EMPANADA GALLEGA
This was a really delicious "pizza imbottita" (stuffed pizza) as we would call it in Italy. The filling I chose from the various recipes given was very quick to make and really tasty. I chose the first dough recipe and the tuna filling. The whole family really enjoyed it. They asked me to make it again and I am planning to make it for a birthday party coming up at work. :))
Just one or two things...for the amount of filling suggested, you can make less dough. Maybe a cup less. I only used 25 g of yeast - as in Italy yeast cubes come in that weight - and that was sufficient. So just take away one cup of flour and proportionally lower the other ingredients. I used my Ken to do the work and I added about 2 tablespoons of lard as well as the tiny amount of olive oil suggested in the recipe. Make sure the lard is added in small amounts at the time once the dough is almost ready, as it will make the textute of the baked product better.
Patri of the blog, Asi Son Los Cosas, was our September 2012 Daring Bakers’ hostess and she decided to tempt us with one of her family’s favorite recipes for Empanadas! We were given two dough recipes to choose from and encouraged to fill our Empanadas as creatively as we wished!
And here is what she wrote for us:
Hi! My name is Patri from Asi Son Las Cosas, a
DBer since 2009 (gee, how time flies!). When Lisa asked me to host this
challenge, I made up my mind really quickly, because it is something I like to
make, very versatile, and which would be a bit challenging when managing
different flours. But first, let me tell you a little story
My grandparents lived in a country house that
my great-grandfather built a hundred years ago. It is in the northwest of Spain , right on top of Portugal , in the region called Galicia
When I was six, I loved adding wood to the
kitchen, and seeing how the wood disappeared into a yellow-white flare. I also
liked emptying the cinders from the deposit, sometimes making a mess of it, of
course. I remember filling a pot with water to put in the stove after the
cooking was finished and the fire went down, that warm water was used for
washing the dishes or for cleaning up.
In that kitchen I used to step on my
great-grandmother ‘s toes when I wanted to give her a kiss, because I was a bit
clumsy. There, my uncle Pepe taught me to fry eggs and potatoes. And that ‘s
where I learned to make empanada from my grandma Carmen, God bless her.
Empanada is the kind of food that makes one go
back to childhood. A bread-like dough that surrounds a vegetable frittata with
anything you can imagine, from sardines to beef. Or filled with sugar, butter
and fruit. Warm or cold, it was simple, pretty, and delicious. I hope you will
find it so too!
Recipe Source: The basic recipe I’ll be using is
the one that my grandma used. However, I ‘m also including two more recipes:
Basic empanada recipe from La Empanada Gallega
(in Spanish), which is quite fail-safe:
http://empanadagallega.fiestras.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=R&c=Articulo&cid=981646204595&pubid=979757027793
Corn empanada dough recipe from the same on-line source
http://empanadagallega.fiestras.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=R&c=Articulo&cid=983562415579&pubid=979757027793&PaginaActual=1
Note: As with all leavened doughs, rising times
are approximate and depend on temperature. The warmer the temperature, the
shorter the rise. You do not want to over-rise the dough or it will become too
sour. But you don ‘t want the rise to be too short or you will not get a spongy
bread.
Empanada is usually an appetizer or first
course, but it is filling, so you could make for lunch or light dinner served
with a side salad.
Mandatory Items: You must make an empanada using
one of the given dough recipes. You have complete freedom for the filling,
though I ‘m providing some ideas you can use or build from.
Variations allowed: Get creative! Use any shape,
decoration or filling you want. I have never tried using other flours than
wheat and corn, but if you have gluten allergies or intolerance you may try
other flours that are used for gluten free bread. Adjust liquids accordingly.
Preparation time:
Making the dough: about 15 minutes (includes
measuring the ingredients) + 50 minutes rise (will depend on ambient
temperature)
Making the frittata: about 5-10 minutes for
cutting the vegetables, 20 minutes for cooking + at least 30 min cooling time
(I usually cut the vegetables and start frying them before mixing the dough,
that way it has plenty of time to cool down while the dough rises ¡V bear in
mind ambient temperature)
Getting the empanada together: about 15 minutes
(time enough to warm the oven too)
Cooking the empanada: 40 - 50 minutes (may need
more depending on filling, please read carefully).
