Colombian Beef And Potato Empanadas Recipes

COLOMBIAN BEEF AND POTATO EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Prepare the filling: Place potato cubes in a medium saucepan, cover with water and season with 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until cubes are completely tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and transfer to a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, using a flat palm, press the cut side of the tomato against the large holes of a box grater and grate the tomato until you're left with just the skin. (The skin should protect your hand from the grater.) Discard the skin, then transfer the tomato and any juices to a small bowl. Set aside.
• In a 10- to 12-inch skillet over medium-high, heat vegetable oil until shimmering. Add beef or pork, and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until the pieces are quite small and completely cooked through, about 5 minutes.
• Add onion, scallion, paprika, bouillon (if using), and a few grinds of black pepper, and cook, stirring, until the onion is softened but not browned, about 1 minute. Immediately add the grated tomato and its juices, and cook, stirring, until the mixture is quite dry, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer meat mixture to the bowl with potatoes and stir together with a fork, letting the potato get roughly mashed up. (The filling should form cohesive balls when gently packed.) Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, bouillon and pepper to taste. Allow to cool completely. Spreading it out on a large plate or tray and placing it in the fridge will speed up this process.
• Assemble the empanadas: Divide masa into 24 golf-ball-size balls. Working one ball at a time, place inside a plastic zip-top bag and press down with the bottom of a skillet to form a circle about 3 inches in diameter. Carefully remove from the bag and transfer to a clean cutting board or tray. Repeat with remaining dough balls, laying them out side by side. Cover the disks with a clean, lightly damp kitchen towel.
• Working one empanada at a time, place about 2 teaspoons of meat mixture in the center of the disk. Lift the front and back edges and seal them at the top by gently pushing them together. Seal the empanada, working from the center outward until both ends are completely sealed. Gently curve the empanada to form a slight crescent with the sealed edge at the top. Repeat with remaining empanadas.
• In a large Dutch oven or wok over high, heat 2 quarts oil until it registers 375 degrees on an instant-read or frying thermometer. Using a metal spider or slotted spoon, lower empanadas into the hot oil one at a time. You should be able to cook about six empanadas per batch. Cook empanadas, adjusting heat to maintain an oil temperature of 325 to 375 degrees, until empanadas are crisp and golden, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or metal spider, transfer empanadas to a paper-towel-lined plate or bowl and immediately season with salt.
• Serve empanadas hot, with a bowl of ají and a spoon to drizzle the sauce over the empanadas and into them as you eat.

STANDARD MASA FOR EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Combine masarepa, salt and 2 cups tepid water in a large bowl. Stir with your hands and massage into a smooth dough.
• Take a small ball in your hand and press it flat. If the dough cracks, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it is smoother and workable. (Small cracks around the edges are OK.)
• Cover masa and set aside to rest for at least 15 minutes before using. Masa can be made several days in advance and stored in the fridge in a zip-top bag.
• For empanada assembly and cooking instructions, proceed to Step 6 of this Colombian Beef and Potato Empanadas recipe.

COLOMBIAN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Combine the masarepa, water, salt and Sazon. Start off with 2 cups of water, and add more if needed. Stir together, then knead the dough until it's nice and smooth and slightly moist. If it's too dry, it will crack when you seal the empanadas.
• Place in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap.
• Peel the potatoes, and place them into a pot with 3 cups of water, and 1 chicken bouillon.
• Boil for 20 minutes, or until fork tender.
• Drain them and place the potatoes into a bowl.
• Season the potatoes with salt and sazon, then mash until most of the chunks are gone. Add the cumin and ropa vieja.
• Fold to combine.
• Take a scoop of masa and make a ball about the size of a golf ball.
• Place the dough ball between 2 sheets of plastic wrap.
• Press the dough ball down, until it's about 1/4" thick, and 3" in diameter.
• Place a few teaspoons of filling in the center, then cradle the disc in your hand and pinch the empanada closed.
• Make sure to fully seal the edges so it doesn't open while cooking.
• Fry the empanadas in vegetable oil heated to 375 degrees F for 6-8 minutes, or until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel, and serve with Aji Verde.
• Process the cilantro, jalapeno and scallions in a food processor.
• Add vinegar to get the consistency you'd like.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Store for up to 1 week in the fridge.

