Puerto Rican Shrimp Empanadas Food

SHRIMP EMPANADAS (EMPANADAS DE CAMARONES)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a medium bowl, beat the water, egg, egg white, and vinegar together. Set aside.
• In a separate large bowl, whisk together 3 cups of flour and salt.
• Cut the shortening into the flour mix with a pastry blender or 2 butter knives.
• Make a well in the center of the flour mix and pour the liquid ingredients from the first bowl into the center.
• Mix the wet and dry ingredients with a fork until the dough becomes stiff.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead it just until all the flour is incorporated, and the dough is smooth.
• Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour but never more than 24 hours. If you want to keep the dough longer than 24 hours, you can freeze it.
• Gather the ingredients.
• In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the tomato sauce and sofrito to a simmer.
• Pat the shrimp dry. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Place the shrimp into the saucepan with the tomato sauce mix. Add the cheese and stir thoroughly.
• Cook the shrimp until it turns pink, about 3 to 5 minutes. Do not overcook the shrimp because it will become rubbery.
• Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool before filling the empanadas.
• Roll the empanada dough out on a floured surface until 1/8-inch thick.
• Cut the dough into circles with a round cookie or biscuit cutter. For large empanadas, use 6-inch cutters, and for smaller ones, use 3-inch cutters.
• Place the shrimp filling by the spoonful into the center of the circles.
• Fold the dough over the filling into a half-circle shape, and crimp the edges with a fork. If the edges won't stay sealed, you can dip the fork in water before crimping or use an egg wash . Do not overfill the empanadas. They will burst, and you will lose your filling in the oil.
• Heat a few inches of oil in a heavy-bottom pot over medium heat until the oil reaches 375 F.
• Fry the filled empanadas at 375 F for 1 to 2 minutes per side. They should be lightly golden. Drain on paper towels. Cool slightly before serving.

PUERTO RICAN FRIED MEAT PIES: EMPANADAS

Steps:

• DOUGH: combine all the dry ingredients in electric mixer, add all the wet ingredients. Mix for about 3 minutes until well combined. Dough will form.
• Take it out and knead for about 3 minutes, let sit wrapped in plastic-wrap for another 15 minutes.
• Divide into 12 pieces, then roll into 4 inch circles.
• FILLING: Brown ground beef (drain excess grease), or sauté shredded chicken in 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Add all the ingredients and cook for an additional 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Let cool.
• COOKING: Preheat the oil in a frying pan at about a medium temperature. Place about 2 tablespoons of the filling in the dough and seal the edges with a fork.
• Fry for about 5 minutes on each side, then place on dish lined with paper-towels.

SHRIMP EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Dough:
• Mix warm lard, salt, vinegar, and 2 cups lukewarm water in a large bowl to combine. Gradually add 6 cups flour, mixing with a sturdy wooden spoon or your hands until a shaggy dough forms.
• Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead until mostly smooth and no dry spots remain, about 2 minutes. Wrap in plastic and chill at least 2 hours.
• Filling and assembly:
• Cut shrimp in half lengthwise, then finely chop (it's okay if some pieces get pasty). Set aside.
• Heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high. Add reserved shrimp shells and heads (if using) and cook, smashing down on shells and heads occasionally with a wooden spoon, until pink and bottom of pot begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Add wine and cook until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add 2/3 cup water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until reduced by one-third, 6-8 minutes. Let cool. Strain stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof measuring glass, pressing on solids; discard solids.
• Wipe out pan, add remaining 2 Tbsp. olive oil, and set over medium heat. Cook onion, stirring often, until softened but without taking on any color, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add shrimp stock and reserved shrimp and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the shrimp have turned pink, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. (Shrimp will continue cooking in the residual heat.) Mix in butter, cilantro, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes; season with salt. Let cool 20 minutes, then transfer to a medium bowl. Chill at least 1 hour before using.
• Divide dough into 6 equal pieces. Cover all but 1 piece with plastic wrap and chill. Roll out remaining piece of dough to a 14" round about 1/16" thick.
• Using cutter, punch out 6 rounds from dough. Place 1 Tbsp. filling in the center of each and brush water halfway around edge of each round. Fold dry side of dough up and over filling to create a semicircle. Pinch edges to seal; crimp. Transfer to a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Chill 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, pour vegetable oil into a large heavy pot fitted with thermometer to come halfway up sides. Heat over medium-high until thermometer registers 350°F. Working in batches and adjusting heat to maintain temperature, fry empanadas, turning often, until deep golden brown, 5-7 minutes per batch. Transfer to a wire rack set over paper towels; let cool 2 minutes before serving.
• Do ahead:
• Dough can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled. Filling can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.