Equipment required:
Dough
Big bowl
Small bowl
Wooden spoon
Your hands or
A stand mixer with dough hook
Rolling pin
Cookie sheet or oven tray
Pastry brush
Wax paper
Filling
Several sized bowls or plates (for the miss en
place)
Pan or skillet
Wooden spoon
Empanada Gallega de bacalao con pasas
(my grandma’s empanada recipe with salted cod
and raisins filling)
Servings: 10 - (makes a 40 cm x 30 cm square empanada or
about a 35 cm
diameter round empanada).
The filling may sound a bit strange at first,
but that’s until you taste it J If you like salted cod, I’m pretty
sure you will like it like this.
Dough Ingredients:
5-1/3 cups (1280 ml) (750 g ) bread flour
2 cups
(480 ml) of lukewarm water about 85°F/30°C), approximately
1 satchel ( 1 tablespoon)( 15 g ) dry yeast or 1oz/ 30 g fresh yeast
2 teaspoons (10 ml) (11 g ) salt
4 tablespoons (60 ml) oil you can use from the
pan where have cooked filling
1 large egg, for egg wash
Dough Directions:
1. Measure out all the ingredients.
2. Shift the flour into a big bowl and make a
well in the middle. Rub the yeast in with your fingers.
4. Now, using your fingers or a wooden spoon,
start adding the water and mixing it with the flour-yeast mixture. Keep on
working with your fingers or spoon until you have added enough water and all
the flour has been incorporated and you have a messy ball of dough.
5. On a clean counter top, knead the dough for
approximately 10 minutes
6. You could do all the above using a stand
mixer, in that case mix the ingredients with the paddle attachment until mixed
and then switch to a dough hook and knead on low for about 6 minutes.
7. Clean and oil the big bowl you used for
mixing and place the kneaded dough in it. Cover it with a napkin or piece of
linen and keep it in a warm, draught-free place for approximately 40 to 50
minutes.
9. Spread the other half of the dough using a
rolling pin. You can use a piece of wax paper over the counter, it will make it
easier to move the dough around. Depending on the shape of your oven pan or
cookie sheet, you will make a rectangle or a round.
10. Now, the thinness of the dough will depend
on your choice of filling and how much bread you like in every bite. For your
first time, make it about 3mm thin (about 1/10th of an inch) and then adjust
from that in the next ones you make.
Filling Ingredients
2 garlic cloves
3/4 cup (180 ml) Olive oil
A few strands of saffron
Filling Directions:
1. Finely chop the onion and garlic.
2. Heat the oil in a skillet and add the onion
and garlic, fry over medium heat until the onion is transparent (you do not
want the onion to brown at all).
3. When vegetables are cooked, turn off the
heat. Add the saffron and the raisins. Cut cod and ham (or bacon) in less than
bite sized pieces, and add. Stir everything together.
4. Add salt as needed (we do this at the end
because the amount of salt will depend on how salty your fish remains after the
unsalting and how salty your cured ham or bacon is).
5. Allow to cool for at least half an hour
before filling the empanada.
Assembling the
empanada:
1. If you haven’t used wax paper, either
lightly flour or line with wax paper your pan or tray.
2. Cover the base and sides with the dough.
Using the rolling pin or a knife, cut the extra dough.
3. Place the filling, making sure it is cold
and that all the base is covered. Using a hot filling will make the bottom
layer of the empanada become soggy. Be careful to avoid adding too much oil
from the filling, try to make it as dry as possible.
4. Start preheating your oven to moderate 350°F/180°C/gas
mark 4.
5. Take the other half of the dough and spread
it out to the same or less thinness of the base. You can use a piece of wax
paper for this too. Take into account that this “top” dough needs to be smaller
around than the bottom, as it only needs to cover the filling.
6. If not using wax paper, move carefully the
top to cover the filling. If using wax paper, transfer the dough, turn upside
down, cover the filling and gently peel off the wax paper.
