How to Make Beef Empanadas

Empanadas are the Latin worlds best kept secret. It is a turnover filled with whatever you like. In this case, what we like is seasoned meat lovingly folded into a flaky circle of dough and then sealed and baked in an oven until golden brown. If the description does not sell you on these babies, then one bite and then another and then another will, until you wonder, "How many have I eaten?

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• large saucepan
• 2 cup chopped onions
• 1 cup of chopped green or red peppers
• 2 pounds of ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes, or 2 small cans tomato sauce or 2 cans diced tomatoes
• 2tsp salt
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp mild paprika
• 1-2 tblsp oregano
• 1/2 cup chopped spanish onions (optional)
• 2 packages frozen empanada dough (found in grocers freezer in the "ethnic" section
• or make your own pastry dough

1. Meat Filling
   Mix in a large saucepan, 2 pounds of ground beef with the onions and peppers, cooking uncovered making sure to break any large pieces of meat down, until ingredients are tender, and the meat is browned. Drain any excess grease off at this point.
2. To the meat mixture, add tomatoes, salt, cumin, paprika, and oregano. Stir well to evenly distribute the ingredients. Let the filling rest at least 2 hours(If you have the time, overnight is the ideal as it allows the flavors to "marry").
   When its time to assemble, you may stir in the chopped Spanish olives if desired.
3. Empanada assembly:
   1. Lay each pastry on a flat surface and put 1 Tbsp of filling in the center of each pastry disc
   2. Fold dough over the filling and make the edges of the pastry meet.
   3. Press the edges with a fork to seal them- very important to prevent your filling leaking out.
   4. Place each empanada on a baking sheet previously sprayed with non-stick spray and keep them covered with a towel until ready to bake.
4. Baking Procedure:
   1. Preheat oven for 10 minutes at 400-425 F degrees
   2. Place empanadas in oven and bake for approx 15 minutes or until they get a golden brown color.

Tips & Warnings

• Open the package of defrosted dough circles when ready to assemble and not before. If possible keep a cloth over the open package to keep them from drying out.
• Extra filling can be frozen for future empanada cravings
• Already assembled and baked empanadas can be frozen for future consumption.
• Meat filling is just one option. Try chicken , pork, ham and cheese, tuna, even leftovers, etc.
• Bet you cant eat just one !!!!!!!!