Cheesy Spinach And Bacon Empanadas Recipes

CHEESY SPINACH AND BACON EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Prepare Empanada Dough as directed. Cook bacon in medium skillet on medium heat 3 min. Add onions and garlic; cook and stir 4 min. or until bacon is crisp. Drain; place in medium bowl. Add spinach, cheese, corn and crushed pepper; mix well.
• Heat oven to 400°F. Shape dough into 24 balls, using about 1 Tbsp. dough for each ball. Press each ball into 4-inch round. Spoon about 1 Tbsp. spinach mixture onto center of each round. Brush edges of dough evenly with half the egg; fold in half. Press tops lightly to remove air pockets. Press edges together to seal. Place on parchment-covered baking sheet; brush with remaining egg.
• Bake 15 min. or until golden brown. Cool slightly.

CHEESE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Mixing by hand, combine 2 cups warm water, the shortening and salt in a medium bowl. Slowly add the flour, mixing quickly to avoid lumps. Knead until the ingredients are evenly combined. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes, then shape into small balls (about 3 ounces each).
• Using a hand tortilla press, place a piece of waxed paper on the bottom, center a dough ball on top and cover with another piece of waxed paper. Gently press down to flatten the ball into a thin circle (not too thin or it will crack). Alternatively, you can use a wooden board or large plate to press the dough.
• Remove the top paper and add 1 tablespoon of the cheese to the middle of the pressed dough. Carefully fold one edge of the circle over the cheese to the other edge, and press the edges together to close the empanada. Using a small bowl, place it over the empanada close to the edge and press down slightly to cut the edge and evenly seal it. Repeat with the remaining dough and cheese. Set the empanadas on a large platter and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, add enough vegetable oil to fill the pan about a third of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 350 degrees F. Gently remove the wax paper from each empanada and fry two to four at a time (depending on the pan size) until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• Serve immediately.

SPINACH AND CHEESE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• In the bowl of a standing electric mixer using the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter on high speed until very smooth, pausing to scrape down the sides of the bowl, as necessary. Reduce the mixer speed to low, add the flour, little by little, and the salt, and process until just combined. Turn the dough out onto a slightly floured surface and knead lightly. Form the dough into a disk, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours and up to overnight.
• Heat 1 teaspoon of the reserved bacon drippings in a medium nonstick skillet and, when hot, add the spinach. Cook, stirring frequently, until the spinach is wilted and has released its liquid, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the spinach to a colander to drain. When the spinach has cooled enough to handle, squeeze to release any excess water, then transfer to a cutting board and finely chop. Set aside.
• Add 2 more teaspoons of the bacon drippings to the same skillet, then add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until soft but not browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the reserved spinach, crumbled bacon, cottage cheese, salt and pepper to taste and nutmeg and mix thoroughly. Transfer to a mixing bowl and allow to cool thoroughly. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F and lightly grease a baking sheet.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator and, working on a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough to a thickness of about 1/8-inch thick. Using a small bowl or saucer as a guide, cut the dough into as many 5-inch circles as possible. Gather the scraps of dough together and knead lightly to reform the dough into a disk. Roll out as before and again cut as many rounds as you can. You should be able to get 10 to 12 rounds. Divide the spinach filling evenly among the dough circles. Using your fingers, lightly moisten the edges with some of the beaten egg, then fold 1 side over so that the edges meet, and press to seal. Crimp the edges using the tines of a fork and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat until all of the empanadas are assembled. Brush the tops of each empanada with some of the beaten egg and bake uncovered until golden, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Serve either warm or at room temperature.

EASY CHEESY SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a 12-inch saute pan over moderate heat. Add the onions and cook until soft, about 8 minutes. Whisk in the cream cheese and let melt. Fold in the spinach until evenly combined. Add up to 3 tablespoons water if the mixture seems too dry. Sprinkle the nutmeg on top and season with salt and pepper.
• BYOC: Lemon zest and juice would bring a little bit of sunshine to this dish. Just add with the salt and pepper.

SPINACH AND BACON QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Place the bacon in a large, deep skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on a paper towel-lined plate. Chop when cool.
• Fit the pie crust into a 9-inch pie dish, and set aside.
• In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, salt, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and hot pepper sauce. Spread the spinach into the bottom of the pie crust; top with bacon, Cheddar cheese, and green onion. Pour the egg mixture over the filling, and sprinkle the quiche with Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the top is lightly puffed and browned, and a knife inserted into the center of the quiche comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes.

QUICK AND EASY CREAMED BACON SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion, bacon, and garlic until bacon is crisp, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Whisk flour, salt, and black pepper into onion mixture until blended and the flour and drippings form a paste, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Slowly whisk milk into onion mixture. Bring to a boil, continuously whisking, until sauce is thick and creamy, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Stir spinach and half-and-half into sauce; cook until spinach is heated through, 4 to 6 minutes.