Pork

Pork Empanadas

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Drescription

Flaky pastry pockets filled with seasoned ground pork, baked or fried to a golden brown.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds pork butt roast
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 2 cloves garlic 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 cup masa harina
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup lard 1 egg, beaten 1/2 cup milk 1 cup salsa

Directions

  1. To make the filling: Place pork in a large pot and cover with water. Add onion, garlic, salt, oregano, cumin and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. While pork is cooking, prepare dough.
  2. To make the dough: Sift together the flour, masa harina, baking powder and salt. Add the shortening to the dry ingredients and mix well. In a separate bowl, beat together the egg and 1/2 cup milk.
  3. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Add the egg mixture and stir with a fork until the dough comes together in a ball. Divide the dough into 16 even size pieces and roll each piece into a ball. Place in a container, cover and refrigerate.
  4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). After the pork has simmered for 1 1/2 hours remove from liquid. Place pork in a baking dish and bake for 1 hour or until meat shreds easily with fork.
  5. Remove from oven and shred into small pieces. Add salsa to shredded pork.
  6. On lightly floured surface, flatten a piece of dough with the palm of your hand. With a rolling pin, roll out the dough to make a 5 inch circle about 1/8 inch thick. Place 2 to 3 tablespoons of filling in the center of each dough circle. Brush edges of dough with milk. Fold dough over filling. Pinch edges together. Crimp with fork to seal.
  7. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden. Remove to rack and cool for about 5 minutes. Serve warm.

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