Empanadas are a delicious handheld snack or, if you can't have just one, a meal. However, many people are discouraged by the complexity of creating this delicious and addicting dish. Believe me, this was first time attempting this dish and I have to say, it was a hit.
The below recipe uses store bought puff pastry or pie crust. However, I encourage you to try making your own puff pastry from scratch. It's not as difficult as you think, but it is time consuming, so give yourself plenty of time when creating these delectable little beauties.
Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 cup of frozen diced potatoes
1 medium onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp Slap Ya Mama® seasoning
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp crushed red peppers (optional)
1/4 tsp chili powder
1 cup Mexican blend cheese, grated
2 boxes Refrigerated Pie Crust or thawed Puff Pastry (Feeling adventurous? Try making your own puff pastry here)
1 egg
1 tbsp water
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 425°.
In a cast iron pan or large frying pan, add ground beef, chopped onions, diced potatoes, minced garlic and cook over medium heat until ground beef is no longer pink. Drain grease and return to pan.
Sprinkle with seasonings, stir.
Unroll pie crust/puff pastry on a lightly flour surface. Using a 4 inch bowl, turn bowl upside down and press down to cut dough. Should be able to get 4 pieces per pie crust.
Add a little water to the edges of the dough before filling to help seal.
Add a small amount of shredded cheese and about a 1/4 cup of meat mixture.
Fold dough over and using a fork, close up the edges by pressing to seal and place on a baking sheet.
In a small bowl, whisk egg and water together. Using a basting brush, brush egg wash over the top of each empanada.
Bake for 15 minutes or until empanada crust is golden brown.
Carefully remove from oven, let sit for 5 minutes and enjoy.
Comments