Chicken Chorizo Spanish Empanada Recipes

CHICKEN EMPANADA WITH CHORIZO, RAISINS, AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Make filling:
• Pat chicken dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown chicken, turning over once, about 6 minutes total, and transfer to a plate. Sauté onions, garlic, and bay leaves in fat remaining in skillet, stirring frequently, until onions are softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add chorizo and paprika and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add olives, raisins, wine, and broth and bring to a boil, stirring and scraping up any brown bits. Return chicken to skillet along with any juices accumulated on plate, then reduce heat to moderately low and simmer chicken, covered, turning over once, until tender, 25 to 30 minutes total.
• Transfer chicken to a clean plate. (Sauce in skillet should be the consistency of heavy cream; if it's not, briskly simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.) When chicken is cool enough to handle, discard skin and bones and coarsely chop meat. Stir chicken into sauce and discard bay leaves. Season with salt and pepper, then cool filling, uncovered, about 30 minutes.
• Form and bake empanada:
• Form dough into a ball, then wrap in oiled plastic wrap (oiled side in) and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 15- by 10-inch shallow baking pan (1 inch deep) with 1 tablespoon oil.
• Divide dough in half, then roll out 1 half (keep remaining dough covered with plastic wrap) on a floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a 15- by 10-inch rectangle and transfer to baking pan. Spread filling evenly over dough, leaving a 1-inch border, and moisten border with water. Roll out remaining dough in same manner, then arrange over filling and press edges together to seal. Roll edges in and press to form a decorative rim. Make a 1-inch hole (a steam vent) in center of empanada.
• Bake empanada 15 minutes, then brush crust with 3/4 tablespoon oil and bake until crust is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes more. Remove from oven and brush empanada with remaining 3/4 tablespoon oil. Cool 10 minutes in pan on a rack, then slide empanada onto rack using a wide metal spatula and cool to warm.
• Cut empanada into squares and serve warm or at room temperature.

CHICKEN AND CHORIZO EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
• For the filling, put the chicken thighs in a small roasting dish, season well all over with salt and pepper and roast for about 45 minutes, or until cooked through. Set aside to cool a little.
• Meanwhile, make the pastry. Melt the butter and leave it to cool slightly. Put the flour in a large bowl and mix in the salt. Pour in the butter and egg. Start mixing, adding 3-5 tablespoons of water as you go, until you have a soft dough. Turn this out onto a clean work surface and knead it gently for a couple of minutes, or until smooth. Return the dough to its bowl, cover and set aside to rest while you prepare the filling.
• To finish the filling, heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until soft.
• Add the garlic, chorizo, cumin seeds and raisins. Cook over a medium heat for 5-8 minutes, stirring often, until the chorizo is cooked. Remove from the heat.
• Once the chicken thighs are cool enough to handle, remove the skin. Pull all the meat from the bones and chop it roughly. Add to the chorizo mixture. Taste and add salt and pepper if needed (the chorizo is already quite salty), then leave to cool completely.
• Turn the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6 and line a large baking tray with baking parchment.
• Lightly flour the work surface and roll out the dough to a thickness of 3-4mm. Use a 12cm/4½in cutter or a small bowl to cut out 10 discs. You will probably need to re-roll the offcuts once to get this many. Divide the filling between the discs. Dampen the edges of the dough with water then fold over one half of each disc to make a semicircular parcel. Press the edges together firmly then crimp or press the edges with a fork.
• Put the empanadas on the baking tray and brush with beaten egg. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden-brown. Eat them warm, on their own or with a chilli sauce.

CHICKEN AND CHORIZO SPANISH ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• Heat a drizzle of EVOO in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the chorizo, remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Cool. Drain the grease from the pan, but reserve the drippings at the bottom.
• To the pan, add 2 tablespoons EVOO, 2 turns of the pan. Add the garlic, chiles, bay leaf, onions and salt and pepper, cook to soften, 6 to 7 minutes. Add the chicken stock, paprika, tomatoes, tomato sauce and cinnamon. Simmer to thicken the sauce, about 15 minutes.
• Pour about one-third to one-half of the sauce into a large casserole dish.
• Combine the cooled down chorizo with the chicken, half the manchego and Pepper Jack cheese, parsley and olives. Wrap the filling inside the charred tortillas and arrange in a casserole dish, cover with the remaining sauce and cheese. Cool and chill for a make-ahead meal.
• To serve, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bake the enchiladas from room temperature until hot through and brown and bubbly, 35 to 45 minutes.

