Seafood Empanaditas Recipes

TUNA FISH EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the onions, peppers, crushed garlic, and paprika. Cook until golden the onions and peppers are soft and start to brown, about 15-20 minutes.
• Add the tuna fish, mix and cook for another 5 minutes. Stir as needed.
• Add the oregano, sliced olives, capers, and lemon juice. Mix well, taste and add salt/pepper to taste. Cook for a few minutes, then remove from heat and let the tuna fish mix cool down before using to fill the empanadas.
• Place a large spoonful of the tuna fish filling on the center of each empanada disc.
• Fold the empanada discs and gently seal the edges with your fingers. Twist and fold the edges of the empanadas with your fingers. You can also use a fork to press down and seal the edges.
• Chill the empanadas for at least an hour, this will help them seal better and prevent them for opening while baking.
• Pre-heat the oven to 400F (200C).
• Brush the empanadas with the egg wash before baking; this helps them achieve that nice golden finish when baked.
• Bake the empanadas for 18-20 minutes or until golden on top.
• Serve the empanadas alone or with a dipping sauce.

CHILEAN SEAFOOD EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Make the filling: In a medium skillet heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil over medium-low heat, add the green onions and saute until lightly browned and tender, about 3 minutes, add salt, pepper, and Merquén, stir well and add the shrimp and cook until they are getting pink. Remove from heat and let cool, add the cheese and mix.
• Thawed the dough, separate carefully. Place 2 teaspoons of filling of shrimp and cheese. Close the empanadas, slightly wet the edge with water and then crushed with a fork to seal the edge. You can also make small folds, after sealing the edge, my favorite way.
• Heat oil in a deep pot to avoid splashing, test the oil with a piece of dough left over, get out to the surface and brown quickly in about 1 minute per side, or 400F. Place the empanadas to be fried, 2 or 3 at a time. Allow to brown on both sides, remove to a plate with an absorbent paper towel and let drain 1 minute, serve and eat hot.

SHRIMP EMPANADAS

Steps:

• For the salsa criolla: In a pan on medium-high heat, add the butter, the cubanelle pepper, tomatoes and onion. Cook the veggies for about 5 minutes. Add the Sazón, adobo, chicken base, oregano, coriander leaves, cooking wine, garlic and 4 cups water; bring to a boil. In a separate bowl, combine the flour with 1 cup of water and stir. Add the flour mixture to the pan little by little until the desired thickness of sauce is reached.
• For the empanadas: Chop the shrimp into medium pieces. In a pan over medium-high heat, add the butter, shrimp and 4 ounces salsa criolla. Stir. Cook until the shrimp is pink and fully cooked, about 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool.
• To the middle of a round of dough, add about a tablespoon of the shrimp mixture, 1 to 2 teaspoons grated cheese, and add several pieces of colored julienne bell peppers. Close and fold the round dough in half like a crescent. Press the edges together to seal and remove any air pockets. Using your thumb and index finger, pinch and twist along the edge of the dough to create a braided sealed edge. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Place the empanadas on a plate lined with wax paper and freeze until the next day. (This will help unify the temperature of the empanada and help seal it before frying.)
• In a fryer or deep pan, add enough vegetable oil to for the empanadas to float. Heat the oil to 350 degrees F.
• Add the empanadas to the hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side. Remove the empanadas to a rack or paper towel to allow excess oil to drain. Empanadas can be served on a cutting board or plate. Cut in half and enjoy!

SHRIMP AND CORN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• For the empanada dough: In a food processor, pulse flour, lard and salt until the mixture resembles sand. In a separate bowl, beat together egg, water and vinegar with a fork. Add to flour mixture, pulsing until just incorporated. Turn out onto plastic wrap and chill at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
• For the filling: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place the corn on a baking sheet and roast in the oven about 12 to 15 minutes. Remove, cool and cut off the kernels with a knife.
• In a medium skillet over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of the oil followed by the bell pepper, garlic and shallot. Cook, stirring frequently, about 3 to 4 minutes, then add 1/2 cup wine, tomato paste, salt and pepper. Bring back to a simmer and continue cooking until liquid has reduced by half. Place into a blender and puree. Set aside.
• In another medium skillet over medium-high heat, add remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. When just smoking, 1 to 2 minutes, add shrimp. Season with salt and pepper. Add remaining 1/2 cup wine and bring to a simmer. Continue to cook until shrimp are opaque and liquid has reduced slightly, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat, cool, and roughly chop the shrimp.
• In a bowl, mix together the pureed bell pepper mixture, the corn and shrimp. Chill about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• To assemble: In a small bowl, beat egg with 1 tablespoon water and a pinch of salt. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/16-inch thick. Using a 4-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 8 rounds of dough. Brush edges with egg wash. Place 1 heaping tablespoon of filling in middle of each round, and fold the dough over to enclose the filling. Crimp edges with a fork and place on a baking sheet. Brush tops with more beaten egg. Bake until golden brown,10 to 12 minutes.

