FRIED EMPANADAS WITH BEEF OR CHICKEN FILLING
Ingredients:
1 kg Plain flour
250 g Butter, lard or margarine
1 Egg
400 ml Salted water
Directions:
Beef filling
150 g Butter, lard or margarine
2 tb Oil
750 g Minced beef
8 Or 10 green (spring) onions
1 tb Paprika
Salt and pepper
4 Hard boiled eggs, chopped
250 g Green olives
1 t Ground chilli
1/4 c Tomato puree
1 t Ground cumin
1 t Mixed spices
1 t Cinnamon
1 c Beef stock
Chicken filling
500 g Minced chicken
3 tb To 4 tb oil
200 g Red capsicum, finely chopped
300 g Onions, finely chopped
4 tb Tomato puree
3 Hard-boiled eggs, chopped
Dough: Oil or a mixture of oil and solid vegetable
shortening for deep frying.
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To make dough: Sift the flour, add the melted shortening and the egg. Add the salted water bit by bit and mix to a firm dough.
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Knead for 10 minutes if making by hand, 4-5 minutes if using an electric mixer with a dough hook, or 1-2 minutes if using a food processor with a dough hook. Leave it to rest for 15 to 30 minutes.
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a --To make the beef filling:
Heat the oil and shortening in a frying pan and saute the green onions, finely chopped. Add the meat and stir until it is cooked. Stir in the tomato puree and remaining ingredients, cook for a few minutes more. Leave until completely cold before assembling empanadas.b --To make the chicken filling:
Heat the oil and fry the onions, then add the capsicum and dry until soft. Add the minced chicken and stir until it has all changed color. Season to taste, add the tomato puree, mix well and simmer for a further 3 minutes. Leave until completely cold before assembling empanadas. -
Assembly and cooking: Roll out the dough about 3 mm
thick and, using a saucer or something similar as a guide, cut into 24-30 circles about 14 cms in diameter. Divide whichever filling mixture you are using between the circles, putting it on one side of the circle only. -
Moisten the outer rim of the dough with water and fold over into a semi-circle. Curve the ends of the folded side together a little to form a crescent, then secure the joined edges by folding them over each other in small sections to form a “rope” effect (if this sounds too confusing, just
press together and decorate with a fork in the usual
way). -
Heat about 6-8 cm deep frying oil to very hot and deep fry the empanadas one or two at a time just until golden. Remove from the oil immediately and drain well on kitchen paper.
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Serve very hot. Halve the filling ingredients or double the dough if making both beef and chicken empanadas. Empanadas often include raisins or sultanas which create an
interesting flavor contrast with the meat. A handful
can be added to either of these recipes if you like.