Lady Lousada’s Pirozhki

When Patricia Lousada was a ballet student with Balanchine, the big culinary festival was Easter. But at Christmas he handed these round with the drinks. You can use a huge variety of fillings — meat, fish or cabbage — so long as it is moist and well-seasoned. Lady Lousada says you can use puff pastry in place of the yeast dough, ‘good, but not as authentic’.