SHRIMP EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Combine first 6 ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Mix flour, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Cut in shortening with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually stir in water until mixture forms ball. Place on lightly floured surface; knead 5 min. or until smooth and elastic. Divide dough into 12 balls, using about 2 Tbsp. for each; flatten each to 6-inch round.
• Spoon about 1/3 cup shrimp mixture onto center of each round; moisten edge with water. Fold dough rounds in half to enclose filling; press lightly on tops to remove air pockets. Seal edges with fork.
• Heat oil in medium deep skillet to 375°F. Add empanadas, in batches; cook 3 min. on each side or until golden brown on both sides. Remove from skillet; drain well.

SHRIMP EMPANADAS (EMPANADILLAS DE CAMARON)

Steps:

• To prepare the dough:
• 1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a hook attachment, combine the flour, salt, sugar, and butter. Mix on medium speed to combine the ingredients, then add the beer.
• 2. Continue mixing to form a smooth, elastic dough, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn the dough out into a mixing bowl, and rest covered in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes before using.
• To prepare the filling:
• 1. In a medium skillet over low heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 15 minutes.
• 2. Add the tomato, paprika, pinch of cloves, cumin, parsley, and shrimp, and cook until the shrimp are cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and cool.
• To form the empanadas:
• 1. Roll the dough out onto a floured surface to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. Cut out into 4-inch rounds. Brush the rounds with egg wash and fill each with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of shrimp filling. Fold over into a half moon and press the edges to seal (for a decorative touch, crimp the sealed edges with a fork). Repeat as needed to use up all of the dough and filling.
• 2. In a medium pot over medium-heat heat, add enough oil to come about 2 inches up the side of the pot. Heat the oil to 350°F. Set a cooling rack over a sheet pan and reserve nearby.
• 3. Working in batches, gently fry the empanadas until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Reserve cooked empanadas on the cooling screen while the remaining finish frying. Serve warm.

SHRIMP EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Stir together 1 tablespoon flour and 1/4 cup water in a small bowl until flour is dissolved; set aside.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft but not brown, about 2 minutes. Add shrimp and tomato paste; season with salt and black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until shrimp are cooked through and opaque, about 3 minutes. Stir in cayenne and parsley. Stir in flour mixture; simmer 2 minutes. Turn off heat; stir in olives. Season again with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place remaining 4 cups flour in a large bowl; make a well in the center. Place butter, mayonnaise, eggs, milk, and 2 teaspoons salt in well. Squeeze wet ingredients between fingers of one hand to combine. Gradually work in flour, squeezing to form a soft dough.
• Pinch off 60 cherry-size balls of dough; reserve leftover dough. Set aside 15 dough balls. Transfer remaining 45 dough balls to baking sheets. Wrap in plastic; refrigerate. Divide reserved dough into 4 pieces; set aside 1 piece. Wrap remaining 3 pieces in plastic; refrigerate.
• Transfer reserved dough balls to fifteen round tartlet molds (each 1 1/2 inch diameter by 1/2 inch high). Press down dough; it should reach just over tops. Mound 1 teaspoon filling in each mold.
• Roll out a dough piece to 1/8 inch thick. With a 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 15 tops. Place over filling, pressing edges of dough to seal; trim excess. Transfer to a baking sheet. Brush tops with egg glaze. Repeat process with remaining dough balls, filling, and divided dough pieces.
• Bake empanadas until cooked through and golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly on a wire rack; unmold. Serve warm or at room temperature.