Pulled Pork Empanadas With Apple Chimichurri Food

SPICY PULLED PORK EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Add the flour, salt, and butter to a food processor and pulse to combine until crumbly and small pieces of butter are still visible. In a small dish, whisk the egg, water, and vinegar together and sprinkle over the flour mixture. Pulse the mixture until it begins to clump into a ball.
• Turn the pastry onto a lightly dusted work surface and gently shape together. Divide in half and flatten into each section into a round disc. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Melt butter over medium-low heat, add flour, cook and stir for one minute to cook the flour. Whisk in the beef broth, cumin, and garlic powders. Continue to whisk for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens. This will be a light sauce. Remove from heat, cover and reserve.
• In a large skillet set over medium heat, add the oil and when it is hot add the onions, cook and stir for 2 minutes, add the garlic, drained green chilies, chopped chipotles, cumin, oregano and salt. Add the shredded pork and toss the mixture together with 2-3 tablespoons of the reserved beef sauce. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
• Remove the pastry from the refrigerator. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out one portion to a thickness of 1/8-inch. Cut into 6-inch circles. We used a 6-inch bowl as a guide. Place the circles of pastry on a sheet of parchment as you cut them. Continue with the second pastry disc, then gather the pastry scraps and lightly press into a disc, roll and cut. You should have 8 completed circles of pastry.
• In a small dish, prepare the egg wash by whisking the egg and water together.
• Pre-heat the oven to 400°F.
• Working with one pastry circle at a time, brush the edge with some of the egg wash. Pick it up in your hand as shown in the photo and add 3 or 4 tablespoons of the meat mixture inside (about 2 1/2 ounces). Add a few cubes of the cheese, then pinch the pastry closed around the edges. Lay the closed empanada on the work surface and lightly press the edges together with a fork. Place the filled empanada on the prepared baking sheet and proceed with filling the remaining pastry circles.
• Brush the filled empanadas with egg wash and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.
• Reheat the beef sauce and serve with the empanadas

INSTANT POT PORK EMPANADAS

Steps:

• For Abuela Chabe's Seasoning: Stir together the annatto (if using), cumin, garlic powder, onion powder and curry powder in a small bowl (see Cook's Note).
• For the empanadas: Put the chiles de arbol, garlic and 1 cup water in a 6- or 8-quart Instant Pot® multi-cooker and set to high saute (see Cook's Note). Stir 2 tablespoons salt into Abuela Chabe's Seasoning, then roll the pork into the mixture, packing it into all the crevices. Set the Instant Pot® trivet in the bottom of the multi-cooker and place the pork on top. Set to pressure cook on high for 1 hour. After the pressure cook cycle is complete, follow the manufacturer's guide for natural release and wait until the natural release cycle is complete, about 10 minutes. Be careful of any remaining steam and unlock and remove the lid.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Transfer the pork to a cutting board and cut against the grain into 1/2-inch slices. Transfer the slices to a medium bowl. Remove the trivet from the Instant Pot® and transfer the garlic cloves to the bowl with the pork. Discard the chiles and set the liquid aside. Shred the pork and garlic, then add 3/4 cup of the liquid and stir to combine. Taste, adding more liquid if necessary. Let the pulled pork cool to room temperature.
• Spray 2 baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray. Brush the bottom half edge of an empanada disc with beaten egg, then place 1/4 cup pulled pork in the center. Bring together the bottom and top edges of the disc to form a half moon shape, then place the empanada on a flat surface. Use a fork to press and seal the edges closed, then brush the top with beaten egg. Repeat with the remaining empanada discs and pulled pork and transfer to the prepared baking sheets. Bake until the empanadas are dark golden brown, 17 to 20 minutes.
• For the guasacaca: Put the vinegar, garlic, jalapeños, avocado, cilantro, onions, sugar and a pinch of salt in a blender and process until smooth. Taste for seasoning and add more salt or sugar, if necessary. The guasacaca can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Makes 1 3/4 cups (see Cook's Note).
• Serve the empanadas with the guasacaca if desired.

CHICKEN CHIMICHURRI EMPANADA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Combine chicken with 1 cup Chimichurri. Mix well and refrigerate overnight.
• Heat saute pan with oil and saute the chicken with the salt until done. Add remaining 1/2 cup Chimichurri and set aside to cool to room temperature.
• Place 1 heaping tablespoon chicken mixture in center of an Empanada Disc and close by hand or with a fork. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
• Bake until browned, about 10 minutes.
• Stir flour and salt together in a bowl.
• Blend the shortening into the flour mixture with a metal spoon or hands until well blended.
• Combine the egg with 2/3 cup room temperature water. Stir 1/2 cup egg mixture into the flour until the dough starts to come together smoothly. Keep kneading the dough, adding more of the egg mixture as needed (you may need a little more water). The dough should be smooth.
• Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour but preferably overnight.
• Place dough on a floured surface and roll into desired thickness before cutting. Use a 5-inch round cutter for the discs.
• Combine parsley, red peppers and garlic in a medium bowl.
• Add olive oil and vinegar and mix. Add salt, pepper, oregano and paprika and mix well.
• Cover and chill for at least 3 hours or preferably overnight. Keep refrigerated up to 2 weeks.

