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Ancho Chili Beef Empanadas

Ancho Chili Beef Empanadas

Who doesn't love food that you can hold in your hand?  The beauty of empanadas is that the rich, buttery dough can be filled with almost anything - sweet or savory. Our
Chili Powder - Ancho
 is mild-medium in heat and adds magnificent depth to the beef and vegetable filling we chose. Ancho chiles have a wonderful, darkly sweet flavor, so we added a little
Alderwood Smoked Salt
 for just a touch of smoky contrast. They can be served either hot or at room temperature - we like ours with salsa, sour cream and a Hibiscus Margarita.

Ingredients

For the Dough:
For the Filling:
For the Egg Wash:
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 tablespoon water

Preparation

For The Dough:
Sift flour into a large bowl. Add salt and chilled, cubed butter. Using your fingertips or a pastry cutter, mix together until the mixture resembles coarse meal.

In a separate bowl, beat together eggs, chilled water and vinegar, and add to flour mixture. Combine until well incorporated.

Empty onto a lightly floured surface and knead just enough to bring the dough together. Cut dough in half and form each half into a rectangle. Chill for at least 1 hour.

For the Filling:
In a heavy skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions, red bell peppers and garlic and sauté until softened. Add Alderwood Smoked Salt, Ancho Chili Powder and Mexican Oregano, and sauté for about 1 minute.

Add ground beef, breaking up any lumps and cook until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add olives and mix well. Taste for seasoning, adjusting as needed. Pour into a bowl and refrigerate until chilled.

To Assemble the Empanadas:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Remove chilled dough from the refrigerator. Cut each rectangle into 12 pieces, form into discs and cover with a towel. On a lightly floured surface, take one of the pieces and roll it out into a circle about 1/8 inch thick. Holding the circle in the palm of your hand, place 2 heaping teaspoons of the chilled filling in the center.

Fold the two edges of the circle together over the filling. Press the edges to seal. Using a fork dipped in flour, crimp the edges so the filling won't escape. Transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet.

Repeat the process with the remaining dough and filling. Lightly brush the empanadas with egg wash.

Bake until golden, about 25 minutes. They are done if they sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.

Transfer to a wire rack and cool for at least 5 minutes. Serve with salsa and sour cream.

Notes:
These empanadas freeze well, so make a bunch and plan to enjoy them another day, or surprise yourself at how quickly your guests devour the extras.

Flavor Alternatives

Also tasty with
Chili Powder - New Mexico
 or, for a little kick, try
Chili Powder - Chipotle
,
Chorizo Bomb
 or
Berbere
.

Comments

Here's what you need
Get the Spices
Alderwood Smoked Salt
Alderwood Smoked Salt
$2.25
1 oz bag
Chili Powder - Ancho
Chili Powder - Ancho
$7.50
2 oz bag
Oregano - Mexican
Oregano - Mexican
$2.50
1 oz bag
Pacific Flake Sea Salt
Pacific Flake Sea Salt
$3.00
1 oz bag

Ancho Chili Beef Empanadas

| Appetizers, Tailgating

Who doesn't love food that you can hold in your hand?  The beauty of empanadas is that the rich, buttery dough can be filled with almost anything - sweet or savory. Our
Chili Powder - Ancho
 is mild-medium in heat and adds magnificent depth to the beef and vegetable filling we chose. Ancho chiles have a wonderful, darkly sweet flavor, so we added a little
Alderwood Smoked Salt
 for just a touch of smoky contrast. They can be served either hot or at room temperature - we like ours with salsa, sour cream and a Hibiscus Margarita.

Sherrie Hahn
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