COLOMBIAN FRIED EMPANADAS - WITH BEEF & POTATOE

Steps:

• 1. Prepare hogao: Heat olive oil in a large stockpot. Add garlic, tomato, onions, cumin, goya seasoning, and cilantro and sauté over medium heat, stirring, until onion is very soft (about 12-15 minutes). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• 2. Remove hogao from pot and set aside in a separate bowl. Add the beef bouillon cubes to the pot.
• 3. Slice the beef into strips and add to the pot. Cover the meat with water, and bring to a boil.
• 4. Simmer beef until very tender when pierced with a fork, about an hour
• 5. Peel and quarter potatoes and add to the beef, adding more water if necessary to cover the potatoes. Simmer until potatoes are very tender. Remove pot from heat and let the meat and potatoes cool in the broth.
• 6. Remove meat and potatoes into a separate bowl and set aside. Strain the broth into a large measuring cup and reserve.
• 7. Place the masarepa into a large bowl. Stir 1 cup of the reserved broth into the masarepa, along with 2 1/4 cups of hot water and the 2 teaspoons sugar.
• 8. Season mixture with salt and pepper and set aside for 10 minutes.
• 9. Finely chop the meat and potatoes. Stir the reserved hogao into the meat and potatoes and mix thoroughly, adding a little of the beef broth and slightly mashing the potatoes.
• 10. Roll the masarepa dough into about 40 golfball-size balls.
• 11. Working with one ball of dough at a time, flatten each ball into a 4 inch circle between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Place a teaspoon or so of filling in the middle of the dough circle, and fold the circle in half to make a half moon shape that encloses the filling. Seal the edges with your fingers. Repeat with all of the balls of dough.
• 12. Preheat vegetable oil to 350 degrees. Fry empanadas in batches until they are golden brown (about 5 minutes). Drain on paper towels. Serve empanadas warm with aji sauce.

BEEF AND POTATO EMPANADAS WITH SALSA PICANTE

Steps:

• To Prepare the Salsa Picante.
• Prepare the day before you plan to make the empanadas.
• In a medium sized container with a lid, mix all ingredients for the salsa picante.
• Cover tightly, and put in the fridge for at least overnight, preferably a bit longer, in order to let the flavors blend.
• Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
• To Prepare the Filling.
• In large skillet, sauté hamburger meat, onions, and garlic over medium heat until the hamburger meat is crumbled up and browned.
• In a large pot, combine the browned meat mixture with the remaining filling ingredients.
• Cover mixture with 1/2 inch of water and bring to boil.
• Let boil for one minute, then cover and turn heat to low.
• Simmer, stirring occasionally, for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the water is absorbed.
• If the water boils out before the potatoes are tender, add more water, 1/4 cup at a time until the potatoes are tender and the water is all absorbed.
• When the filling is ready, turn off heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
• To Prepare the Dough:.
• While the filling mixture is cooling, combine all the dough ingredients in a large bowl.
• Knead until smooth and form.
• When the filling mixture is cooled to room temperature, divide dough into 6 equal parts.
• Roll each part up into a ball, and shape into a circle, approximately 1/8" inch thick (I use my hands for this, I find that a rolling pin only sticks to the dough).
• In the center of each circle, place approximately 2 Tbsp of filling.
• (Leave a margin of about 1/4-1/2" around the filling, in order to fold the empanada).
• Fold the dough in half, so it covers the filling.
• Pinch the edges together.
• If there are any cracks in the dough, or around the edges, simply put a little bit of water on your finger and smooth the cracks together.
• Deep fry the empanadas in hot vegetable oil until the outsides are golden brown.
• Serve with Salsa Picante.