Baked Chicken Empanadas With Hatch Chile Food

BAKED CHICKEN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine chicken, Neufchatel cheese, and salsa in a saucepan over medium heat until cheese melts, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and stir until well combined.
• Lay out empanada discs and place 1 tablespoons of chicken filling onto each disc. Fold dough over filling to close. Wet fingers with water and run them along the edges to help seal. Press edges together using the tines of a fork. Place empanadas on the prepared baking sheet and brush with heavy whipping cream.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.

BAKED CHICKEN EMPANADAS WITH HATCH CHILE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute until softened, about 5 minutes. Add chicken, corn, Hatch chile, and adobo seasoning. Cook until mixture is warmed through, about 5 minutes. Remove filling from heat.
• Set out empanada discs and place 2 tablespoons filling onto each disc. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 tablespoons Oaxacan cheese. Brush edge of discs with water and fold over to create half circles. Crimp to seal. Arrange on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove empanadas and sprinkle Cheddar cheese on top. Continue baking until cheese is melted and golden brown, about 5 more minutes.

GREEN CHILE CHICKEN AND QUESO EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil; add the tomatillos, jalapeno, onion, and garlic. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until the tomatillos are soft. Drain and cool slightly. Combine the tomatillos, jalapeno, onion, garlic, cilantro, and lime juice in a blender. Add 1/4 cup of water and process to a coarse puree; season with a generous pinch of salt. You should have about 3 cups of this salsa verde.
• Combine the shredded chicken and queso fresco in a large mixing bowl. Pour in 1 1/2cups of the salsa verde and fold the ingredients together to moisten. Use as a filling for empanadas. Serve the remaining salsa verde on the side.
• 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.

BAKED CHICKEN THIGHS IN HATCH CHILE CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken in the hot oil without moving to blacken skin, about 4 minutes. Turn chicken and cook about 2 more minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate.
• Add butter to the skillet. Cook chile peppers and onion in the melted butter until crisp-tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in cream until combined. Season with taco seasoning, salt, and pepper.
• Place chicken on top of onions and chiles and cover with foil.
• Place in the preheated oven and cook until chicken is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, 20 to 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

CHICKEN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Mix together first 8 ingredients, and refrigerate until ready to assemble empanadas.
• On a floured surface, roll out pie shells and cut into 4-inch circles (use all the pie dough by re-rolling scraps).
• Place approximately 2 tablespoons of chicken mixture in center of dough circles.
• Fold each circle in half and crimp edges with a fork.
• Place on a baking sheet and brush tops with egg yolks.
• Sprinkle top with mixed salt and chili powder.
• Bake 12-13 minutes at 400F degrees.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Freezes well.