Mexican Food Recipes
Fried Beef Empanada Recipe
Empanadas are a staple in Mexico and you can get savory empanadas such as chicken or beef and sweet ones such as pumpkin or apple. Empanadas can be baked or fried but fried empanadas, like in the following recipe, are especially crunchy and tasty. These Mexican beef empanadas feature egg, spices, and raisins. Serve empanadas hot, warm, or chilled. They are good for boxed lunches and you can even eat one for breakfast or as a snack.
When making empanadas it is nice to make the pastry yourself, as well as the filling. Do not worry if you have not made pastry before because it is easy enough to do. The raisins, egg, beef, and other ingredients used for the filling are delicious too. Try eating just one of these empanadas - you will definitely want another! One is never enough because these are so delicious.
Empanadas from Chile are similar but Mexican empanadas are more likely to be spiced up with hot chili powder. The oregano also adds flavor. If you like traditional Mexican recipes, try making these delicious beef empanadas for your family. They will definitely love them and ask you to make them again and again.
Fried Empanadas with Beef and Spices
Ingredients -
2 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 ½ lbs ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 ¼ cups water
½ cup shortening
1 ½ teaspoons salt
4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cumin
½ tablespoon oregano
½ cup raisins
2 tablespoons paprika
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon hot chili powder
1 quart oil for frying
Preparation:
Stir the salt and flour together. Cut in the shortening by pinching in small bits with your fingers until you get a mixture like coarse breadcrumbs. Stir in the water with a fork, a little at a time, until the mixture forms a ball. You might not need all the water.
Pat the dough into a ball and flatten it slightly. Wrap in plastic film and refrigerate for an hour.
Heat the oil in a skillet over a medium heat and add the onion. Fry until tender. Crumble in the ground beef; add the seasonings, spices, and cook, stirring often, until the beef is browned all over.
Drain any excess grease and stir in the vinegar and raisins.
Refrigerate until cold, and then stir in the chopped eggs. Form the dough into 2-inch balls (you should get 24) and roll each one out on a floured surface to make a thin
circle.Divide the meat mixture between the 24 dough circles and fold each one into a half moon shape, pinching the edges with your fingers to seal.
Heat the quart of oil to 365 degrees F and cook two or 3 empanadas at once.
Cook them for about 5 minutes, turning once to brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels and serve hot.
(Makes 24)
Photo Description:
These hot, crispy empanadas look really appetizing and deep frying them gives them an extra crunchy texture on the outside. Enjoy these beef empanadas hot from the pan with your favorite beverage. If you are having a buffet, empanadas make good appetizers because of their diminutive size. It also does not matter too much if they cool down a bit because they are good like that too. There are lots of types of empanadas you can make but spicy beef empanadas are one of the nicest varieties and this is a simple recipe for beef empanadas, which gives fantastic results.