7. Using your fingers, join bottom and top
dough, when you have gone all the way around, start pinching top and bottom
together with your thumb and index finger and turning them half way in, that
way you end up with a rope-like border. As a picture is worth a thousand words,
please watch this video to see how it is done: http://youtu.be/CNpB7HkTdDk
8. When you are finished, make a 1 inch hole in the middle of
the top layer. This will help hot air exit the empanada while it’s baking
without breaking the cover.
9. You can use left-over dough to decorate the
empanada, using rounds, bows, lines…let your imagination flow and make it
pretty!
10. Using a fork, prick the top layer or, using
scissors, make snips that go all the way through the layers.
12. Place the empanada in the oven and bake for
about 45 minutes. Check that the bottom part is done.
Empanada Dough
(a recipe using wheat flour from “La Empanada Gallega ”
Servings: 6
Ingredients:
3½. cups (500 g ) all-purpose (plain) or bread flour
1 cup (240 ml) warm water
½ cup less 1 tablespoon (100 ml) of liquid fat
(oil, margarine, lard)
1 satchel (1 tablespoon) (15 g ) dry yeast or (1oz) (30g)
fresh yeast
1 teaspoon (5 ml) (6 g ) salt
1 teaspoon (3 g ) sweet paprika
Directions:
1. Shift the flour into a bowl, make a well in
the middle and add all the ingredients (you should break the fresh yeast as
much as possible).
2. Mix with a wooden spoon until all the
ingredients have been incorporated
3. Turn dough onto your counter and knead for 8
minutes
4. Make a ball and allow to rise covered with a
cloth for about half an hour before using.
The rest of the steps are the same as with the
first recipe.
You can also use in this case the stand mixer,
reduce kneading time to 5 minutes.
Corn and Wheat Empanada Dough
(from “La Empanada Gallega ”¨)
Ingredients:
2 ¾ cups (14 oz ) (400 g ) corn flour not corn starch!)
¾ cup (3½ oz) 100 g ) all-purpose (plain)
flour
1 cup (250 ml) warm water
2
teaspoons (10 g )
(1/3 oz) active dry yeast or (4/5 oz) (25 g ) fresh yeast
1 teaspoon (5 ml) (6 g ) salt
2/3 cup
(150 g )
lard, butter or margarine
Directions:
1. Mix well flours in a large bowl. Make a well
in the middle and add the water, the fat (softened) and the yeast (if using
fresh, use your hands to break it up as much as possible)
2. Use a wooden spoon to mix the ingredients
and then turn the dough onto the counter and start kneading until you have a
soft dough that doesn’t stick to your hands.
3. Add more water or flour if needed.
4. Make a ball with the dough, cover it with a
cloth and allow to rise for approximately 1 hour.
5. This dough is very difficult to spread, so
you will probably have to use your hands and some patience.
6. Go for a very thin covering, if it is too
thick it will take longer to cook and it will have some “chew”, making it
unpleasant to eat.
7. Oil the pan or oven tray you will be using
before spreading the dough on it.
8. Use wax paper or even foil to cover the
surface where you will be spreading the dough.
9. Put the dough on top and powder freely with
flour. Using the rolling pin, spread it as much as possible.
10. With the help of the paper or foil,
transfer the dough to your pan or tray.
11. Fill the empanada
12. Now you can try spreading the other half of
the dough the same way as the bottom part or try using your hands, taking
pieces of dough, spreading them as thin as possible using your hands and then
joining them to the rest of the cover using your fingers.
13. Using a fork, make lines in the top layer
marking the portions. This will help you when serving the dough, as the top
will break easily along this lines without making a mess.
This empanada dough goes very well with blue
fish or seafood fillings.
Other possible fillings:
Tuna fish filling:
Ingredients
1 small red pepper
2 garlic cloves
¾ cup (180 ml) olive oil
1 can (6.5 - 7 oz / 180 g - 200 g ) of tuna fish in oil,
drained
1 hard-boiled egg
1 teaspoon sweet paprika (optional)
Directions:
1. Heat the oil in a skillet
2. Fry the finely chopped onions, pepper and
garlic until the vegetables are soft. Add then the tomatoes, chopped small, and
cook until done.
3. Turn off heat and add the tuna fish and hard
boiled egg, cut into less than bite sized pieces.
4. If adding the paprika, do so now and stir
into the frittata.
