Italian Sausage Empanadas Recipes

SAUSAGE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Let pie crusts stand at room temperature for 20 minutes.
• Crumble sausage into a medium skillet.
• Add onion, garlic powder, cumin and oregano.
• Cook over medium-high heat until sausage is no longer pink.
• Drain drippings.
• Stir in olives and raisins.
• Beat the egg yolk slightly; stir into sausage mixture, mixing well.
• Carefully unfold crusts.
• Cut 6 circles using a 3" cookie cutter.
• I use the Pampered Chef Cut-N-Seal(See NOTE below).
• Place about 2 tsps of the sausage filling on the cutouts.
• Top with 6 more cutouts.
• Be sure the edges are sealed.
• Moisten fingers with water and pinch dough to seal edges.
• Slightly beat the egg white; gently brush over tops of empanadas.
• Bake in a 425* oven 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown.
• NOTE: I make 6 cutouts using the Pampered Chef Cut-N-Seal.
• Add the filling.
• Make the toppers one at a time.
• As you cut one place it over the top of your filled one and push down on the Cut-N-Seal.
• Check the edges for sealing.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium heat, brown sausage; drain. Stir in 6 tbsp pizza sauce. Preheat oven to 375. Separate dough into 20 biscuits. Roll or press each round into a 4" circle. Place 1 tbsp meat mixture in center of each circle. Top each with cheese; press lightly. Fold dough over filling to form half-circle. Press edges together; seal and prick top with fork. Place on ungreased cookie sheet; brush with beaten egg. Bake 9-14 minutes or until golden brown. Meanwhile, heat remaining pizza sauce in a small saucepan over low heat until hot. Serve alongside empanadas for dipping.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Poke the sausages all over with a fork, and place in a large lidded skillet with 1-2 Tsp extra virgin olive oil and 1 cup white wine or water, turn on heat to medium, and partially cover.
• When pan begins to boil, turn sausages, and continue to simmer, turning several more times.
• When liquid has evaporated, uncover, and continue cooking until sausages have browned to your taste.
• Remove sausages from pan, and set on paper towels to drain.
• Drain all grease from skillet, but do not wash or rinse it.
• Add 1-2 Tsp more extra virgin olive oil to pan, and place on medium heat.
• Add onions, and garlic, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Moisture from the onions should be enough to deglaze the pan, but you can add 1/4 cup white wine or water, if desired, to help with the job.
• Stir the onions, scraping the bottom to pick up and dissolve browned bits from the sausage.
• Continue cooking and tossing until onions are almost translucent.
• Add peppers, and toss to combine with onions.
• Turn up heat to medium-high, and continue to toss and cook until peppers are crisp-tender or to your taste.
• Bury the sausage in the vegetables to reheat if necessary.
• I usually serve on crusty French rolls or Bolillos, crusty Mexican rolls that have been heated in the oven.
• Either one is better than your typical hoagie roll.
• I split the warmed roll, brush on a little marinara sauce, split the sausages lengthwise, and pile on the onions and peppers.
• If desired, line the roll with a slice of provolone and/or place one on top of the sausage and veggies.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE - TUSCAN STYLE

Steps:

• Using a spice grinder or food processor, pulverize the salt, black pepper and sugar. In a large bowl, mix together the pork shoulder, back fat, garlic powder, mace, coriander, cayenne and ice water. Mix in the salt, pepper and sugar. Use latex gloves when mixing to avoid contamination of the meat, and keep the mixture cold.
• Stuff the sausage mixture into the casings and twist off in 3 inch lengths. If you do not have a stuffer, the sausage can be formed into patties or rolled into logs. Refrigerate and use up in one week or freeze for up to 6 weeks.

CHORIZO, SPINACH AND CHEESE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F. In 10-inch skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in spinach and salsa. Stir in cheese.
• On ungreased large cookie sheet, unroll pie crusts. Cut each pie crust in half. Divide sausage mixture onto half of each crust half, spreading to within 1/2 inch of edge.
• Fold untopped portion of each crust over filling; press with fork, or roll and flute with fingers to seal. Prick tops of empanadas several times with fork. Brush with beaten egg.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with additional salsa, if desired.