Banana Empanadas Recipe 445

BANANA EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Soak raisins in hot water for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, mix together the flour and salt. Mix in shortening using a fork, until the entire mixture is in pea-sized pellets. Stir in yogurt, and just enough of the 1/2 cup of cold water to hold it together in a dough.
• Roll out dough to a square 1/8 inch in thickness. Use a knife to cut into four 8x8 inch squares. Don't worry if they aren't perfect. Drain the raisins, and mix with the cinnamon and chopped bananas. Spoon some of the banana mixture onto half of each square, leaving at least 1/2 inch of dough exposed at the edge to seal the edges. Fold the dough over the fruit, and pinch the edges together. Make sure that they are secure. I like to roll the excess dough up around the edges and then pinch it until it's thin again. You'll want to have about a 1/2 inch closure in the end. You can trim the edges a bit to make them more aesthetically pleasing. Place empanadas on a baking sheet. Whisk together 1 tablespoon of cold water and egg white; brush over the tops.
• Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

BANANA EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, combine bananas, sugar and cinnamon. Mix well and set aside.
• Unroll pie crusts onto a flat surface.
• Using a ring mold, make circles in the dough. Put the banana mixture on the pie dough and place another round on top. Pinch around the edges of each section to seal. Transfer the empanadas to the prepared baking sheet and make slits in the top of each to allow steam to escape. Place the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake until crust is golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and place the empanadas on a platter. Serve with ice cream or sprinkle with powdered sugar, if using.

BANANA-BLACK BEAN EMPAñADAS

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy medium skillet over high heat. Add banana and sauté until golden, about 1 1/2 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer banana to paper towels to drain. Add onion to skillet; sauté 3 minutes. Add beans, cilantro, cumin, and cayenne; cook until mixture is hot, about 3 minutes. Using back of fork, mash bean filling to coarse paste; season with salt and cool.
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Roll out each puff pastry sheet on floured surfaceto 14-inch square. Cut each into 9 squares. Place 1 heaping tablespoon filling in center of 12 squares (reserve remaining squares for another use). Sprinkle each mound of filling with cheese, then top with bananas, dividing equally. Brush edges of squares with glaze. Fold 1 corner over filling to opposite corner, forming triangle. Using fork, seal crust edges. Arrange on rimmed baking sheet; brush with glaze. Bake empanadas until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve hot.

CHOCOLATE-BANANA EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Mash the bananas, sugar, and cinnamon together in a mixing bowl until creamy, but not completely smooth ¿ you should still have pieces of banana chunks. Spoon a generous tablespoon of the banana filling on the empanada pastry circles and stick a piece of chocolate on top. Form and bake the empanadas as directed in the recipe. Dust with confectioners¿ sugar and serve hot.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, masa harina, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the melted butter. Gradually add 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of water, working it in with your hands to incorporate; the dough should be easy to handle and not sticky. Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic, and chill for 30 minutes.
• Lightly flour your rolling pin and counter. Divide the dough in 1/2 so it will be easier to work with and roll it out to 1/8-inch thickness. Using a 4-inch cookie or biscuit cutter, cut out 10 circles of dough; repeat with the other 1/2.
• Spoon 2 generous tablespoons of filling into the center of each pastry circle, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Brush the edges with the egg wash and then fold the dough over in 1/2 to enclose the filling and form a semi-circle. Tightly seal the edges by crimping with the tines of a fork. Chill at least 30 minutes before baking.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place the empanadas on a buttered baking sheet and brush the tops with additional egg wash. Using a fork, prick a few holes in the top of the empanadas for steam to escape. Bake for 30 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown.

NINFA'S BANANA EMPANADAS - EMPANADAS DE PLATANOS

Steps:

• To make dough: Measure flour and sugar into bowl; stir to mix.
• Add fat and thoroughly work it into the flour.
• Dissolve salt in water (mix with egg yolk, if using), and add to flour mixture; mix to form a medium-stiff dough.
• Knead for 4 to 5 minutes.
• Divide dough into about 8 to 10 equal parts, roll into balls, cover with plastic wrap and let sit for about 20 to 30 minutes to rest.
• For each empanada, roll a ball of dough into a flat round, tortilla- shape, about 8 inches in diameter (use a tortilla press, if available).
• Place on a hot pan and cook briefly on one side.
• On the center of the tortilla, with the cooked side to the inside, put bananas, raisins, pecans and honey.
• With a small pastry brush, brush egg white around the edges and fold it over to form a half-moon shape.
• Press around the edges to seal with a fork.
• Pour oil to a depth of 1 1/2 inches into a wide frying pan and heat oil to 350 degrees.
• Fry empanadas for 2 minutes, turning as necessary, until golden brown.
• Remove from oil and let drain.
• Sprinkle powdered sugar over top, then cinnamon.
• Garnish with banana slices, pecans, and raisins.
• Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side, top with the cherry and accompany with a pitcher of warm cajeta (caramel) sauce.

BANANA EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, combine bananas, sugar and cinnamon. Mix well and set aside.
• Unroll pie crusts onto a flat surface.
• Using a ring mold, make circles in the dough. Put the banana mixture on the pie dough and place another round on top. Pinch around the edges of each section to seal. Transfer the empanadas to the prepared baking sheet and make slits in the top of each to allow steam to escape. Place the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake until crust is golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and place the empanadas on a platter. Serve with ice cream or sprinkle with powdered sugar, if using.