Pastelitos De Carne Puff Pastry With Meat Filling Recipes

PASTELITOS DE CARNE (CUBAN PICADILLO FILLED PASTRIES)

Steps:

• Unfold your first sheet of puff pastry, and dust both sides with flour so it's not sticking to the board.
• Using your 2" round cookie cutter, or a narrow glass, cut out as many circles are you can from the first sheet. I got 27 out of this sheet. Place them into a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Place about 1/2 teaspoon of the finely ground meat mixture into the center of the circle.
• Cut out a second set of discs from the 2nd sheet of puff pastry. Brush the edges of each circle with a bit of the beaten egg mixture.
• Place a disc of pastry onto of the meat mixture, pressing the sides with your fingers to fold the dough around the meat mixture.
• Using a fork, press down the edges of the circle to seal the two discs together. Cut a small slit into the top of the assembled pastelito, to allow steam to escape while baking.
• Bake the pastelitos at 400F for 15-20 minutes, on the highest rack in your oven. If the bottoms are getting dark but the tops are still not golden, you can broil them for a minute or two, but watch them! They can burn in an instant.
• Once they're out of the oven, lightly drizzle the pastelitos de carne with the agave nectar, or simple syrup. You don't want to drown them, you just want them to have a kiss of sweetness. Then devour, and repeat!

PASTELITOS DE CARNE (CUBAN BEEF PASTRIES)

Steps:

• Make the simple syrup. In a small saucepan, stir granulated sugar and water together. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low to simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Set aside.
• Thaw the puff pastry according to package directions, usually about 20-30 minutes. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 400ºF.
• Unfold both pastry sheets and cut each sheet into 9 circles using the rim of a glass cup or a biscuit cutter.
• Place a tablespoon of the picadillo filling in the center of each dough circle. Cover with another dough circle on top.
• Gently seal the edges of the dough circles together using a fork or by pressing down with your fingers. Brush egg wash on each pastry to get that flaky crust.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
• Remove the pastries from the oven and lightly brush the pastries with simple syrup. Serve immediately and enjoy!

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.

PASTEIS DE CARNE - SAVORY MEAT PUFFS

Steps:

• 1. In a large skillet cook meat until browned. Remove from pan, drain and set aside. In same skillet add unions and garlic and cook until golden brown. Add onion mix to meat and let cool.
• 2. Place meat mixture in food processor and pulse 5 times or until the meat is fine consistency. Add parsley and cheese and pulse 2 times.
• 3. Roll out dough and cut into 3?x6? rectangle. Place 1 tablespoon meat in center of rectangle. Fold over one side onto the other to create a square pinching edges.
• 4. Cover 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Place puffs onto paper and brush with egg wash. Cook in preheated oven at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
• 5. Serve warm or at room temperature. Freeze or store in refrigerator 3 days.

PASTELITOS DE CARNE (PUFF PASTRY WITH MEAT FILLING)

Steps:

• Follow recipe instructions from my carne molida post.Let meat cool.Note: Although my carne molida recipe calls for potatoes and sofrito, these two can be excluded from the carne molida you make for this dish. You will still end up with delicious picadillo.
• Unfold puff pastry sheet and with a rolling pin roll out to an 1/8 of thinness.Then using a biscuit cutter or cup, cut circles.Brush circles with egg wash.
• Add a tablespoon or more to center of circles.Top with another circle and press down with your fingers all around circle.Brush the tops with egg wash again.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown.Serve with hot sauce and hot peppers. Enjoy!

PASTEIS DE CARNE (FRIED PASTRIES WITH MEAT FILLING)

Steps:

• To prepare the pastry, sift the flour and salt into a bowl.
• Add the melted shortening and warm milk and water.
• Mix to a smooth dough and cut into 2 pieces.
• To prepare the filling, heat the oil in a frying pan, add the onion and garlic and fry for 5 minutes until soft and golden.
• Add the tomatoes, ground beef and salt.
• Simmer for 20 minutes until almost dry.
• Remove from the heat.
• Add the chopped parsley, egg, cheese and olives and mix well.
• To assemble pastries, roll out the pastry on a floured board to 1/8 inch thickness.
• Cut 12, 4 inch circles from each piece, 24 circles.
• Place 1 tablespoon filling on each circle and moisten around the edge with warm water.
• Fold over and seal the edges well.
• Deep fry in preheated 375f degree oil for 4 to 5 minutes until golden and crisp.
• Remove with slotted spoon and drain on absorbent paper towel.
• The pastries are also delicious cold and make good picnic fare.
• They may also be made without the ground beef.
• Variation to replace ground beef, use finely chopped ham, chopped chicken, or shrimp.