Empanadas

Eight empanadas on baking rack and tray.

The four steps (dough, filling, construction, and baking) are independent and can be done at different times and days.

The filling given here is only a suggestion. You can change the meat, spices, and veggies to whatever sounds good to you.

Dough

  1. In a small bowl, put in freezer until ice starts to form:
    • 15 g Vinegar
    • 85 g Water
  2. In a large bowl, combine and pinch, crush, and mix by hand until it forms a crumbly meal with no large lumps:
    • 300 g Flour
    • 10 g Salt
    • 120 g Butter
  3. Add to the cold water and beat together:
    • ~50 g An Egg
  4. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture:
    • Stir only until combined.
    • Knead a few times to form flattened ball.
    • Wrap with plastic and refrigerate for at least one hour.

Filling

  1. In a pot, fry at low heat until it starts to brown:
    • 30 g Butter
    • 100 g Onion, finely chopped
  2. Stir in and fry for another minute:
  3. Turn off heat the add thoroughly mix in:
    • 100 g Lentils, drained, from a can
    • 300 g Shredded Cooked Chicken
    • 1 Avocado, mashed or chopped

Construction

  1. Divide dough into 12 pieces (or 8 pieces for 6" circle).
  2. For each one:
    1. Flatten each by hand or roll to 5" circle.
    2. Place about 2 Tablespoons of mixture into the middle.
    3. Fold to form semi-circle.
    4. Crimp edges by twisting between thumb and finger, (or use a fork).
These may be wrapped and frozen for future use, or cooked now.

Baking

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F
  2. Brush each with egg wash:
      Lightly beat together:
    • 1 Egg
    • 5 gWater
  3. Place on greased rack and bake on middle position of oven until tops turn golden, about 30 minutes.
  4. Cool at least 5 minutes on a rack before serving.