Argentinian Style Beef Empanadas
Apr 07, 2021
INGREDIENTS
MAKES ABOUT 36 PORTIONS
- 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 2 lb. Butcher Box.ca Angus lean ground beef
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 2 small red bell peppers, seeded, chopped
- Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
- 3 Tbsp. ground cumin
- 2 Tbsp. sweet paprika
- 1 Tbsp. dried oregano
- ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
- 1½ cups low-sodium chicken stock or broth
- 2 tsp. sugar
- ½ cup raisins
- 3 packages (12 each) Puff Pastry Dough for Turnovers/Empanadas
- ½cup pitted green olives (Picholine or Spanish), rinsed well, cut in half lengthwise
PREPARATION
Step 1
Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large pot over high. Cook beef, breaking up with a spoon, until browned but not completely cooked through, 6–8 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl with a slotted spoon, leaving as much fat in pan as possible.
Step 2
Reduce heat to medium and cook onion, bell peppers, and remaining 1 Tbsp. oil, stirring, until tender but not browned, 6–8 minutes; season with salt and black pepper. Add cumin, paprika, oregano, and cayenne and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chicken stock and reserved beef along with any accumulated juices to pot.
Stir in sugar, 4 tsp. salt, and ¼ tsp. black pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring and scraping up any brown bits, until most of the liquid is evaporated, 15–20 minutes; taste and season with salt and black pepper, if needed. Stir in raisins. Transfer to a medium bowl, cover, and chill at least 3 hours.
Step 3
Preheat oven to 375°. Let dough sit at room temperature 15 minutes to temper. Remove 6 rounds from package, keeping plastic divider underneath, and arrange on a work surface. Place 2 Tbsp. filling in the center of each round. Top with 2 olive halves. Brush water around half of outer edge of each round. Using plastic divider to help you, fold round over filling and pinch edges to seal. Using a fork, crimp edges. Remove plastic and transfer empanada to a parchment-lined sheet tray, spacing 1" apart. Repeat with remaining rounds (you’ll get about 12 empanadas on each tray).
Step 4
Bake empanadas, rotating tray halfway through, until golden brown and slightly darker around the edges, 25–35 minutes.