How to Make Halal Empanadas
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 140kcal
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- Four cups of all-purpose flour
- One teaspoon of salt
- One cup of cold butter or vegetable shortening (halal-certified)
- Three-quarters of a cup of cold water
- One egg (optional, for brushing the tops)
For the Filling (Halal Beef Empanadas):
- Two tablespoons of olive oil
- One medium onion, finely chopped
- Two garlic cloves, minced
- Half a kilogram of halal-certified ground beef
- One teaspoon of cumin
- One teaspoon of paprika
- One-half teaspoon of chili powder (optional, for spice)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- One-quarter cup of chopped green olives (optional)
- Two hard-boiled eggs, chopped (optional)
Instructions
For the Dough:
- In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt.
- Cut in the cold butter or shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Gradually add cold water, mixing until the dough comes together. Knead gently into a smooth ball.
- Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
For the Filling:
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic, sautéing until softened.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned.
- Stir in cumin, paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Remove from heat and stir in chopped olives and hard-boiled eggs if using. Let cool.
Assembling the Empanadas:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut circles using a round cutter or bowl.
- Place a spoonful of filling in the center of each circle. Fold the dough over to create a semi-circle and seal the edges with a fork.
- Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush with a beaten egg if desired for a golden finish.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.