Chorizo And Potato Empanaditas

Serves: 5

Gideon Batz

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

44

Spice

55

Sweetness

52

Sourness

44

mins

Prep time (avg)

5

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1.25 cups

Water (warm)

Directions:

1

Make filling: Peel potato and cut into 1/4-inch dice

2

In a saucepan of boiling salted water cook potato 3 minutes, or until just cooked through, and drain in a colander

3

Remove casings from chorizo and crumble or finely chop meat

4

In a heavy skillet cook chorizo over moderate heat, stirring, 5 minutes

5

Add potato, oregano, and salt to taste and cook, stirring, 5 minutes

6

Cool filling completely

7

Filling may be made 2 days ahead and kept, covered and chilled, or frozen 2 weeks

8

Peel potato and cut into 1/4-inch dice

9

In a saucepan of boiling salted water cook potato 3 minutes, or until just cooked through, and drain in a colander

10

Remove casings from chorizo and crumble or finely chop meat

11

In a heavy skillet cook chorizo over moderate heat, stirring, 5 minutes

12

Add potato, oregano, and salt to taste and cook, stirring, 5 minutes

13

Cool filling completely

14

Filling may be made 2 days ahead and kept, covered and chilled, or frozen 2 weeks

15

Make dough: Line 2 baking sheets with plastic wrap

16

In a large bowl stir together masa harina and warm water until a dough forms

17

Pinch off small pieces of dough and shape into about forty 1-inch balls

18

Transfer balls to a baking sheet and cover with more plastic wrap

19

From a plastic bag cut two 5-inch squares and use one to line lower half of a tortilla press

20

Put a ball of dough in tortilla press and top with second square of plastic

21

Close tortilla press, pushing gently on lever to flatten dough just to a 2 1/2-inch round

22

(Alternatively, flatten dough between squares of plastic using a rolling pin

23

) Remove top plastic square and put a rounded teaspoon filling in center of round

24

Fold round over filling to form a half moon, using plastic underneath to support dough if necessary, and pinch edges together to seal

25

Transfer turnover to other baking sheet

26

Make more turnovers in same manner, reusing plastic squares, and put on baking sheets

27

Turnovers may be prepared up to this point and kept, covered with plastic wrap, chilled 1 day or frozen 1 week

28

Thaw turnovers 1 hour before proceeding

29

In a large saucepan heat 1 inch oil until it registers 375° F

30

On a deep-fat thermometer and fry turnovers in batches of 8 to 10 until golden, 2 to 3 minutes, transferring with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain and making sure oil returns to 375° F

31

Before adding next batch

32

Line 2 baking sheets with plastic wrap

33

In a large bowl stir together masa harina and warm water until a dough forms

34

Pinch off small pieces of dough and shape into about forty 1-inch balls

35

Transfer balls to a baking sheet and cover with more plastic wrap

36

From a plastic bag cut two 5-inch squares and use one to line lower half of a tortilla press

37

Put a ball of dough in tortilla press and top with second square of plastic

38

Close tortilla press, pushing gently on lever to flatten dough just to a 2 1/2-inch round

39

(Alternatively, flatten dough between squares of plastic using a rolling pin

40

) Remove top plastic square and put a rounded teaspoon filling in center of round

41

Fold round over filling to form a half moon, using plastic underneath to support dough if necessary, and pinch edges together to seal

42

Transfer turnover to other baking sheet

43

Make more turnovers in same manner, reusing plastic squares, and put on baking sheets

44

Turnovers may be prepared up to this point and kept, covered with plastic wrap, chilled 1 day or frozen 1 week

45

Thaw turnovers 1 hour before proceeding

46

In a large saucepan heat 1 inch oil until it registers 375° F

47

On a deep-fat thermometer and fry turnovers in batches of 8 to 10 until golden, 2 to 3 minutes, transferring with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain and making sure oil returns to 375° F

48

Before adding next batch

49

Serve empanaditas immediately with guacamole or salsa

50

Serve empanaditas immediately with guacamole or salsa