Valencian Savory 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.

SAVORY BEEF EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Prepare Empanada Dough. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap; set aside while preparing empanada filling.
• Brown ground beef in medium skillet on medium heat; drain. Add onions, peppers, ham, dressing, tomato sauce and garlic; mix well. Simmer on medium-low heat 10 min., stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in cilantro.
• Shape dough into 12 balls, using about 2 Tbsp. dough for each. Flatten each ball into 6-inch round. Spoon about 1/4 cup meat mixture onto center of each round. Moisten edges with water. Fold dough rounds in half to enclose filling; press lightly on tops to remove air pockets. Seal edges with fork.
• Heat oil in large deep skillet to 375°F. Add empanadas, in small batches; cook 3 min. on each side or until golden brown on both sides. Remove from oil with slotted spoon; drain well. Cool slightly.

VALENCIAN SAVORY EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, and saute until tender. Pour in the tomatoes, and cook for a minute, then stir in the ham and heat through. Remove from the heat, and mix in the eggs and parsley. Allow to cool for at least 5 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Unroll the can of pizza dough on a clean surface, and stretch or roll into a 14x10 inch rectangle. Cut into twelve 3 inch squares.
• Place equal amounts of the filling into the centers of the squares. Brush the edges lightly with water. Fold in halves to form a triangle, pressing the edges to seal. Place on a greased cookie sheet and prick with a fork.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

VALENCIAN SALAD (ENSALADA VALENCIANA)

Steps:

• Discard any brown or wilted leaves from the romaine. Separate the head into individual leaves. Trim the thick center ribs from the romaine leaves, and tear the rest of the leaf into bite sized pieces. Wash and dry the lettuce, preferably in a salad spinner. The romaine may be cleaned up to a couple of hours before serving; refrigerate it in a serving bowl covered with a damp towel.
• Cut the tops and bottoms off the oranges with a paring knife. Trim off the skin, removing as much of the white pith as possible. Remove the sections from between the membranes with a paring knife. Work over a medium bowl to catch any juice from the oranges. Set the orange segments aside in a small bowl.
• Whisk the collected orange juice, vinegar, honey, and thyme together. Whisk in the olive oil in a thin stream until blended. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Toss the lettuce, onion and olives together with the dressing in a serving bowl. Scatter the orange segments over the salad and serve.