Pork Picadillo Empanadas With Chipotle Salsa Recipes

CHILI PORK EMPANADAS WITH AVOCADO DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Add the oil to a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Season the pork with chili powder, salt and pepper, to taste, and quickly sear for 2 minutes. Remove from the pan to a bowl and cool slightly. Add the scallions, cilantro, chipotles and queso fresco and mix well.
• Roll out the pie rounds on a lightly floured surface and using a 3-inch biscuit cutter, punch out rounds of dough. Put about 2 tablespoons of the filling, off-center, on each dough round. Brush the edges of the dough with beaten egg. Fold the dough over the filling and crimp the edges with a fork. Arrange them on a half sheet tray lined with parchment paper and brush the tops with remaining beaten egg. Bake until nicely browned, about 13 to 15 minutes. Remove the empanadas from the oven and arrange them on a platter. Serve with the dipping sauce.
• Dipping Sauce:
• In the same pan the pork was cooked in, add the butter. Turn the heat to high and add the shallots. Cook the shallots until nicely caramelized, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the shallots, avocado, olive oil, red wine vinegar and sour cream to a blender. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and puree until smooth and velvety. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve with the empanadas.

PICADILLO EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil, drop in the tomato and boil 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and let cool 5 minutes, then peel and puree in a blender until smooth; set aside.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 7 minutes; season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add the onion, carrot, olives, raisins and the pureed tomato. Simmer until thick, about 2 minutes, then remove from the heat and set aside.
• Beat the egg with 2 teaspoons water in a small bowl; set aside. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Working with 1 sheet of puff pastry at a time, unfold on a lightly floured surface. Roll out the dough into a 10-inch square, about 1/4 inch thick, using a floured rolling pin. Cut into four 5-inch squares. Place 1/4 cup of the picadillo mixture in the center of each square. Brush the edges with the egg wash and fold diagonally to form a triangle. Crimp the edges with a fork.
• Transfer the empanadas to the prepared baking sheet and brush with the remaining egg wash. Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes.

PORK EMPANADAS

Steps:

• To make the filling: Place pork in a large pot and cover with water. Add onion, garlic, salt, oregano, cumin and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. While pork is cooking, prepare dough.
• To make the dough: Sift together the flour, masa harina, baking powder and salt. Add the shortening to the dry ingredients and mix well. In a separate bowl, beat together the egg and 1/2 cup milk. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Add the egg mixture and stir with a fork until the dough comes together in a ball. Divide the dough into 16 even pieces and roll each piece into a ball. Place in a container, cover, and refrigerate.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• After the pork has simmered for 1 1/2 hours, remove from liquid. Place pork in a baking dish and bake for 1 hour or until meat shreds easily with fork. Remove from oven (keep oven turned on) and shred into small pieces. Add salsa to shredded pork.
• Lightly grease a baking sheet.
• On lightly floured surface, flatten a piece of dough with the palm of your hand. With a rolling pin, roll out the dough to make a 5-inch circle about 1/8-inch thick. Place 2 to 3 tablespoons of filling in the center of the dough circle. Brush edges of dough with milk. Fold dough over filling. Pinch edges together. Crimp with fork to seal.
• Place on prepared baking sheet and repeat with remaining empanada dough. Leftover filling can be frozen or used in tacos, tamales, or burritos.
• Bake in preheated oven until golden, about 20 minutes. Remove to rack and cool for about 5 minutes. Serve warm.