Empanadas

Serves: 8

If they like it, it serves 8 otherwise

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Cooking time: 35 minutes

Totaltime: 1 hour 15 minutes

The origins of the empanada are not entirely clear, but it seems most likely that they first appeared in Argentina in the kitchens of immigrants from northern Spain, where the dish’s forebear was a larger, double-crusted pie cut into slices.
Once in South America, the empanada — meaning bread-wrapped — continued to evolve from a pie made with dough to individual pockets of pastry crust, often made with animal fat in beef-loving Argentina. The hand-held pies were baked or fried after being filled with whatever was available in the region at the time.
Unbaked empanadas can be made 3 months ahead and kept frozen

Ingredients

2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divide
1 lb. ground beef (25% fat)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small red bell peppers, seeded, chopped
Salt, freshly ground pepper
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 Tbsp. sweet paprika
1/2 Tbsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
3/4 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
1 tsp. sugar
½ cup raisins
1 recipe PIE CRUST (Recipe included)
½ cup pitted green olives (Picholine or Spanish), rinsed well, cut in half lengthwise, divided

Preparation

Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large pot over high. Cook ground beef, breaking up with a spoon, until browned but not completely cooked through, 6–8 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl with a slotted spoon, leaving as much fat in pan as possible.
Reduce heat to medium and cook onions, chopped, red bell peppers, seeded, chopped, and remaining 1 Tbsp. oil, stirring, until tender but not browned, 6–8 minutes; season with salt and black pepper. Add ground cumin, sweet paprika, dried oregano, and cayenne pepper and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add low-sodium chicken stock or broth and reserved beef along with any accumulated juices to pot. Stir in sugar, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring and scraping up any brown bits, until most of the liquid is evaporated, 15–20 minutes; taste and season with salt and black pepper, if needed. Stir in raisins. Transfer to a medium bowl, cover, and chill at least 3 hours.
Preheat oven to 375°.
Roll the pie crust to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut dough into 5-inch circles. Place 2 Tbsp. filling in the center of each round.
Top with 2 olive halves. Brush water around half of outer edge of each round. Pinch edges to seal.
Using a fork, crimp edges. Transfer empanada to a parchment-lined sheet tray, spacing 1" apart. Repeat with remaining rounds.
Bake empanadas until golden brown and slightly darker around the edges, 25–35 minutes.

Pie crust:

1 pound (3 1/4 cups) all purpose flour
1/2 pound (11/2 cups) shortening
1 teaspoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 beaten egg
4 tablespoons cold water
In a large bowl, mix together flour, and shortening.
In a small bowl, combine the sugar, salt, vinegar, egg, and water.
Blend all ingredients to form a ball. Add more water if necessary.
Chill dough and use as needed.