Filipino Beef Empanadas

INGREDIENTS

FILLING

• ⅓ c frozen peas
• 8 fl oz (1 c) filtered water
• ½ fl oz (1 tbsp) vegetable oil
• ½ c onions (½ small onion) chopped
• 1 tbsp garlic (5 cloves) minced
• ½ lb (226.8 g) ground beef
• 8 fl oz (1 c) tomato sauce (½ can)
• 21.5 g (5 tsp) brown sugar
• 2.6 g (¾ tsp ) salt
• .4 g (¼ tsp) black pepper
• ⅓ c carrots (1 medium carrot) minced
• ½ c gold potato (1 medium potato) chopped into fine pieces

DOUGH

• 250 g (2 c) all purpose flour
• 25 g (2 tbsp) white granulated sugar
• 2 g (½ tsp) salt
• 2 g (½ tsp) baking powder
• 114 g (8 tbsp) very cold butter cubed into ¼ inch cubes
• 1 egg
• 1 fl oz (2 tbsp) ice water

ASSEMBLY

• 1 egg beaten for egg wash

EQUIPMENT USED

• kitchen scale – Acaia
• pastry cutter
• half sheet pan
• stainless steel cooling grid – SLT

INSTRUCTIONS 

FILLING

1. In a microwave safe bowl, add the filtered water and frozen peas and microwave for 1-2 minutes or until the peas are soft and fully cooked. It’s best to follow the instructions on your package too.
2. In a large pan over medium heat, add the vegetable oil and onions. Saute for one minute or until the onions are slightly translucent. Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
3. Add the ground beef and cook until the meat is brown, this is about 2-5 minutes. The meat will continue to cook in the sauce, but if you are hesitant about food safety, the meat temperature should be around 160 °F.
4. Add tomato sauce, sugar, salt, and pepper into the pan and stir until combined.
5. Add carrots and potatoes and cook for about 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are soft enough to pierce with a fork without resistance, but not disintegrating.
6. Add the peas and cook for an additional 1 minute to warm up the peas.
7. Sauce should be thick and chunky. Move the pan from the heat and leave it to cool until you are ready to assemble. You want this to be cool to the touch so you don’t end up melting your dough while you are filling it with meat and trying to assemble your empanadas. If you are cooking this ahead of time, transfer the filling into an airtight container once it’s cooled and move it into the fridge.