Pasteis De Carne Fried Pastries With Meat Filling Food

PASTEIS DE CARNE (FRIED PASTRIES WITH MEAT FILLING)

Steps:

• To prepare the pastry, sift the flour and salt into a bowl.
• Add the melted shortening and warm milk and water.
• Mix to a smooth dough and cut into 2 pieces.
• To prepare the filling, heat the oil in a frying pan, add the onion and garlic and fry for 5 minutes until soft and golden.
• Add the tomatoes, ground beef and salt.
• Simmer for 20 minutes until almost dry.
• Remove from the heat.
• Add the chopped parsley, egg, cheese and olives and mix well.
• To assemble pastries, roll out the pastry on a floured board to 1/8 inch thickness.
• Cut 12, 4 inch circles from each piece, 24 circles.
• Place 1 tablespoon filling on each circle and moisten around the edge with warm water.
• Fold over and seal the edges well.
• Deep fry in preheated 375f degree oil for 4 to 5 minutes until golden and crisp.
• Remove with slotted spoon and drain on absorbent paper towel.
• The pastries are also delicious cold and make good picnic fare.
• They may also be made without the ground beef.
• Variation to replace ground beef, use finely chopped ham, chopped chicken, or shrimp.

PORTUGUESE CUSTARD TARTS (PASTEIS DE NATA)

Steps:

• Combine flour, salt, and cold water in a bowl. Mix with a wooden spoon until dough just comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Dough should be sticky; adjust with more flour or water to achieve what's shown in the video.
• Transfer dough onto a well floured surface. Dust a little more flour over the top. Knead for a minute or two to form a round. Cover and let rest for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Roll dough into a square about 1/8 inch thick, dusting with flour as necessary; dough should still be sticky.
• Spread 1/3 of the butter over 2/3 of the square using a silicone spatula, leaving a 1/2 inch border. Flip the unbuttered side over the middle of the square and fold the opposite end over it like a letter. Straighten the edges as needed.
• Turn dough with a bench scraper to unstick it from the counter; dust with flour. Flip and sprinkle more flour on top. Roll dough into a 1/8-inch-thick rectangle, carefully stretching edges as needed. Spread another 1/3 of the butter over 2/3 of the dough. Fold into thirds. Transfer onto a lined baking sheet and freeze until butter is slightly chilled, about 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle dough with flour and roll into a square a little over 1/8 inch thick. Spread remaining butter over the dough, leaving a 1- to 1 1/2-inch border on the top edge. Dip your finger in water and lightly moisten the unbuttered edge. Roll dough into a log starting from the bottom edge. Dust with more flour and polish the ends as needed. Seal with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
• Combine sugar, 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon water, cinnamon, and lemon zest in a pot. Boil over medium heat, without stirring, until syrup reaches 210 to 215 degrees F (100 degrees C). Remove from heat.
• Preheat oven 550 degrees F (288 degrees C). Grease a 12-cup muffin tin.
• Whisk flour, salt, and cold milk together very thoroughly in a cold pot. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until milk thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for at least 10 minutes.
• Whisk egg yolks into the cooled milk. Add the sugar syrup and vanilla extract. Mix until combined. Strain custard into a glass measuring cup.
• Unwrap the dough and trim any uneven bits on the ends. Score log into 12 even pieces using a knife; cut through.
• Place a piece of dough in each muffin cup. Dip your thumb lightly in some cold water. Press thumb into the center of the swirl; push dough against the bottom and up the sides of the cup until it reaches least 1/8 inch past the top. Fill each cup 3/4 of the way with custard.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the pastry is browned and bubbly, and the tops start to blister and caramelize, about 12 minutes. Cool tarts briefly and serve warm.

FRIED CHICKEN PASTRIES (COXINHA)

Steps:

• Cut chicken breasts into 2 inch cubes, and place in a saucepan with onion, garlic, margarine, stock cubes, salt and pepper and 3 cups of water.
• Cook over medium heat for 30 minutes or until done.
• Strain solids from broth, retaining broth and solids.
• Finely chop the chicken to make the filling.
• Add the parsley and chopped green onion to the chicken.
• Measure the remaining broth into a saucepan-you will need 3 cups, so make it up with extra water.
• Add all the flour, and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon for 1 minute until it becomes stiff.
• Turn out, allow to cool a little, but while it is still warm, knead dough until it is smooth and no lumps of flour remain.
• (About 10 minutes) Roll out dough to about 1/4 inch thick and cut medium sized circles with a biscuit cutter.
• Place the dough in the palm of your hand, place a small cube of cream cheese and a teaspoon of the prepared filling.
• Judge the filling to the size of the circle you cut-you have to be able to seal it!
• Knead scraps and re-roll, and continue cutting until all the dough is used.
• Fold and close the dough in the shape of a drumstick (the word Coxinha means "little drumstick" in Portuguese).
• Brush the filled pastries with egg white and roll in breadcrumbs.
• Deep-fry the snacks for 8 minutes at 350f or until golden brown.

PASTEIS DE CARNE - SAVORY MEAT PUFFS

Steps:

• 1. In a large skillet cook meat until browned. Remove from pan, drain and set aside. In same skillet add unions and garlic and cook until golden brown. Add onion mix to meat and let cool.
• 2. Place meat mixture in food processor and pulse 5 times or until the meat is fine consistency. Add parsley and cheese and pulse 2 times.
• 3. Roll out dough and cut into 3?x6? rectangle. Place 1 tablespoon meat in center of rectangle. Fold over one side onto the other to create a square pinching edges.
• 4. Cover 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Place puffs onto paper and brush with egg wash. Cook in preheated oven at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
• 5. Serve warm or at room temperature. Freeze or store in refrigerator 3 days.

CURRY PASTE

Steps:

• Put it all in one of those little mini-processors and zoom it a couple of times.
• Add a little bit of water, or oil, to make a paste and zoom it until it all comes together.