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Spicy Chicken and Chorizo Empanadas

Name: Spicy Chicken and Chorizo Empanadas
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: International
Ingredients: 2 large eggs lightly beaten; 1 teaspoon white vinegar; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 stick/113g unsalted butter, cut into small chunks, chilled; 2 cups plain flour; ¼ cup dry white wine; 1 tablespoon sugar; 1 onion finely chopped; 1 garlic clove finely chopped; 2 large tomatoes skinned, seeds removed, chopped; 1 tablespoon tomato puree; ¼ cup dry white wine; 2 chicken thighs cooked, skinned, meat chopped finely; 100g chorizo sausage (the ready cooked type) finely choppey; 1 pinch paprika; 1 chilli, finely chopped (remove seeds if don't like it too hot); 12 or more olives (green or black doesn't matter) chopped; Decent handful basil or other fresh herb (coriander would work well instead)); oil for frying (I used olive oil but most oil should be fine; salt and pepper

Over a year ago 1,697 views

Cook: 90 mins

Serves: 8

Starter

Ingredients

2 large eggs lightly beaten
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1 stick/113g unsalted butter, cut into small chunks, chilled
2 cups plain flour
¼ cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon sugar
1 onion finely chopped
1 garlic clove finely chopped
2 large tomatoes skinned, seeds removed, chopped
1 tablespoon tomato puree
¼ cup dry white wine
2 chicken thighs cooked, skinned, meat chopped finely
100g chorizo sausage (the ready cooked type) finely choppey
1 pinch paprika
1 chilli, finely chopped (remove seeds if don't like it too hot)
12 or more olives (green or black doesn't matter) chopped
Decent handful basil or other fresh herb (coriander would work well instead))
oil for frying (I used olive oil but most oil should be fine
salt and pepper

Accompaniment

Description

Came up with this having been asked to 'bring a plate' to a party. The pastry is a traditional recipe, the filling was simply what was in the fridge!

Method

1
In a food processor, pulse the flour with the sugar and salt. Add the chilled butter pieces and pulse until it resembles coarse meal. Beat the eggs with 1/4 cup dry white wine and vinegar and drizzle over flour mix. Pulse until the dough just comes together - will be sticky. Turn out onto a well floured surface and kneed until the dough is smooth. Don't overwork it - I kneaded lightly for about a minute until it was just smooth. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for about an hour.

Make filling - Gently fry onion and garlic with paprika in a pan with a little olive oil for a few minutes, add fresh tomatoes, puree, white wine, chicken, chorizo, and a decent grind salt and pepper and fry gently until puree is cooked and most liquid has evaporated. Add olives, chilli and herbs, mix, taste and adjust seasoning if necessary and set aside until pastry is finished chilling.

After an hour chilling, preheat oven to 180 degrees C (350 F) roll pastry out on well floured surface until 1/8th inch thick (pretty thin). Using a 3 inch cookie cutter (or top of a clean tin can) to stamp out discs. I found by re-rolling the scraps I got at least 24 out of the mix. Brush excess flour off rounds or they will burn in pan. Make empanadas 1 at a time and keep rest of the rounds covered in plastic to keep them moist. Spoon heaped teaspoon (or as much as you can fit!) of filling onto each round, fold over edges, press and crimp edges with a fork to seal. Heat 1/4 inch oil in shallow pan, fry empanadas in small batches (4 at a time is ideal) for 2 minutes, turning once. They cook very quickly and should be golden brown. Place them in oven dish as you go. When all cooked re-heat in oven for 5-10 mins then serve. Go great with drinks!

NOTE instead of frying, can be oven baked by placing on a lined baking sheet and brushing them with a wash made from 1 beaten egg and a splash of milk. Bake at 180C for about 20-25 mins. Also you can make ahead and freeze the filled but uncooked empanadas. Then just bake as above from frozen (no need to thaw first just allow a bit longer cooking time) .

This filling was just what I had in fridge - there are endless flavour combinations you could try! Have fun and enjoy :)