Pork Picadillo Empanadas Recipes

PORK PICADILLO EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Prepare the Filling: Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the onions, apple, pork, jalapeño (or Serrano or both) and garlic, cook, stirring often, until the pork is cooked. Add the chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, and some salt and pepper. Stir until well incorporated; add the raisins and lime juice and cook until the lime juice has reduced to not being there. Remove from heat; stir in the almonds and sour cream. Allow to cool.
• For the Dough: Butter 2 large baking sheets, line with parchment paper, or use a silicon mat.
• Heat oven to 375°F. (190.6ºC)
• In a large bowl mix together the flour, masa, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the melted fat. In a small bowl whisk together 1 of the eggs with 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon water, add to the flour mixture. Knead in the bowl until a smooth, pliable dough forms, about 2 minutes. Working with half the dough at a time, roll out on a floured surface to 1/8th inch thickness. Use a 3 3/4 inch biscuit cutter to cut dough into rounds. Reroll dough scraps and cut out additional rounds; you should get about a dozen per half of the dough. Continue with the remaining dough.
• Whisk the remaining egg in a small bowl to blend. Place about 1 1/2 tablespoons filling in the center of each dough round, lightly brush the edges with the egg. Fold over, lift up and gently press the dough together over the filling. Make sure to close them well. Place on prepared sheets. Brush the empanada tops with the remaining egg wash and bake for about 25 minutes, or until nicely browned. Serve with sauce of your choice.

PORK EMPANADAS

Steps:

• To make the filling: Place pork in a large pot and cover with water. Add onion, garlic, salt, oregano, cumin and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. While pork is cooking, prepare dough.
• To make the dough: Sift together the flour, masa harina, baking powder and salt. Add the shortening to the dry ingredients and mix well. In a separate bowl, beat together the egg and 1/2 cup milk. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Add the egg mixture and stir with a fork until the dough comes together in a ball. Divide the dough into 16 even pieces and roll each piece into a ball. Place in a container, cover, and refrigerate.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• After the pork has simmered for 1 1/2 hours, remove from liquid. Place pork in a baking dish and bake for 1 hour or until meat shreds easily with fork. Remove from oven (keep oven turned on) and shred into small pieces. Add salsa to shredded pork.
• Lightly grease a baking sheet.
• On lightly floured surface, flatten a piece of dough with the palm of your hand. With a rolling pin, roll out the dough to make a 5-inch circle about 1/8-inch thick. Place 2 to 3 tablespoons of filling in the center of the dough circle. Brush edges of dough with milk. Fold dough over filling. Pinch edges together. Crimp with fork to seal.
• Place on prepared baking sheet and repeat with remaining empanada dough. Leftover filling can be frozen or used in tacos, tamales, or burritos.
• Bake in preheated oven until golden, about 20 minutes. Remove to rack and cool for about 5 minutes. Serve warm.

PORK EMPANADAS

Steps:

• In a large bowl or food processor combine flour, masa harina, baking and baking powder. Cut in lard and a slowly add in the water.
• Knead dough on lightly floured surface until smooth. Shape into 12 balls and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 450°F Roll out each ball of dough into a 6 inch circle. Drop about 2 tablespoons of pork in the center of each circle.
• Fold the circles and seal the dough using a fork or pastry tool. Brush with milk. Bake for about 20 minutes or untill golden brown.

PORK PICADILLO EMPAñADAS WITH CHIPOTLE SALSA

Steps:

• For filling:
• Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork, serrano chili, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon and allspice to skillet and stir 3 minutes. Add raisins and lime juice; boil until almost all liquid evaporates, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Mix in almonds and sour cream. Season with salt and pepper. Cool.
• For dough:
• Butter 2 large baking sheets. Mix flour, Masa Harina, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Stir in melted butter. Whisk water and 1 egg in small bowl to blend. Add to flour mixture; knead in bowl until smooth pliable dough forms, about 2 minutes. Working with half of dough at a time, roll out on floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Using 3 3/4-inch-diameter biscuit cutter, cut out rounds. Reroll scraps and cut out additional rounds for a total of 12 rounds per dough half.
• Whish remaining egg in small bowl to blend. Place 1 tablespoon filling in center of each dough round. Lightly brush edges with egg. Fold dough over, pressing edges with fork to seal. Place on prepared baking sheets. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with plastic wrap; chill.)
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Brush empanadas with beaten egg. Bake until light golden brown, about 25 minutes. Serve with Chipotle Salsa and sour cream.