Mini Empanadas Recipes

CHICKEN MINI EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Prepare the pie dough according to the package directions for a double-crust pie. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a medium saucepan, combine the chicken, salsa and olives. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese. Cool slightly.
• On a flour-dusted surface, roll out the dough to inch thick. Using a 3-inch-round cutter, cut out 36 circles, rerolling the scraps as needed. Place about 1 tablespoon chicken mixture in the center of each circle. Moisten the edges with water.
• Fold the circles in half and pinch to seal. Pierce the tops with a fork.
• Place the empanadas on a baking sheet and bake 15 minutes, or until golden. Serve hot.

MINI CHICKEN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a small bowl, combine the first 8 ingredients. On a lightly floured surface, roll each pie crust into a 15-inch circle. Cut with a floured 3-in. round biscuit cutter., Place about 1 teaspoon filling on 1 half of each circle. Moisten edges with water. Fold pie crust over filling. Press edges with a fork to seal., Transfer to greased baking sheets. Bake until golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Remove to wire racks. Serve warm.

CARBONADA CRIOLLA MINI EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Combine beef, undrained corn, tomatoes, sweet potato, zucchini, pear, onion, bell pepper, chicken bouillon, olive oil, garlic, oregano, parsley, paprika, cumin, and bay leaves in a slow cooker. Cook on High until beef is tender and vegetables are soft, 4 to 6 hours.
• Drain liquid and allow filling to cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Discard bay leaves.
• Scoop 3 tablespoons of cooled filling into the center of an empanada wrapper. Fold the wrapper in half and press the edges together to enclose the filling. Seal by crimping the edges or pressing them together with a fork. Repeat until all empanada wrappers are filled.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Without overcrowding, lower empanadas in batches into the hot oil and fry until golden, about 5 minutes, turning halfway through. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain while you cook remaining batches.

ARGENTINEAN-INSPIRED BEEF MINI EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Prepare filling: Cook ground beef, onion, bell pepper, and garlic in a large, nonstick skillet over medium to medium-high heat until vegetables are tender and beef is browned and crumbly, about 10 minutes. Add olives, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Stir in chopped eggs.
• Scrape mixture into a bowl. Cover and refrigerate until fully chilled, 1 to 2 hours; this ensures the dough will not be soggy when the empanadas are baked.
• Prepare dough: Whisk flour and salt together in a medium bowl until combined. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Whisk cold water, egg, and vinegar together in a small bowl. Pour into the dry ingredients and blend with a fork. Use your hands to finish blending the ingredients until they come together in a ball. Flatten the ball into a disc, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• When you are ready to cook, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface. Use a 3-inch round cutter to cut circles, rerolling the scraps as necessary. I got about 18 circles.
• Hold each circle in your hand and place a heaping tablespoon of filling in the center. Gently fold the ends over the top and press to seal all the way around. Reserve extra filling for another use.
• Set empanadas on a baking sheet. Press around the sealed edges with a fork if desired.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown on the bottoms, about 18 minutes. Flip and bake until the other side is browned, about 5 more minutes.