Empanadas (Brazilian Meat Pies)
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Ingredients
Crust
| 4 cups | all-purpose flour | | 1 tbsp. | butter | | 1 cup | shortening | | 2 | whole eggs | | 1 | egg yolk | | 2 tsp. | salt | | 1-1/2 cup | cold water |
Filling
| 1 tbsp. | oil | | 1 | sm. onion, finely chopped | | 1 clove | garlic, minced | | 3 | chicken legs | | 1 | bay leaf | | 2 tbsp. | tomato paste | | Salt and pepper | | Water, as needed | | 3 tbsp. | all-purpose flour | | 1/4 cup | cooked peas | | 8 | pitted green olives, chopped | | Cayenne pepper | | 1 | egg, beaten with a dash of salt for glaze |
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Instructions
To prepare the dough, place the flour in a large mixing bowl and make a well in the center. Place the butter, shortening, eggs, salt, and 1 cup water in the well. Using one hand to mix, squeeze these ingredients through your fingers to make a paste. Gradually work in the flour, squeezing the dough between your fingers to mix it. Add water as necessary; the dough should be quite soft. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes while you prepare the filling.
Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Sauté the onion and garlic over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until soft but not brown. Add the chicken, bay leaf, tomato paste, salt, and pepper, plus water just to cover. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked. Skim off the fat that rises to the surface. Remove the chicken; strain and reserve the broth. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, discard the skin and remove the meat from the bone. Finely shred the meat with your fingers or in a food processor. Stir in the flour, peas, and olives. Stir in 3 to 4 tbsp. broth; the filling should be moist but not runny. Add enough cayenne to give the chicken a little bite.
Pinch off cherry-sized pieces of dough and use them to line the tartlet molds. Push the dough in with your thumb. The dough should just reach over the top of the mold. Place a spoonful of filling in each crust. Roll out the remaining dough and cut out tops for the empanadas. Try to capture an air bubble when you place the top over the filling; this is what makes the pies light. Seal the tartlets by pinching together the top and bottom crust.*
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Brush the tops with egg glaze. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Unmold and serve.
Author's Comments
*The empanadas can be prepared ahead to this stage and frozen.
Source: Yankee magazine, April 1991; recipe from Belita de Castro, Brazilian cook and cookbook author.
Makes 50 1/2-inch empanadas.
Empanadas are Brazil's national appetizer. They are tiny pies filled with chicken, olives, and peas. Belita's are famous all over Brazil. Empanadas are traditionally made in special molds that are almost as deep as they are wide. If they are unavailable, any small tartlet molds will do. The secret to making good dough, says Belita, is to massage it, not knead it. It may look as if she's making mud pies; but the results are truly superb.
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