Black Bean Empanadas Recipes

VEGETARIAN EMPANADAS WITH BLACK BEANS AND CORN

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Sift the flour into a bowl. Stir in the sugar and 1 teaspoon salt.
• Blend the lard (or shortening) and butter into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter, or with two knives, until fairly well blended.
• Whisk the egg yolks with 3/4 cups water.
• Stir in the water-egg mixture, a little bit at a time, until the dough starts to come together smoothly.
• Keep kneading the dough, adding more of the water-egg mixture as needed (you may need a few tablespoons extra of water), until the dough is smooth. The dough will seem a bit shaggy until it has thoroughly chilled. Taste for salt and add more if needed.
• Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about one hour.
• Gather the ingredients.
• Pour boiling water over the golden raisins and let soak for 10 minutes, then drain. Set aside.
• Add the vegetable oil to a heavy skillet and place over medium heat. Add the chopped onions, aji paste, cumin, and garlic salt and sauté until the onions are very soft and translucent, about 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add the chopped tomatoes, the scallions, and the sugar and sauté, stirring, for about 5 minutes more, or until excess liquid has cooked away and tomatoes are beginning to stick to the pan.
• Add the black beans and sauté, until excess liquid is cooked away, about 5 minutes.
• Add the corn, raisins, and lime juice, and cook for 5 minutes more.
• Remove mixture from heat and scrape into a heatproof bowl.
• Let cool to room temperature, then stir in the cheese cubes and the cilantro. Chill mixture for 2 hours, or overnight.
• Gather the ingredients. Preheat oven to 375 F.
• Divide the dough into 20 pieces for large empanadas or about 40 pieces for small, appetizer-size empanadas.
• Roll each piece of dough into a circle about 1/4-inch thick. (Circles will be about 6 inches in diameter for the larger empanadas and about 3 1/2 inches for the smaller ones).
• Place 1 heaping tablespoon of filling in the middle of each circle of dough (1 teaspoon for small empanadas).
• Fold the dough over the filling to make a semicircle. Press the edges together firmly to seal.
• Fold the edge over itself and crimp decoratively.
• Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and brush the empanadas generously with the beaten egg.
• Bake for about 20 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown.
• Let cool and dust with powdered sugar.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

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.

SPICY BLACK BEAN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• .Heat oil in a skillet over high heat; add in onion; stir/saute 3 minutes.
• Add in beans, pumpkin, cilantro, cumin, and cayenne; cook about 3 minutes, until mixture is warmed through; remove from heat.
• Using the back of a fork, mash bean filling to coarse paste; season with salt; cool.
• Preheat oven to 425°.
• Roll out each puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface to a 14-inch square.
• Cut each into 9 squares; place 1 heaping tablespoons bean filling in center of each square.
• Sprinkle each mound of filling with cheese.
• Brush edges of squares with egg glaze; fold 1 corner over filling to opposite corner, forming a triangle; using fork, seal crust edges.
• Arrange pastries on rimmed baking sheet; brush with egg glaze.
• Bake about 15 minutes, until golden brown; serve warm.

BLACK BEAN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• To make filling:.
• Heat olive oil in a medium saute pan over med-hi heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until tender, stirring frequently to prevent garlic from burning.
• Stir in the cumin and oregano and cook for 30 more seconds. Add the beans and salt and pepper.
• Remove from heat and cool slightly. Place beans in a blender and puree. If they are too stiff, add the water as needed to make a smooth puree.
• Transfer to a bowl and mix in the cheese.
• The filling can be prepared ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.
• To make dough:.
• Combine the flour, masa harina, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Toss to mix. Add oil and stir with a wooden spoon.
• In a liquid measuring cup, mix together the eggs and water. Add gradually to the flour mixture until it is all incorporated.
• Turn dough out onto a board and knead until it is very pliable - about 3 minutes. Add more flour or water if needed.
• To assemble:.
• Roll the dough out very thinly, about 1/16 inch thickness. Cut using a 3 inch round cutter. You should have 24 circles.
• In a small bowl beat together 1 egg and 1 T. water to make an egg wash.
• Place 2-1/2 teaspoons of filling in the center of each circle. Brush edges with egg wash and fold in half. Seal by pressing together with a fork. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
• You may make these ahead and chill, covered, for up to 24 hours or freeze for up to 3 weeks.
• Heat oil in a deep fryer or skillet to 350 degrees. Fry until golden brown and crisp about 3-4 minutes. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with kosher salt before serving.
• Serve with sour cream, salsa or guacamole.

SMOKY BLACK BEAN AND CORN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Line large cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper.
• In nonstick 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir 4 to 6 minutes or until softened. Add chili powder, salt and chipotle chile; cook and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in black beans and corn.
• On lightly floured surface, unroll 1 pie crust. Roll to 14-inch circle. Cut out four 6-inch circles. Repeat with remaining pie crust. Spoon about 1/4 cup black bean mixture and 2 tablespoons cheese over half of each round to within 1/2 inch of edge.
• Brush edges with water. Fold dough over filling; press edges firmly with fork to seal. Place on cookie sheet. Cut 3 small slits on top of each empanada.
• Bake 13 to 18 minutes or until golden brown and filling is hot. Serve warm.

CHICKEN AND BLACK BEAN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Saute onions and garlic until onions are soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add spices, stir to mix fully, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add black beans and chicken and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook until black beans are heated through, about 5 minutes, then remove from heat and let mixture cool fully. Add cilantro and stir well.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Lay out a sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Flour the top of the dough and roll out the puff pastry until it is about 1/16-inch thick and about 12 inches by 16 inches.
• Trim edges to size, if necessary. Cut 4-inch strips crosswise and lengthwise making 12 (4 by 4-inch) squares. Make sure the squares are well floured and stack them in a little pile.
• To form empanadas: Fill a little dish with some room temperature water. Imagine each square you work with is separated in half by a diagonal. Place a couple tablespoons of filling in the top half. Dip a finger into the water and moisten the edges of the top half with water. Fold the bottom half to meet the edges of the top half. Use a fork to pinch and seal the edges. Lightly brush the tops with vegetable oil. Place finished pockets on a nonstick baking sheet and bake about 12 to 14 minutes, or until golden brown and puffy.
• Serve with salsa, sour cream and green onions.