Miniature Meat Turnovers Recipes

MINI EMPANADILLAS (PUERTO RICAN BEEF TURNOVERS)

Steps:

• Dough - Mix flour, salt, butter (slice up the stick of butter first) and egg with a food processor or mixer. Start adding water slowly until you get a nice stretchy dough consistency.
• The dough shouldn't be sticky, if it is, add more flour to the mix. Cover and place in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This step is not absolutely necessary, but it does make the dough easier to work with.
• Beef Filling - Season ground beef with Adobo to desired taste, add chopped garlic cloves and brown the meat in a skillet. You may also use salt and pepper instead of Adobo if you prefer.
• Once meat is cooked add Sofrito, Sazon, tomato sauce, onions, green peppers, red peppers and potatoes. Let it simmer until potatoes are tender.
• Take your dough and roll it out with a rolling pin. Make sure to sprinkle flour on the surface, your rolling pin and hands to prevent the dough from sticking. Once your roll the dough out, use a cup or a round cookie cutter to cut circular shapes.
• Place a spoonful of beef filling on the dough and fold it shut.
• My favorite method for sealing empanadillas is to use a fork. Simply press on the edge with a fork on both sides and you're done.
• Fry each side of the empanadilla in hot oil. Simply remove when the empandilla gets a light golden color.

GROUND BEEF TURNOVERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt; cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, combine the water, egg and vinegar. Add to shortening mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing lightly with a fork until mixture forms a ball. Cover and chill for 30 minutes., Meanwhile, combine the first six filling ingredients. Divide pastry into 15 equal portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion into a 6-1/2-in. circle. , Mound a heaping 1/3 cup filling on half of circle. Moisten edges with water; fold dough over filling and press edges with a fork to seal. Transfer to a greased baking sheet. Repeat with remaining pastry and filling. , Cut three slits in the top of each turnover; brush with cream. Bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes or until vegetables are tender and crust is golden brown.

EMPANADAS: SAVORY TURNOVERS RECIPE CARD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350'F.
• In a skillet over medium heat sauté the onion and garlic with salt in olive oil until translucent. Add the beef, and break up in small pieces.
• Add the rest of the ingredients. Stir until thoroughly cooked. Move to a small container and let cool for about 10 minutes.
• Unroll pie crusts. With a 2" biscuit cutter, cut circles all around pie crust going around the perimeter and then moving in to the inside of the circle. Take a round in the palm of your hand and place a small amount of meat in the center. Fold inwards to create a half moon shape.
• To completely seal, place on the counter, and using the tines of a fork press all around the edges. Continue until you have used all the meat.
• Place on ungreased baking sheet and lightly spray with PAM or any other non stick spray.
• Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until they turn slightly golden. Yields about 36-40 mini empanadas.
• ** Sofrito and recaito can be purchased in the grocery store in the Latin food section. You can also make your own with the recipes I have provided in this blog.

MINCEMEAT TURNOVERS

Steps:

• Combine flour, granulated sugar and salt in large bowl; set aside.
• Cut butter into 1-inch chunks.
• Add butter and shortening to flour mixture.
• Cut in with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Drizzle buttermilk over top; toss just until mixture comes together to form ball.
• Turn out dough onto lightly floured work surface; fold in half and flatten to about 1/2 inch thick.
• Knead about 8 times.
• Divide dough in half; press each half into 1/2-inch-thick disc.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Lightly grease cookie sheets; set aside.
• Let dough rest at room temperature 10 minutes.
• Roll 1 dough disc into 8X12-inch rectangle on lightly floured work surface.
• Cut into 24 (3-inch) squares.
• Place heaping 1/2 teaspoon mincemeat in center of each square.
• Fold opposite corners each about 2/3 of the way over filling, overlapping dough corners.
• Place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.
• Repeat with remaining dough.
• Bake 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Remove cookies or wire racks; cool completely.
• Sprinkle pastries lightly with powdered sugar, if desired.

TANGY BEEF TURNOVERS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add sauerkraut and cheese. , Unroll crescent roll dough and separate into rectangles. Place on greased baking sheets; pinch seams to seal. Place 1/2 cup beef mixture in the center of each rectangle. Bring corners to the center and pinch to seal. Bake at 375° for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.

LOUISIANA SWEET-DOUGH MINCEMEAT TURNOVERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a bowl whisk together the flour, the baking powder, and the salt. In a bowl with an electric mixer cream together the butter and the sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, beat in the vanilla and the egg, and beat in the flour mixture in batches alternately with the milk. Chill the dough, dusted with flour and wrapped in plastic wrap, in the freezer for 10 minutes.
• Divide the dough into fourths and roll out 1 piece of the dough 1/8 inch thick on a well-floured surface, keeping the remaining pieces covered and chilled. Cut a 4-inch round from the dough, brush off any excess flour, and brush the edges with water. Put 1 tablespoon of the mincemeat in the center of the round, fold the dough over to enclose the mincemeat, and pinch the edges together to seal them. Make 3 more turnovers in the same manner with the remaining dough and mincemeat. Bake the turnovers on a buttered baking sheet in the middle of the oven for 15 minutes, or until the edges are golden.