Spicy Turkey Empanada Filling Recipes

SPICY TURKEY EMPANADA FILLING

Steps:

• In a large skillet heat the oil and saute the onions with the rosemary & thyme.
• Once the onions are soft, add the chicken stock & pepper and saute until the liquid is gone.
• Set aside the onion mixture.
• In the same skillet, brown the ground turkey.
• add about half of the chile relish, the potatoe and carrot.
• Cook over med-high heat, stirring occasionally until the potatoes are about 1/2 cooked. Probably about 10-15 minutes.
• Taste for spicyness/heat. Continue adding chile relish with following steps until you get the desired flavor.
• Add celery, roasted pepper, and onion mixture. Stir together and simmer 2-3 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• In a separate bowl beat the eggs. Set aside about 2 Tbsp of the egg to use as an egg wash.
• Mix in mustard, cheese, milk or cream, and bread crumbs.
• Stir mustard mix in to the meat.
• Scoop about 2/3 C of mixture onto a 6" diameter circle of dough.
• Fold the dough over to make a 1/2 circle and crimp shut.
• Put the empanadas on a cookie sheet, about 6 to a sheet.
• Brush with the egg wash (add a little milk to make lighter, a little salt to make shiny).
• Bake in a 400 degree oven 20-30 minutes, until crusts are golden brown.
• OR Freeze in individual bags, or with waxed paper separating individual empanadas in a bag. To cook frozen ones, use a 400 degree oven, just cook a bit longer until hot through and nicely browned.

SPICY CHICKEN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• For the empanada dough: Mix all empanada ingredients in a mixer. Let dough rest in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours.
• For the filling: Bake the chicken breast until fully cooked. Put breast meat in a food processor and pulse until chopped (you don't want very small pieces). Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil. Add onions, green and red bell peppers, salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, red pepper, oregano and basil. Cook until onions are soft, about 10 minutes. Pour in chipotle sauce and stir. Finally add tomato sauce. Allow filling to cool.
• To form the empanadas, knead the dough. Roll the dough out by hand or with a commercial sheeter. Cut out circles of dough. Place a dough circle in an empanada mold if you have one, but it's not necessary; fill with chicken mixture. Wet the edges of the dough with your fingers. Close the mold to seal, or fold dough over filling and use the tines of a fork to seal the edges. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Use a pastry brush to paint empanadas with an even coat of egg wash.
• Preheat a convection oven to 450 degrees F, or regular oven to 400 degrees F. Place empanadas on greased baking sheets. Bake for 3 minutes in convection oven or 10 to 15 minutes in regular oven.

SPICED TURKEY EMPANADA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Sprinkle turkey with salt, pepper, cumin and chili powder. Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Cook turkey, breaking up with a spoon, until brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, olives and jalapeños. Cover; reduce heat to low. Simmer until turkey is cooked through and tomatoes are soft, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Coat a large cookie sheet with cooking spray. Cut dough into 4 equal portions. Pull dough into 4 flat disks, each 8 inches in diameter. Top each round with 1/2 cup turkey filling. Fold dough in half and fold bottom edge over top. Press closed. Transfer to cookie sheet and coat empanadas with cooking spray. Bake until dough is firm and golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Serve with 1/2 cup baby carrots. Store empanadas in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.