Briannas Empanada With Chimichurri Sauce Recipes

CHICKEN CHIMICHURRI EMPANADA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Combine chicken with 1 cup Chimichurri. Mix well and refrigerate overnight.
• Heat saute pan with oil and saute the chicken with the salt until done. Add remaining 1/2 cup Chimichurri and set aside to cool to room temperature.
• Place 1 heaping tablespoon chicken mixture in center of an Empanada Disc and close by hand or with a fork. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
• Bake until browned, about 10 minutes.
• Stir flour and salt together in a bowl.
• Blend the shortening into the flour mixture with a metal spoon or hands until well blended.
• Combine the egg with 2/3 cup room temperature water. Stir 1/2 cup egg mixture into the flour until the dough starts to come together smoothly. Keep kneading the dough, adding more of the egg mixture as needed (you may need a little more water). The dough should be smooth.
• Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour but preferably overnight.
• Place dough on a floured surface and roll into desired thickness before cutting. Use a 5-inch round cutter for the discs.
• Combine parsley, red peppers and garlic in a medium bowl.
• Add olive oil and vinegar and mix. Add salt, pepper, oregano and paprika and mix well.
• Cover and chill for at least 3 hours or preferably overnight. Keep refrigerated up to 2 weeks.

BRIANNA'S EMPANADA WITH CHIMICHURRI SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and coat with the olive oil. Add the ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Stir the beef and cook it until browned. Remove the beef from the pan to a dish. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the pan. Return the pan to the heat and add the onion, cooking until softened, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic, chile powder, cumin, and coriander and cook for 3 minutes. Add the ground beef back into the pan and stir to combine. Turn off the heat and let cool for 5 minutes. Stir in the green chiles and chopped egg.
• Fill a small bowl with water.
• Lay out a few of the empanada wrappers on a flat surface. Top the center of each wrapper with about 3 tablespoons of the beef filling. Dip your finger lightly in the water and run it along the edges of the wrapper. Fold the wrapper over the beef, into a half moon shape and pinch it shut. Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling ingredients.
• Heat a deep saute pan over high heat and pour in enough canola oil to fill the pan halfway up the sides. Heat the oil to 350 degrees F. Fry the empanadas until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Be sure to flip them so they cook on both sides. Remove from the pan and drain them on paper towels. Transfer the empanadas to a serving platter and serve with the Chimichurri Sauce for dipping.
• To make Chimichurri Sauce:
• Grate 2 tablespoons of zest from the lemons and squeeze out 1/4 cup of juice. Add the zest and juice to a food processor or blender along with the cilantro, parsley, mint, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes, and olive oil. Pulse to blend the ingredients. If the sauce is too thick, add more oil and lemon juice. The sauce should be just thin enough to pour. Transfer the sauce to a serving bowl and serve with the empanadas.
• Yield: about 2 cups