PULLED PORK EMPANADAS - 3 WAYS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425º
• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
• Cut out rounds of puff pastry with a bowl and set on the parchment paper
• Top with 1-2 Tbsp of Curly's Pulled Pork & your topping choice
• Fold circle over and use edge of fork to pinch edges together
• Brush tops with beaten egg
• Bake for 15-20 minutes until tops are golden brown
• Serve with bbq sauce, cole slaw and sour cream for extra dipping!

CHIMICHURRI

Steps:

• In a mortar and pestle or food processor, add garlic, aji, and salt. If adding the parsley, add it now. Ground until very fine. Transfer to a serving container. Add vinegar, water and oil. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

APPLE SAUCE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Add the flour, sugar and salt to a food processor and pulse to mix. Add the butter and process until the mixture resembles wet sand. Add the cream cheese and pulse until the dough comes together in large clumps. Place the dough on a floured surface and gently knead two or three times, just enough to incorporate the cream cheese. Form the dough into an oval disk, place in a plastic bag and chill, 15 to 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Roll the dough into a rectangle, about 15-by-10-inches. Cut the dough with a sharp knife into 6 squares, about 5-inches each.
• Beat 1 teaspoon water and the egg in a small bowl, to make an egg wash.
• Fill each dough square with about 2 teaspoons applesauce. Use your fingertips to moisten the dough edges with a little water. Fold the dough over to create a triangle. Use your fingers to press the dough gently together, then crimp the seal with a fork. Brush the tops of the triangles with the egg wash. Sprinkle the egg washed-tops with the cinnamon sugar. Place the triangles on a baking sheet lined with parchment and bake until the triangles are golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• Be careful, the filling will be hot, so cool the empanadas about 15 minutes before eating.

PORK CHIMICHURRI SALAD

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine olive oil, vinegar, parsley, oregano leaves, and chipotle and puree. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Preheat a broiler and arrange a rack 6 inches from the heat. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking oil.
• Place pork on the baking sheet and sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Broil until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Remove pork from broiler and let rest 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine greens, cherry tomatoes, cheese, and chimichurri dressing to taste. Arrange salad on plates or a platter.
• Cut chops into 1/4-inch slices. Arrange on top of salad, drizzle with additional dressing, and serve.
• * Instead of making the Chimichurri from scratch, you can also purchase ready-made pesto sauce, mix it with the vinegar and the chipotle then season it according to taste.
• Serve this satisfying salad with a crusty roll or a small pile of tortilla chips. To vary the recipe, change the greens to spinach, arugula, or romaine. Add sliced red onion, black olives, or shredded carrots. You can even grill or pan-sear the pork chops instead of broiling.

PORK EMPANADAS

Steps:

• To make the filling: Place pork in a large pot and cover with water. Add onion, garlic, salt, oregano, cumin and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. While pork is cooking, prepare dough.
• To make the dough: Sift together the flour, masa harina, baking powder and salt. Add the shortening to the dry ingredients and mix well. In a separate bowl, beat together the egg and 1/2 cup milk. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Add the egg mixture and stir with a fork until the dough comes together in a ball. Divide the dough into 16 even pieces and roll each piece into a ball. Place in a container, cover, and refrigerate.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• After the pork has simmered for 1 1/2 hours, remove from liquid. Place pork in a baking dish and bake for 1 hour or until meat shreds easily with fork. Remove from oven (keep oven turned on) and shred into small pieces. Add salsa to shredded pork.
• Lightly grease a baking sheet.
• On lightly floured surface, flatten a piece of dough with the palm of your hand. With a rolling pin, roll out the dough to make a 5-inch circle about 1/8-inch thick. Place 2 to 3 tablespoons of filling in the center of the dough circle. Brush edges of dough with milk. Fold dough over filling. Pinch edges together. Crimp with fork to seal.
• Place on prepared baking sheet and repeat with remaining empanada dough. Leftover filling can be frozen or used in tacos, tamales, or burritos.
• Bake in preheated oven until golden, about 20 minutes. Remove to rack and cool for about 5 minutes. Serve warm.