Costa Rican Pati Beef Turnover Recipes

COSTA RICAN PATI (BEEF TURNOVER)

Steps:

• For the dough,
• combine the shortening, butter and oil with a wooden spoon and slowly add the sifted flour and salt. Sprinkle cold water as needed to create a homogenous mixture. Knead the dough and roll it out onto a flat surface to about 1/8 inch thickness. The idea is to have it thin but not so much that it tears.
• For the filling,
• sautee the onions, garlic and peppers on a pan with the oil. Once they brown a bit add the ground beef, the cilantro, the salt and pepper and the breadcrumbs. Stir well and cook thoroughly until the mixture is fairly dry. Let cool.
• Assembly,.
• Cut the pastry into circles or 6 inch squares. You can add the filling to one side, leaving a one inch border to press the edges, or add it into the center and then fold into thirds or fill the circle and cover it with another pastry circle. Each household has its own pati recipe version, so don't be afraid to experiment and use the technique that is easiest for you.
• After filling the patties, press the edges with a fork, then punch some holes into the center of the Costa Rica pati with the fork so that the steam from the filling has a place to exit. Bake until golden brown on a 200°C (400°F) oven. Enjoy!

GROUND BEEF TURNOVERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt; cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, combine the water, egg and vinegar. Add to shortening mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing lightly with a fork until mixture forms a ball. Cover and chill for 30 minutes., Meanwhile, combine the first six filling ingredients. Divide pastry into 15 equal portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion into a 6-1/2-in. circle. , Mound a heaping 1/3 cup filling on half of circle. Moisten edges with water; fold dough over filling and press edges with a fork to seal. Transfer to a greased baking sheet. Repeat with remaining pastry and filling. , Cut three slits in the top of each turnover; brush with cream. Bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes or until vegetables are tender and crust is golden brown.

GOURMET PASTELILLOS (MEAT PIES)

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add onion, tomato sauce, olives, sofrito, sazon, garlic, and oregano. Bring to a simmer and cook until mixture thickens, about 15 minutes.
• Spoon 1 heaping tablespoon of meat mixture into the middle of a disco. Fold dough over, moisten edges, and press with a fork to seal. Repeat with remaining meat mixture and discos.
• Pour oil into a saucepan and heat over medium-high heat. Fry pastelillos until golden brown and bubbly, about 3 minutes each. Drain on paper towels before serving.

COSTA RICAN TILAPIA

Steps:

• Combine the rice and chicken broth in a pot over medium heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the rice is tender and has absorbed all of the liquid, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk together the orange juice, lime juice, oil, 2 tablespoons of the cilantro, the garlic, and sugar; season with salt and pepper. Add the tilapia fillets to the marinade, turning to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator for 20 minutes, turning occasionally.
• Stir together the cooked rice, salsa, beans, pineapple, and remaining 2 tablespoons of the cilantro in a 2 or 3-quart baking dish. Remove the tilapia from the marinade, reserve the marinade, and lay the fish fillets over the rice mixture, overlapping if necessary. Pour the reserved marinade over the fish. Shingle the lime slices over the fish. Bake until the fish flakes easily, is opaque, and cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes. Garnish with chopped cilantro before serving.

CORNISH BEEF AND VEGETABLE TURNOVERS

Steps:

• Make dough:
• Blend together flour, salt, and butter in a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) until mixture resembles coarse meal with some roughly pea-size lumps.
• Beat together yolk and 1/3 cup ice water, then drizzle over flour mixture and gently stir with a fork (or pulse in processor) until incorporated.
• Gently squeeze a small handful of dough: If it doesn't hold together, add more ice water, 1/2 tablespoon at a time, stirring (or pulsing) after each addition until just incorporated, continuing to test. (If you overwork dough or add too much water, pastry will be tough.)
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and divide into 6 portions. With floured heel of your hand, smear each portion once in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Form each portion into a disk, rotating on work surface. Wrap disks separately in wax paper or plastic wrap and chill until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 8.
• Make filling while dough chills:
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté mushrooms, stirring, until browned and dry, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to skillet and cook onion and garlic over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add onion to mushrooms. Peel potato and cut into 1/2-inch cubes, then add to mushroom mixture with steak, carrots, parsley, salt, and pepper, tossing well. Cool completely.
• Assemble pasties:
• Roll out 1 piece of dough on lightly floured surface into a 9-inch round (keep remaining pieces covered). Mound 1 cup filling on round, slightly off center. Brush a 1/2-inch border on dough with water and fold dough over to form a half-moon. Trim edge with a fluted pastry wheel or a knife, then crimp to seal. Cut 3 small steam vents in top crust with a sharp knife and put pasty on 1 of 2 buttered large baking sheets. Make more pasties with remaining dough and filling, then chill 30 minutes, loosely covered.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Brush pasties with egg and bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position and rotating sheets halfway through baking, until golden, about 40 minutes total. Cool slightly before serving.

EMPANADAS (BEEF TURNOVERS)

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, about 10 minutes. Add onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes more. Stir in tomato sauce, olives, Sofrito, Sazon, garlic, oregano and black pepper. Lower heat to medium-low and simmer until mixture thickens, about 15 minutes.
• On a lightly floured work surface, using a rolling pin, roll out discos until 1/2-inch larger in diameter. Spoon about 1 tbsp. meat mixture into middle, fold in half to form a half moon; moisten edges with water and pinch to seal closed, or seal with a fork.
• Fill a deep saucepan with oil to a depth of 2 1/2-inches. Heat oil over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking (350 degrees F on deep-fry thermometer). Cook Empanadas in batches until crisp and golden brown, flipping once, 4 - 6 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.