Shallot And Date Empanadas Recipes

VENEZUELAN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Make the filling: Place the beef, bay leaves, 1 tablespoon salt and water to cover in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until the meat is almost falling apart, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Transfer the meat to a bowl and shred with a fork; cool. Reserve the broth.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, garlic and shallot; cook until the onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in the scallion, paprika, sazon completa, oregano, cumin and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add the beef and 1 cup of the reserved broth and cook over medium heat until thick, about 10 minutes. Season with salt.
• Make the dough: Mix 3 1/2 cups hot water, the sugar, vegetable oil, butter and salt in a medium bowl until the butter melts. Stir in the cornmeal and flour until a soft dough forms, then knead on a clean surface until the dough comes together. Shape into 12 balls, using about 1/2 cup dough for each.
• One at a time, sprinkle each dough ball with water, place between two pieces of lightly oiled heavy-duty plastic wrap (a cut resealable bag works well) and roll into a 7-inch circle. Remove the top sheet of plastic and place 2 to 3 tablespoons filling in the center of the dough. Use the bottom piece of
• plastic to fold the dough in half over the filling and press to seal. Trim into a half-moon shape with a knife or press down with the round edge of a bowl. Remove the plastic and place the empanada on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Heat 1 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet until a deep-fry thermometer registers 365 degrees F. Fry the empanadas in batches until golden, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet; keep warm in the oven.
• Make the sauce: Combine the cilantro, olive oil, avocado, bell pepper, scallion, vinegar and garlic in a blender. Add 1 teaspoon salt and 2 teaspoons pepper and puree until smooth. Thin out the sauce with up to 1/4 cup water and serve with the empanadas.

SHALLOT-AND-DATE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse flour, caraway seeds, sugar, and table salt several times to combine. Add butter and cream cheese; pulse until mixture just begins to come together. (Gently squeeze the dough; if it doesn't hold together, add 1 tablespoon cold water.) Turn out dough onto plastic wrap; flatten into a disk. Wrap, and refrigerate 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots; cook, turning occasionally, until golden, about 10 minutes. Season with coarse salt and pepper; remove skillet from heat.
• On a generously floured work surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thick. Using a 4-inch cookie cutter, cut out 12 rounds from dough. Brush border of one round with water. Place 2 date quarters in center of round, then top with shallots, dividing evenly. Add a pinch of thyme; season with coarse salt and pepper. Bring three sides up and crimp together in the center, enclosing the filling. Pinch edges to seal. Place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Freeze 15 minutes.
• In a bowl, beat together egg yolk and cream. Brush empanadas with egg wash. Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SHALLOT AND DATE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse the flour, caraway seeds, sugar, and table salt several times to combine. Add the butter and cream cheese; pulse until the mixture just begins to come together. (Gently squeeze the dough; if it doesn't hold together, add 1 tablespoon cold water.) Turn out the dough onto plastic wrap; flatten into a disk. Wrap, and refrigerate 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots; cook, turning occasionally, until golden, about 10 minutes. Season with coarse salt and pepper; remove the skillet from heat.
• On a generously floured work surface, roll out the dough to 1/8 inch thick. Using a 4-inch cookie cutter, cut out 12 rounds from the dough. Brush the border of one round with water. Place 2 date quarters in the center of the round, then top with shallots, dividing evenly. Add a pinch of thyme; season with coarse salt and pepper. Bring three sides up and crimp together in the center, enclosing the filling. Pinch the edges to seal. Place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling. Freeze 15 minutes.
• In a bowl, beat together the egg yolk and cream. Brush the empanadas with egg wash. Bake until golden brown; about 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

NEXT DAY EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside.
• In a medium bowl combine mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. Stir in Mexican seasoning and 1/4 cup of the cheese and set aside.
• Unroll pie dough, 1 at a time. Use a 3-inch round cutter, dusted with flour and cut out as many rounds as possible (about 10 to 12) of the pie dough. Repeat with second pie dough.
• Beat the egg lightly in a small bowl, set aside.
• To assemble empanadas, fill the center of each round with 1/2 tablespoon of the mashed potatoes and green bean casserole mixture. Brush half of the perimeter of each dough round with the egg wash. Fold over 1 side of the round to make a half circle. Crimp the edges of each empanada with tines of a fork.
• Place empanadas on prepared baking sheets. Brush each top lightly with egg wash and sprinkle each with a little of the remaining cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

MASA PARA EMPANADAS (EMPANADA DOUGH)

Steps:

• Sift flour onto a flat work surface. Make a well in the center. Add sugar and salt. Gradually mix in shortening and water with a fork until dough comes together. Knead until smooth, about 10 minutes.
• Divide dough into 30 pieces. Roll each piece out into a thin, 6-inch round.

AFTER-CHRISTMAS EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a small bowl, combine turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy., On a lightly floured surface, unroll 1 pastry. Roll out into a 12-in. circle. Cut with a floured 4-in. biscuit cutter. Repeat with remaining pastry., In a small bowl, whisk egg with water; brush over edges of pastry circles. Place 1 tablespoon filling on 1 side. Fold dough over filling. Press edges with a fork to seal., Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Brush tops with remaining egg mixture; sprinkle with sage if desired. Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm, with gravy or cranberry sauce if desired.

ROASTED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place ingredients in a baking pan just large enough to hold shallots in a single layer; toss to combine. Cover with foil; bake, stirring every 20 minutes, until shallots are very tender and caramelized, 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours.