I first tried empanadas in the Philippines. Much to my surprise they were incredibly delicious. Who would of thought that a pastry filled with ham, cheese, and pineapple could be so good. Nevertheless, it was.
If you know me, anything that I like, I have to rush home and reproduce. Once again, I went to work. I have to admit that the trickiest part was making the filling. The recipe I came up with was very similar in texture to puff pasty – buttery, fluffy, and flaky. In other words, fantastic. Combine this pasty with the delicious filling and the outcome is out of this world.
Ham and Cheese Empanada Recipe
Description
Empanadas can have just about any filling imaginable. These empanadas are filled with pineapple, ham, and cheese. The pastry is similar to that of puff pastry which is out of this world. They are simple to make and a true party of snack idea.
Ingredients
For the Pastry
For the Egg Wash
For the Filling
Instructions
-
Sift the flour, sugar, and salt into a mixing bowl. Mix until well combined.
-
Add the cubed butter in and using your fingertips or dough cutter, but into the flour combination until a crumbly mixture forms.
-
In measuring cup combine the egg, water, and vinegar. Whisk until well incorporated.
-
Fold the wet mixture into the dry mixture about half at a time until a dough forms.
-
Form the dough (pastry) into a rectangle, place on some cling wrap, seal, and place in the fridge for about half an hour.
-
To make the egg wash, combine the egg and milk and mix.
-
After half an hour, remove the dough from the fridge, place it on a floured surface, and roll it out into a large rectangle about 1/4 of an inch thick. Divide it into 6 equal sections and shape into round balls. Flatten each ball and roll out to about 5 inches in diameter. To form a perfect circle use a template or bowl.
When working on each ball, place the remaining balls in the fridge to keep them chilled. -
Transfer the empanadas to a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Brush the egg wash over the top (not the edges) of each empanada.
-
Place in a 375 degree F or 190 C preheated oven for 35 t 40 minutes. Remove, serve, and enjoy your ham and cheese empanadas.
Servings 1
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories from Fat 375kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 17g27%
- Cholesterol 125mg42%
- Sodium 675mg29%
- Potassium 550mg16%
- Protein 9g18%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. Nutritional values are a within reason estimate and my vary depending on several factors.
Note
The filling form these empanadas are my personal preference. You, however, can add the filling of your choice. For example, you can create a ground beef, chicken, veggie, or turkey filling. The sky is really the limit.