CHICKEN CHORIZO SPANISH EMPANADA

Steps:

• Make the dough. Whisk the dry ingredients together, then mix in the eggs and shortening until you get crumbs the size of peas (or dipping dots). You can use an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook, or use your hands.
• Place a large piece of plastic wrap on your work surface. Dump the dough crumbles onto the plastic wrap and knead into a cylinder. Tightly cover with another piece of plastic wrap, maintaining the cylindrical shape. Refrigerate for an hour or so.
• While the dough cools, make the filling. Heat a large pot over medium. Once it's hot, add the olive oil, onions, green pepper, garlic and tomatoes. Saute for 10 minutes, or until the onions are soft and translucent. Add the chicken and ham and continue to saute until the chicken is almost cooked through.
• Add the wine and deglaze the bottom of the pot. Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for about 20 minutes. Add the chorizo, piquillo peppers and green olives. Cover and continue simmering for another 14 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest until it comes to room temperature.
• Preheat the oven to 400°.
• Roll the dough out between two pieces of plastic wrap intil it's about 1/4-inch thick. Once your dough is rolled out, transfer it into an ungreased casserole dish (we used a large, 8″ by 11″ and 3″ deep dish). Cover the bottom and sides with dough, pushing it up the sides with your fingers if needed.
• Bake the bottom and sides for 15 minutes, then remove from oven and let come to room temperature. Reduce oven temperature to 350°.
• Add the filling to the casserole dish, then cover the top with the remaining dough (like a pie). Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes. Slice and serve with a big green salad.

POTATO AND CHORIZO EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water; add the salt and bring to a boil, uncovered. Simmer until fork tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place a large skillet over medium flame. Add the chorizo, and cook, stirring for 5 minutes, until the sausage renders its fat and gets crispy. Add the onion and garlic; season with the cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir for 5 minutes, until the mixture is soft and has a beautiful red color. Pour in the broth and simmer for 3 minutes.
• Drain the potatoes and fold them into the pan, using a wooden spoon, break up the potatoes into nickel-size pieces. Add the olives and raisins and toss everything together; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Allow the filling to cool before filling the empanadas. Serve with cilantro cream.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, masa harina, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the melted butter. Gradually add 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of water, working it in with your hands to incorporate; the dough should be easy to handle and not sticky. Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic, and chill for 30 minutes.
• Lightly flour your rolling pin and counter. Divide the dough in 1/2 so it will be easier to work with and roll it out to 1/8-inch thickness. Using a 4-inch cookie or biscuit cutter, cut out 10 circles of dough; repeat with the other 1/2.
• Spoon 2 generous tablespoons of filling into the center of each pastry circle, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Brush the edges with the egg wash and then fold the dough over in 1/2 to enclose the filling and form a semi-circle. Tightly seal the edges by crimping with the tines of a fork. Chill at least 30 minutes before baking.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place the empanadas on a buttered baking sheet and brush the tops with additional egg wash. Using a fork, prick a few holes in the top of the empanadas for steam to escape. Bake for 30 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown.
• Cilantro Cream
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• 1/2 lime, juiced Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• In a small mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, cilantro, and lime juice together. Mix thoroughly; season with salt and pepper. Serve with empanadas.
• Yield: 1 cup

CHICKEN & CHORIZO SPANISH ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• Brown the chorizo in a large skillet; remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Reserve two tablespoons rendered fat from the pan and add bell peppers, onion, jalapeno and garlic. Saute until browned and softened, about five minutes.
• Add the bay leaf, paprika, cinnamon and salt and pepper. Cook til fragrant, 30-60 seconds. Add the chicken stock, tomatoes, tomato sauce and simmer to thicken the sauce, about 15 minutes.
• Pour about one-third to one-half of the sauce into a large casserole dish.
• Combine the cooled down chorizo with the chicken and half the cheese. Wrap the filling inside the charred tortillas and arrange in a casserole dish, cover with the remaining sauce and cheese.
• To serve, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the enchiladas until hot through and brown and bubbly, 15 minutes.