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Beef Empanadas
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 40 min
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 10-12 empanadas 1x
- Category: Kid-friendly
Description
Pre-made puff pastry makes pulling together these Beef Empanadas quick and easy. Kids will love this hand-held protein-rich snack. Serve with sour cream and salsa.
Ingredients
Scale
1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil
3/4 lb (340g) lean ground beef
1 small onion, finely chopped
½ cup (125 ml) canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small tomato, diced
1 tbsp (15 mL) tomato paste
1 tsp (5 mL) each ground cumin, smoked paprika, and smoked chipotle chili powder
¼ tsp (1 mL) each salt and pepper
1 package frozen puff pastry sheets (2 sheets per package), thawed
1 egg, beaten
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F/175°C.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Add ground beef and cook, breaking up large chunks, until browned starting to brown; about 2-3 minutes. Add onion and continue to cook until beef is cooked through; about 3-4 minutes.
- Add beans, garlic, tomato, tomato paste, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper. Stir until well combined and warmed through. Set aside and allow to cool slightly before assembling.
- Place 1 sheet of thawed puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll pastry into a square; 10×10 inches (25×25 cm). Using a 4.5-inch (10 cm) round biscuit cutter, stamp out 4 rounds. Bring leftover pastry together and roll out again. Continue stamping until you can no longer stamp rounds. Repeat with remaining sheet.
- Place pastry rounds on a large baking sheet lined with parchment. Brush edges of the pastry with egg wash. Add about ¼ cup (60 ml) of the beef mixture to one side of each round. Fold pastry over the filling and press around edge with a fork to seal. Brush the top with egg wash.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until tops are golden brown. Remove from oven and serve as a snack with sour cream and salsa or alongside a salad for a complete meal.
Notes
- Store-bought dough allows you to make these empanadas quickly and easily. For a more authentic empanada, try making your own dough from scratch.
- These empanadas can be made ahead of time, frozen for up to 1 month, and popped in the oven when ready to serve.
- If you have leftover meat filling simply serve it over rice or freeze it for up to 1 month.
- If you are looking to increase the spice level of this dish add 1 tsp of hot red pepper flakes in step #3.
- Not a fan of beans? Omit the beans and add a small diced green pepper instead.
- For a larger empanadas use a 6-inch (15 cm) round biscuit cutter.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 223
- Sugar: 1.5 g
- Sodium: 135 mg
- Fat: 13.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 15.9 g
- Fiber: 1.7 g
- Protein: 7.9 g
- Cholesterol: 34 mg
Keywords: Appetizers, Lunch, Dinner, Kid-friendly, Quick Meals