How to make chicken Empanadas

The “empanadas”, the name is derived from the Spanish word  “empanar” meaning to coat in bread .This a baked or fried stuffed pastry popular in America ,Spain,Portugal and parts of South America. They are popular snacks all over the world and filled with a variety of fillings including seafood, beef, pork etc.In India these semi circular snacks may have been brought to India during the Portuguese rule and have a great cultural significance. The Indian recipes evolved with time in India and are strictly vegetarian. They are used in almost all Hindu festivals like Holi ,Diwali etc. are popular by various name like  in :-

1. Goa as “Nevri” where filling is roasted poppy seeds, cardamom powder,coconut and dried fruits
2. Maharashtra as “Karanji” ,where the stuffing is  sweet ,dry containing  semolina ,coconut  and dried fruits
3. Gujarat as “Ghugara” ,where the stuffing is savory containing a cooked paste of green peas
4. “Gujiya” in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan  as a popular sweet filled with Mawa(Evaporated milk) and dipped in sugar syrup.
5. They are also a popular sweet ,by the name  “Chandrakala” which means half moon shaped.

The outer covering should be flaky and crispy ,yet soft  so for empanadas ,butter or lard is used but I used olive oil here.The flour and oil  should make a crumbly mixture before forming a soft dough.

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Ingredients

Dough

• 2 cups flour
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Salt
• Milk (3/4th cup)

Filling

• 200 gm Minced chicken
• 1 cup boiled vegetables(carrots and beans)
• 1/2  cup bell peppers chopped
• 5 to 6 garlic crushed
• 1 cup onions chopped
• 2 green chilies finely chopped
• 2 tbsp of oil

Frying

• 2 cups of vegetable oil

Preparation

• Mix the ingredients of the dough except milk till crumbly.
• Add milk slowly and gather the flour together to form a soft dough.
• Make small balls from the mixture.
• Roll the ball as thin as you can
• Cut small discs from it.
• Take a disk roll it again thin
• Place filling at the center and fold it to form a semicircular shaped pastry.
• chill the empanadas before deep frying them in medium hot oil till light brown on all the sides.
• Serve with spicy chilly sauce.

Watch the Video

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How to make empanadas

This a baked or fried stuffed pastry popular in America ,Spain,Portugal and parts of South America. They are popular snacks all over the world and filled with a variety of fillings including seafood, beef, pork etc.

Course starter

Cuisine American, Argentina, portuguese, spanish

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 15 pieces

Author indrani

Ingredients

Ingredients

Dough

• 2 cups flour
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Salt
• Milk (3/4th cup)

Filling

• 200 gm Minced chicken
• 1 cup boiled vegetables (carrots and beans)
• 1/2  cup bell peppers chopped
• 5 to 6 garlic crushed
• 1 cup onions chopped
• 2 green chilies finely chopped
• 2 tbsp of oil

Frying

• 2 cups of vegetable oil

Instructions

Preparation

1. Mix the ingredients of the dough except milk till crumbly.
2. Add milk slowly and gather the flour together to form a soft dough.
3. Make small balls from the mixture.
4. Roll the ball as thin as you can
5. Cut small discs from it.
6. Take a disk roll it again thin
7. Place filling at the center and fold it to form a semicircular shaped pastry.

8. chill the empanadas before deep frying them in medium hot oil till light brown on all the sides.

9. Serve with spicy chilly sauce.