps remain. The flour provides the base for the batter, while the baking powder will help the pies rise and become light and airy. Be sure to mix gently but thoroughly to avoid any lumps in the batter.
Incorporate the Ham and Cheese: Once the batter is smooth, add 200g of diced ham and 200g of grated mozzarella cheese to the mixture. The ham adds a savory flavor, and the cheese will melt beautifully in the oven, creating a deliciously gooey filling. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt, black pepper, and oregano to taste. Stir the mixture well to ensure the ham and cheese are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Fill the Molds: Now it’s time to fill your prepared muffin tins or tartlet molds. Spoon the batter into each mold, filling them up to 3/4 capacity. This will give the pies enough space to rise and expand during baking, resulting in a perfectly puffed mini pie. Be careful not to overfill, as the batter will expand slightly during baking.
Decorate the Pies: Once the batter is in the molds, you can decorate the tops of the mini pies as desired. For a colorful and savory touch, sprinkle some chopped olives and chopped tomatoes on top of the batter. Add a little extra grated mozzarella cheese for a cheesy, golden crust, and finish with a sprinkle of oregano or basil for added flavor and aroma.
Bake: Place the filled muffin tins or tartlet molds into the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the mini pies are golden brown and firm to the touch. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of one of the pies. If it comes out clean, the pies are ready. If there is any batter left on the toothpick, continue baking for a few more minutes until fully cooked through.