VEGAN PUERTO RICAN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Combine water, TVP, and soy sauce in a large pan over high heat. Cook and stir until water is mostly evaporated. Reduce heat to medium. Add garlic, sazon, adobo sauce, oregano, and cumin. Continue cooking until TVP starts to firm up, about 5 minutes, increasing heat if necessary. Add cayenne and liquid smoke and cook until the mixture starts sticking to the pan, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and mix vegan meat well.
• Mix flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and add water and 1/4 cup vegetable oil. Mix with your hands and knead until all flour is incorporated. Cut dough into 12 pieces and roll into balls. Place dough balls in the bowl and cover; let sit for 3 to 4 minutes. Roll a dough ball out into a 6-inch circle and fill with vegan meat and shredded cheese. Dip a finger in water and moisten the edges of the dough before folding over and crimping empanada edges using a fork. Repeat with remaining dough balls and fillings.
• Heat 1 cup vegetable oil in a deep pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 or 3 empanadas as a time to the hot oil and fry until both sides are a light golden color, about 5 minutes total. Transfer fried empanadas to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil.

BAKED SHRIMP EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Peel and devein shrimp and place them into a colander to drain.
• Note: I used frozen shrimp that is already peeled and deveined. All I had to do was remove the tail. Set up a cooking tray or baking sheet and with paper towels. Transfer the shrimp onto tray with paper towels. Cover with another row of paper towels and press down. Place shrimp in refrigerator.
• In the meantime, remove the empanada pastry discs from freezer and cut packages open. Allow to defrost for 10-15 minutes before you start separating them. Each disc is separated by a piece of plastic. All you have to do is pry them gently apart and the warmth from your hands is enough to make them pliable to work with.
• Chop and combine the remaining ingredients in a large bowl and set aside. Pull shrimp out of refrigerator and discard paper towels. Chop shrimp into small pieces and add to the bowl with the onion and herbs. Mix well and set aside.
• Line three baking sheets with parchment paper and lightly spray parchment with cooking spray.
• Separate the discs and place a heaping tablespoon of the shrimp mixture into the center of a disc. Wet you fingers with water and dampen the inside edge of the pastry disc. Fold the disc in half so the ends meet and crimp the edges with a fork. Place the empanadas on the baking sheets. They can be right next to each other. You should be able to fit 12-14 on each baking sheet. You can use the space in the center of the baking sheet to fit in a couple more.
• Brush the egg wash on each empanada.
• Bake at 400° for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.
• Directions for sauce.
• Add ingredients to small bowl and mix well. Refrigerate until ready to use.

SHRIMP EMPANADAS (EMPANADILLAS DE CAMARON)

Steps:

• To prepare the dough:
• 1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a hook attachment, combine the flour, salt, sugar, and butter. Mix on medium speed to combine the ingredients, then add the beer.
• 2. Continue mixing to form a smooth, elastic dough, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn the dough out into a mixing bowl, and rest covered in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes before using.
• To prepare the filling:
• 1. In a medium skillet over low heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 15 minutes.
• 2. Add the tomato, paprika, pinch of cloves, cumin, parsley, and shrimp, and cook until the shrimp are cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and cool.
• To form the empanadas:
• 1. Roll the dough out onto a floured surface to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. Cut out into 4-inch rounds. Brush the rounds with egg wash and fill each with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of shrimp filling. Fold over into a half moon and press the edges to seal (for a decorative touch, crimp the sealed edges with a fork). Repeat as needed to use up all of the dough and filling.
• 2. In a medium pot over medium-heat heat, add enough oil to come about 2 inches up the side of the pot. Heat the oil to 350°F. Set a cooling rack over a sheet pan and reserve nearby.
• 3. Working in batches, gently fry the empanadas until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Reserve cooked empanadas on the cooling screen while the remaining finish frying. Serve warm.