5. Allow to cool for at least 30 minutes.
Ground (minced) meat filling:
Ingredients
1 small green pepper
2 garlic cloves
¾ cup (180 ml) olive oil
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
Directions:
1. Heat the oil in a skillet
2. Fry the finely chopped onions, pepper and garlic
until the vegetables are soft. Add then the tomatoes, chopped small, and cook
until done.
3. Add the meat and cook for about 5 minutes.
4. Add the paprika, and stir into the frittata.
5. Allow to cool for at least 30 minutes.
6. Fill the empanada and bake as indicated.
Ham and cheese filling:
Ingredients
10½. oz (300 g )
ham
10½. oz (300 g )
cheddar type cheese (any sandwich cheese will do)
Directions:
1. This is the simplest of fillings. You only
need to layer prettily the ingredients, starting and ending with ham, to keep
the melted cheese inside.
Pork loin and red pepper filling:
Ingredients
10½ oz (300 g )
pork loin one piece)
1 big red pepper (capsicum), cut into thin
slices,
1 small onion, cut into thin slices
2 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon (15 ml) (6g) paprika
½ tablespoon (3 ml) dried oregano
salt
Directions:
1. 24 hours in advance, marinate the pork loin:
for this, mix the oregano, paprika and the garlic cloves (very finely chopped)
with salt to taste. Rub this marinade all around the meat, put into a sealable
plastic bag and keep in the fridge for 24 hours.
2. Take the meat out of the bag and cut into
thin fillets (about 0,5mm)
3. Cover the bottom part of the empanada with
the fillets.
4. Cover the fillets with the slices of onion
and pepper. Sprinkle salt on top.
5. Cover the empanada and bake in a preheated
oven to moderate 350°F/180°C/gas mark 4. As this empanada starts with all raw
ingredients, it will take about 15 minutes longer to bake. Just check that the
underside of the empanada is golden. If it is, it ‘s cooked. If it isn’t, put
it in the oven again and check after 10 minutes.
Get creative!!
As you have seen, the basic filling is made
with an onion and garlic frittata, adding either saffron (for white fish) or
paprika (for blue fish or meat) and adding tomato and pepper if you feel like
it . You can also make the empanada with raw ingredients, it will taste as good
though cooking times increase. Once the outside of the empanada is cooked,
whatever is inside will also be cooked! I’ve tried empanada with mussels, fresh
sardines (gutted and boned), scallops, chicken, pork meat, ground meat,
vegetarian (just put in there whatever you have in hand), eggs… the variations
are endless!
Even sweet fillings
can be made. Apples
make a wonderful option, for instance, in those cases I would add some milk,
cream, a little sugar or honey and even spices to the empanada dough and fill
with sugar, cored and sliced apples, some raisins, some more sugar and to the
oven!.
Play around with the recipe and make it your
own .
I made this empanada for my brother in law
David’s birthday in August. I’ve also made some other empanadas for taking to
picnics, these I made with thicker layers of dough, and decorated them in a
more country-like way.
Storage & Freezing
Instructions/Tips:
Empanadas are better eaten the day of baking, but will stay fresh for a day
more if stored in a cool place (for instance, in a cold oven or in a cupboard)
uncovered or covered with foil. You may use plastic wrap but the dough will
become a little gummy. If the filling is fish or sea-food, and the weather is
hot, you might stick the completely cooled left overs in the fridge, though the
dough will become gummy. You can always re-heat it in a hot oven for about 5
minutes.
Disclaimer:
The Daring Kitchen and its members in no way
suggest we are medical professionals and therefore are NOT responsible for any
error in reporting of ¡§alternate baking/cooking¡¨. If you have issues with
digesting gluten, then it is YOUR responsibility to research the ingredient
before using it. If you have allergies, it is YOUR responsibility to make sure
any ingredient in a recipe will not adversely affect you. If you are lactose
intolerant, it is YOUR responsibility to make sure any ingredient in a recipe
will not adversely affect you. If you are vegetarian or vegan, it is YOUR
responsibility to make sure any ingredient in a recipe will not adversely
affect you. The responsibility is YOURS regardless of what health issue you ‘re
dealing with. Please consult your physician with any questions before using an
ingredient you are not familiar with. Thank you! :)
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