Meat Turnovers Recipes

EMPANADAS - BEEF TURNOVERS

Steps:

• 1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, about 10 minutes. Add onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes more. Stir in tomato sauce, olives, Sofrito, Sazon, garlic, oregano and black pepper. Lower heat to medium-low and simmer until mixture thickens, about 15 minutes.
• 2. On a lightly floured work surface, using a rolling pin, roll out discos until ½" larger in diameter. Spoon about 1 tbsp. meat mixture into middle, fold in half to form a half moon; moisten edges with water and pinch to seal closed, or seal with a fork.
• 3. Fill a deep saucepan with oil to a depth of 2½". Heat oil over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking (350°F on deep-fry thermometer). Cook Empanadas in batches until crisp and golden brown, flipping once, 4 - 6 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.

MINIATURE MEAT TURNOVERS

Steps:

• 1. Brown hamburger in a large skillet. When all the red is gone, add the remaining ingredients and saute for about 10 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• 2. Unwrap a package of crescent rolls. CUT EACH CRESCENT ROLL IN HALF (very important) - they will not be evenly sized. Place 1 teaspoonful or so of meat mixture on each half of the crescent roll and wrap up (just pinch the dough around the mixture and make sure it is "closed") If you are using these right away, simply place each turnover on a cookie sheet about 1 inch apart. Continue with remaining crescent rolls and meat mixture.
• 3. Bake at 375 for approximately 15-20 minutes - until lightly browned.
• 4. If you are making these for later, place each turnover on a cookie sheet (get as many as you can on each sheet) - then place the cookie sheet in the freezer for about 10 minutes, until the turnovers are hardened slightly) - then you can just place them in plastic bag and freeze. When cooking the frozen turnovers, let them defrost slightly and cook them for about 5 minutes additional. Keep watching the bottoms so they don't burn.

EMPANADAS (BEEF TURNOVERS)

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, about 10 minutes. Add onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes more. Stir in tomato sauce, olives, Sofrito, Sazon, garlic, oregano and black pepper. Lower heat to medium-low and simmer until mixture thickens, about 15 minutes.
• On a lightly floured work surface, using a rolling pin, roll out discos until 1/2-inch larger in diameter. Spoon about 1 tbsp. meat mixture into middle, fold in half to form a half moon; moisten edges with water and pinch to seal closed, or seal with a fork.
• Fill a deep saucepan with oil to a depth of 2 1/2-inches. Heat oil over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking (350 degrees F on deep-fry thermometer). Cook Empanadas in batches until crisp and golden brown, flipping once, 4 - 6 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.

BIEROCKS (GERMAN MEAT TURNOVERS)

Steps:

• Saute beef, onion and garlic, salt and lemon pepper in a large skillet over medium high heat, until beef is browned. Add cabbage, Worcestershire sauce and caraway seeds. Cook until cabbage is limp; drain liquid from mixture.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• On a lightly floured board, roll each loaf of dough into a 12 inch circle. Cut each circle into 6 wedges. Spoon cabbage/beef filling onto center of each dough piece, dividing equally. Pull three points of each wedge up to the center and pinch to seal. Place bierocks on a lightly greased cookie sheet. If desired, brush dough with melted butter or egg wash (1 egg white with 2 tablespoons water).
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve hot, or wrap and freeze for heating later.

MEAT TURNOVERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400*.
• Cook and stir ground beef and onion until meat is brown and onion is tender. Stir in 2 Tblsp. baking mix, salt, garlic salt, catsup and sour cream; heat through.
• Stir 1 1/2 cups baking mix and the water to a soft dough. Gently smooth dough into a ball on floured cloth-covered board. Knead 5 times.
• Roll dough into a 12-inch square; cut into four 6-inch squares. Place squares on ungreased baking sheet; spoon 1/3 cup meat mixture on each. Fold dough over to make triangles and press edges together to seal securely. Cut slit in center of each turnover.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes.

TANGY BEEF TURNOVERS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add sauerkraut and cheese. , Unroll crescent roll dough and separate into rectangles. Place on greased baking sheets; pinch seams to seal. Place 1/2 cup beef mixture in the center of each rectangle. Bring corners to the center and pinch to seal. Bake at 375° for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.

GROUND BEEF TURNOVERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt; cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, combine the water, egg and vinegar. Add to shortening mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing lightly with a fork until mixture forms a ball. Cover and chill for 30 minutes., Meanwhile, combine the first six filling ingredients. Divide pastry into 15 equal portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion into a 6-1/2-in. circle. , Mound a heaping 1/3 cup filling on half of circle. Moisten edges with water; fold dough over filling and press edges with a fork to seal. Transfer to a greased baking sheet. Repeat with remaining pastry and filling. , Cut three slits in the top of each turnover; brush with cream. Bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes or until vegetables are tender and crust is golden brown.