Empanadas Con Queso Food

EMPANADAS CON QUESO

Steps:

• Cut in 1/2 pound butter to the flour to resemble breadcrumbs.
• Add egg and vinegar. Combine.
• Knead lightly for a couple of seconds before covering in cling wrap and refrigerating for 1/2 hours.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan. Saute the onion and spinach. Set aside to allow to cool, approx.20-25 minute.
• Normally I use this time now to grate the cheese and chop the hazelnuts. When the spinach is cool, mix with hazelnuts, raisins and cheese.
• Remove pastry from fridge. Using a 3 1/2 inch circle cutter, cut out circles. Place approximately 1 tablespoon in the middle of each circle, brush edges with egg wash and fold to enclose. Do not discard egg wash. Place on greased baking tray.
• Refrigerate for 30 minute.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Remove empanadas from fridge and brush egg wash lightly over the tops. Bake for about 25 min or until lightly golden.

EMPANADA DE QUESO (CHEESE PASTRIES)

Steps:

• Combine the flour with the salt, sugar and baking powder in a bowl.
• Add the butter and cut into the flour with a pastry blender or 2 knives.
• Beat the egg yolks lightly and combine with the milk.
• Stir into the flour to form a soft dough.
• Wrap in waxed paper and chill for 1 hour.
• Beat the egg whites and fold in the grated cheese and chili powder.
• Roll out the dough as thinly as possible on a floured board.
• Cut the dough into 48 circles with a glass.
• Place 1/3 tablespoon of the cheese mixture on half of the circles and cover with the remaining circles.
• Moisten the edges with a little water and press together.
• Arrange the pastries on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated 375f degree oven for 15 minutes.

EMPANADA DE QUESO: CHEESE TURNOVERS

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and salt. With a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in the chilled butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the egg and vinegar. Slowly add the water, as needed, mixing to form the dough, until well blended. Turn the dough out onto a sheet of plastic wrap and knead gently until the dough becomes smooth, only a few seconds. Wrap well and chill for 30 minutes.
• Saute onion in butter and add spinach over medium heat. Cool and then combine with cheese, hazelnuts, and raisins.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll half the chilled dough to 1/8 inch thick (keep the other half refrigerated until ready to use). Cut out 3-inch circles. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the filling into the center of each circle. Brush egg wash around the edges of the dough. Fold the edges up forming a pouch, and seal.
• Refrigerate the empanadas on greased or parchment lined baking sheets at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Brush the empanadas with egg wash and bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes.

EMPANADAS FRITAS DE QUESO

Steps:

• Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Combine the lard and milk in a saucepan, and heat until the milk is hot. Pour the hot milk into the flour mixture, and stir until a dough forms. Turn out onto a floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic. Cover, and allow to rest for 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Roll the dough out on a floured surface 1/4-inch thick. Cut into 4-inch rounds. Brush the outer edges of each circle with beaten egg, and fill with a small mound of cheese. Fold each circle in half to form a half-moon; press the edges with your fingers or a fork to seal. Place the empanadas onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Brush the tops with remaining egg.
• Bake in preheated oven until golden-brown, about 20 minutes.
• Alternatively, the empanadas may be deep fried in 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) oil. If deep frying, do not brush the outsides of the empanadas with egg. Drain on paper towels.

EMPANADAS CON QUESO

Steps:

• Toss meat with cajun spices, oregano, cumin, salt and black pepper. Set aside.
• In a medium skillet, saute onions, peppers and garlic in oil until soft. Add seasoned steak and saute until cooked through.
• In a small bowl, combine salsa, broth, and tomato paste. Pour over filling mixture in skillet, simmering for a minute or until slightly thickened.
• Add cheese to filling, then transfer filling mixture to a bowl and chill in the fridge while you get to work on cutting the puff pastry.
• Cut 18 squares from pastry sheets (you'll get 9 squares out of each sheet by cutting it into thirds at the two creases and cutting each strip into three squares). At this point, I like to sprinkle a little flour on each square and make them a bit bigger using a rolling pin.
• Retreive filling from fridge and spoon 1 or 2 tablespoons of filling onto each square or circle. Moisten the edges with water and fold over meat mixture, creating a triangle. Make sure to stuff all the filling in and press the edges together well with your fingers. Then seal the dough by pressing down on the edges with a fork. Repeat with remaining filling and pastry.
• Place empanadas on a baking sheet coated with nonstick cooking spray. Brush each empanada with melted butter and pierce the top with a fork to vent steam. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
• While empanadas are baking, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Wisk in flour and cook for about 1 minute. Wisk in milk gradually until incorporated. Gradually stir in cheese until melted and thickened. Season with cumin, salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle over empanadas.

EMPANADAS DE JAMON, QUESO, Y HUEVO DURO (HAM, CHEESE, AND HARD-BOILED EGG EMPANADAS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Grease 2 baking sheets with cooking spray.
• Combine ham, Gouda cheese, and hard-boiled eggs in a bowl; mix well.
• Arrange pastry disks on a flat surface; dab a little water around the rims. Place a large tablespoonful of ham and cheese mixture in the center; fold pastry over and press edge with a fork to seal well.
• Place empanadas on the prepared baking sheets. Brush with beaten egg.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

EMPANADAS DE QUESO CON RAJAS (POBLANO CHILE AND CHEESE EMPANADAS)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place poblano directly on the grates of a gas stove. Cook over medium heat, flipping with tongs occasionally, until blackened and charred, about 5 minutes. Place in a sealed plastic bag and allow to cool, 7 to 8 minutes. Peel off charred skins, remove seeds, and cut flesh into 1-inch squares.
• Place 1 1/2 tablespoons Manchego cheese onto each empanada disc. Top each with 1/2 tablespoon poblano peppers. Fold dough over on top of filling to close. Wet fingers with water and run them along the edges to help seal. Press edges together. Place empanadas on the prepared baking sheet and brush with beaten egg.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 24 to 26 minutes.

CHEESIEST FRIED CHICKEN EMPANADAS W. CHILE CON QUESO DIP - DEEN

Steps:

• Preheat vegetable oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl using a rubber spatula, combine the chicken, colby and Monterey cheese, cream cheese, red pepper, jalapeno, cumin, salt, and pepper.
• Remove 1 pie crust from pie tin onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 15-inch circle. Cut out rounds, using a 3-inch cookie cutter. Re-roll dough as needed.
• Repeat procedure with remaining pie crusts, making 12 to 15 circles total. Arrange 1 round on a clean, flat surface.
• Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the edges of crust with water.
• Place 1 heaping teaspoon of chicken mixture in the center of the round. Fold the dough over the filling, pressing the edges with a fork to seal.
• Repeat with the remaining rounds and chicken mixture. Place empanadas in deep-fryer for 3 to 5 minutes or until golden brown. Top with con queso dip.
• Note: Up to this point, the recipe can be made ahead and frozen for up to 1 month.
• Dip:.
• In a medium sauce pot, slowly melt Cheddar over medium/low heat. When cheese is fully melted add tomatoes, chiles, and hot sauce, stirring with spoon until combined well.
• Pour cheese dip into a small casserole dish and serve as a dip for the cheesy empanadas or pour on top for a real cheesy effect.