There are many variations of empanadas across Latin America; in Brazil they're called pastéis (pastel in the singular), and in Puerto Rico they're called pasteles. The dough is made with lard or suet, filled and baked or deep-fried. The version here is made with minced beef, green olives and parsley, and served with a spicy herb sauce that's common in Brazil. The Brazilian and Cuban versions are sealed with a forked edge instead of the pleated rope edge (called repulgue) you find particularly with Argentinian-style empanadas.
Pastéis
There are many variations of empanadas across Latin America; in Brazil they’re called pastéis (pastel in the singular), and in Puerto Rico they’re called pasteles.
- 30 mins preparation
- 45 mins cooking (plus resting)
- Serves 24
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Ingredients
- 2 tbsp melted lard or suet
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tsp coarsely ground cumin seeds
- 1 tsp ground chilli
- Pinch of ground cinnamon
- Pinch of dried oregano
- 400 gm coarsely minced beef
- 8 pitted large green olives, diced
- ¼ cup coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley
- Vegetable oil, for deep-frying
Pastel dough
- 300 gm plain flour (2 cups)
- 2 tsp caster sugar
- 50 gm melted lard (1/4 cup)
- 150 ml dry white wine
Salsa verde
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- 1 cup (firmly packed) chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 1 cup (firmly packed) chopped coriander
- Juice of 2 limes
- 60 ml olive oil (¼ cup)
- 2 small green chillies (or to taste), seeds removed, finely chopped
Method
Main
- 1For pastel dough, mix flour, sugar and 1 tsp salt in an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook to just combine, then add lard and mix to combine. Add wine and knead until a smooth dough forms. Turn out onto a bench and knead lightly until smooth, then wrap in plastic wrap and leave to rest for 30 minutes.
- 2Meanwhile, heat half the lard or suet in a frying pan over medium-high heat, add onion and fry, stirring occasionally, until just starting to caramelise (5-7 minutes). Add garlic, spices and oregano and stir until fragrant (1½-2½ minutes), then set mixture aside. Add remaining lard to pan over high heat, add beef and fry, breaking it up with a spoon, until starting to colour (8-10 minutes). Add olives and parsley and return onion mixture to pan, stir to combine and season to taste. Cool mixture, then refrigerate to chill.
- 3For salsa verde, dry-roast cumin seeds until fragrant (30-40 seconds; see cook’s notes p185). Transfer to a mortar and pestle and crush, then combine in a bowl with remaining ingredients. Season to taste and set aside.
- 4Roll walnut-sized pieces of dough to 10cm-diameter rounds. Top with a heaped teaspoonful of beef filling, fold dough over to form a half-moon and press edges firmly to seal and flatten, then, using a fork dipped in flour, crimp edges firmly. Place on a tray lined with baking paper and set aside, or refrigerate covered with plastic wrap until ready to cook. pastéis can be made 2-3 hours ahead of cooking.
- 5Heat oil to 180C. Deep-fry pastéis in batches, turning occasionally, until golden brown (about 5 minutes; be careful, hot oil will spit). Drain on paper towels, season with salt and serve with salsa verde.
Notes
Drink Suggestion: Hoppy India pale ale. Drink suggestion by Max Allen