Veggie Empanada Recipes

VEGGIE EMPANADA

Steps:

• In a large pot, over medium heat, melt the vegetable shortening. Add the onions, shallots, and garlic and cook until they are soft but not browned.
• Lower the heat and add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, chopped mixed green and red peppers, parsley, wine, stock, and mushrooms.
• Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Add the carrots, zucchini, squash, and broccoli and cook until the vegetables are al dente. Add the mixed vegetables and spinach and heat through. Drain the vegetables and put them into an ice bath. When cool, drain well.
• Put the vegetables back into the pot along with the creamed corn. Mix in the red pepper flakes, paprika, oregano, Cajun seasoning, and salt and pepper, to taste. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• Place 1/4 cup vegetable mixture on the middle of each empanada dough disk. Avoid reaching the edges with the filling because oiliness will prevent good sealing. Slightly wet the edges, fold in half, and stick edges together. The shape should resemble a half-moon. Seal by pinching the edge between your thumb and index finger to make a curl about 5 or 6 times. Other sealing procedures like pinching without curling or using a fork to seal will not prevent the juices from leaking.
• Place the finished empanadas on the cookie sheet and brush them with the egg yolk. Cook until they are golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes.

SHRIMP EMPANADAS

Steps:

• For the salsa criolla: In a pan on medium-high heat, add the butter, the cubanelle pepper, tomatoes and onion. Cook the veggies for about 5 minutes. Add the Sazón, adobo, chicken base, oregano, coriander leaves, cooking wine, garlic and 4 cups water; bring to a boil. In a separate bowl, combine the flour with 1 cup of water and stir. Add the flour mixture to the pan little by little until the desired thickness of sauce is reached.
• For the empanadas: Chop the shrimp into medium pieces. In a pan over medium-high heat, add the butter, shrimp and 4 ounces salsa criolla. Stir. Cook until the shrimp is pink and fully cooked, about 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool.
• To the middle of a round of dough, add about a tablespoon of the shrimp mixture, 1 to 2 teaspoons grated cheese, and add several pieces of colored julienne bell peppers. Close and fold the round dough in half like a crescent. Press the edges together to seal and remove any air pockets. Using your thumb and index finger, pinch and twist along the edge of the dough to create a braided sealed edge. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Place the empanadas on a plate lined with wax paper and freeze until the next day. (This will help unify the temperature of the empanada and help seal it before frying.)
• In a fryer or deep pan, add enough vegetable oil to for the empanadas to float. Heat the oil to 350 degrees F.
• Add the empanadas to the hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side. Remove the empanadas to a rack or paper towel to allow excess oil to drain. Empanadas can be served on a cutting board or plate. Cut in half and enjoy!

QUICK & EASY VEGETARIAN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F Spread 1 teaspoon of the oil on a baking sheet.
• Divide the dough into 6 equal portions. Roll each into an 8in round on a lightly floured surface. On 1 side of each round, spread some of the beans, then top with 1 1/2 tbs of salsa and 2 tbs of cheese.
• Fold each of the rounds in half, covering the filling, and sealing the dough on the curved edge with your thumb. Lightly brush the tops of the empanadas with the remaining oil. Transfer to the already greased baking sheet.
• Bake 12-15 minutes until golden.
• Serve with a dollop of sour cream and sliced avocado if desired.

VEGETABLE EMPANADAS WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• In a saucepan over medium heat, sauté onion in olive oil.
• When translucent add potato, carrot, and squash. Mix well and add vegetable broth.
• Cook for about 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender and broth evaporated.
• Add peas and parley and let it cool down.
• While vegetable filling is cooling down, cut each puff pastry sheet into four 5"circles.
• Add 1 Tbs of filling in the center of every circle.
• Brush the edge of each ½ circle with a little water, fold in half and seal pressing with a fork.
• Place on a non-stick cookie sheet and bake for 25 minutes or until they are puffy and golden.
• Meanwhile make tomato sauce by sautéing, over medium heat, onion and garlic with the olive oil. After 5 minutes add tomatoes, wine and broth and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Move off the heat and let it cool down a little. Pour carefully in a blender and blend until smooth.
• Pour onto a sauté pan, add tomato paste, basil and oregano and stir over medium heat until hot.
• Serve the empanadas with tomato sauce as a dip.

QUICK VEGETARIAN PICADILLO EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add lentils, sofrito, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper; cook for 4 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in potatoes, tomato sauce, and olives. Simmer until mixture is warmed through, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
• Fill a deep skillet or frying pan with 2 inches vegetable oil and place over medium heat while you assemble the empanadas.
• Set empanada discs on a clean work surface. Add 1/4 cup of lentil-potato mixture to the center of one half of an empanada disc in a half moon shape (so it follows the curve of the wrapper). Wet your fingers in a bowl of water and run them around the entire edge of the wrapper to moisten. Fold the wrapper in half to cover the filling and pinch the edges of the dough together to seal, then use a fork to crimp the edges to secure the wrapper further. Repeat with the remaining discs and filling.
• Once oil has reached 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), add empanadas in a single layer; do not overlap. You will need to cook in batches.
• Fry until empanadas are golden brown and crispy, flipping once or twice so they brown evenly while frying, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Repeat to cook remaining empanadas.