An Empanadas A savory pastry :)

Hi Friends


I had posted sweet tooth pastries.Now its my turn to post a savory pastry especially both Vegetarian dish and Non vegetarian dish :)  :) For non vegetarians, can use chicken and Vegetarians can use potato,green peas,carrots.An Empanadas is originally famous in South America and Spain.This is made by placing the filling in the middle of the flattened dough and seal it by pinching  the edges. It can be baked or deep fried.I prefer baking because it gives nice texture.
I made Chicken Empanadas.But for Vegetarians I wrote it for you vegetarian friends.You can try it at home and post your experiences at home.Awaiting to hear it :)


Here the recipes goes on :)


Ingredients:


For Filling:


Non Vegetarian Dish

• 1/2 Boneless Chicken or Chicken breast. cut into cubes
•  1 Big onion chopped finely or minced
• 2 Tablespoons Vegetable oil or Olive oil or Canola oil.
• Salt to taste
• 1 Tsp Freshly ground pepper
• 4 to 6 Green chillies finely chopped.(Optional)
• 1/4 cup Raisins
• 1/4 cup Cashew nuts (optional)
• 1 medium Potato diced..
• 1 Tablespoon minced Garlic.
• 1/2 piece Maggi Chicken cube (Available in  Grocers store) 
•  1/2 cup  Chicken Stock or Water

Vegetarian Dish

• Frozen Mixed vegetables (Thawed) or
  Fresh 1 cup carrots diced, 1/2 cup fresh green peas,1/2 cup corn,1/4 cup French Beans chopped.
• 1 medium Potato diced.or vegetables of your choice.
•  1 Big onion chopped finely or minced
• 2 Tablespoons Vegetable oil or Olive oil or Canola oil.
• Salt to taste
• 1 Tsp Freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 tsp Chilli powder(optional) or depends for your spiciness
• 4 to 6 Green chillies finely chopped.(Optional)
• 1/4 cup Raisins
• 1/4 cup Cashew nuts (optional)
• .1/2 cup Vegetable stock.
• 1 Tablespoon minced Garlic.(optional)

Crust :You can use it below or you can buy thawed Puff pastry sheets(1 sheet) or depends.

Homemade Crust

• 3 cups All Purpose Flour or Maida
• 1/4 cup  Sugar
• 1/3 cup water, cold
• 1 cup cold butter.No melting please.
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt

Optional for brushing the top of the crust with the fillings inside:

•  1 piece raw egg for Non vegetarians.
• 1/2 cup Melted Butter for Vegetarians

Method :

1. For cooking the filling:(Non Vegetarian)

• Take a wide deep bottomed pan,add oil and allow to heat 
• Saute the onions,garlic till it turns light brown
• Add green chillies,chicken,potato.Allow it to boil till it gets tender after adding chicken stock or water
• Once the chicken is tender,add salt and pepper and chicken cube piece
• Allow it to cook for about 2 minutes,add raisins,cashew nuts and mix well
• Garnish it with chopped coriander(cilantro) leaves.
• Make sure it should not have liquid texture.Drain off the excess liquid and set aside.

• 2.For cooking the filling:(Vegetarian)
  

• Take a wide deep bottomed pan,add oil and allow to heat 
• Saute the onions,garlic till it turns light brown
• Add green chillies,all mixed vegetables.Allow it to boil till it gets cooked after adding  water
• Once the vegetables are well cooked ,add salt,chilli powder and pepper.
• Allow it to cook for about 2 minutes,add raisins,cashew nuts and mix well
• Garnish it with chopped coriander(cilantro) leaves.
• Make sure it should not have liquid texture.Drain off the excess liquid and set aside.

For making the Dough:

•  In a wide bowl,Sift the flour,salt ,baking powder into the bowl.Add sugar.
• Chop small cubes of butter.(It should be solid and cold)
• Put the cubed butter into the dry ingredient mixture
• Add water gradually and mix all the dry ingredients thoroughly  until form into a dough.
• Divide the dough into halves.
• Keep one half into the bowl and cover it with damp cloth or wet tissue towel to avoid dry.
• Remaining half of the dough ball.Make into small balls.
• Flatten the dough into round shaped like poori shaped size.
• Place the 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon filling(Vegetarian or Non Veg) onto the center of the flattened dough
• Fold the dough so that the opposite ends meet ( a half moon shaped dough)then press the edges and seal it.

• Preheat the oven to 350 F Line a parchment paper on the baking sheet and Set aside.
• In a bowl separate the egg whites from yolks. Add 1 Tsp water to the egg whites and beat. or else beat the whole egg lightly and keep aside.(For Non Vegetarian)
• Place the filling shaped doughs on the baking sheet apart from the space about 1 inch.
•  Brush it with egg wash on the top of the shaped doughs.(For  Non Veg)
•  Brush it with melted butter on the top of the shaped doughs.(For Veg)

Bake it for  about 20 to 25 minutes or varies depends on the oven temperature or keep an eye watch.till get golden or light brown on the top of the empanadas.


Remove from the oven
.
Serve hot with Tomato ketch up or mint chutney.

Flaky Empanadas :)

Enjoy it at your home.Awaiting to hear your comments and your experience at home.

Happy Baking  :)

  

Submitting the events Chicken Empanadas to the blogger friends.

1.Divya Pramil's

My First Event - The Master Chef Contest 

  Red Meat Feast @ My spicy kitchen