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abuelita's empanadillas

(2 ratings)
frenchtutor avatar
Recipe by
Susan Feliciano
@frenchtutor
Oak Ridge, TN

Abuelita is the name my children use for my husband's mother - Spanish for "little grandmother". This is her recipe, brought from Puerto Rico when she and my husband's father moved to Tennessee in 1957. The recipe for the dough is very time consuming. Both she and I have found that wonton wrappers work just as well. But I have included the dough recipe for those who are ambitious. These "little meat pies" can be used as an appetizer or a main dish. Great with rice and beans and a little salsa.

(2 ratings)
yield serving(s)
prep time 30 Min
cook time 30 Min
method Deep Fry

Ingredients For abuelita's empanadillas

  • MEAT FILLING
  • 1 lb
    ground meat - beef, pork or turkey
  • 2 oz
    bottle of capers, well drained
  • (may substitute chopped black olives)
  • 1 Tbsp
    dried oregano
  • 1 tsp
    salt
  • 1/2 tsp
    black pepper
  • 1 tsp
    minced garlic
  • 2 Tbsp
    cider vinegar
  • HAND MADE DOUGH
  • 2 c
    all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp
    salt
  • 2/3 c
    water
  • ***OR***
  • 1 pkg
    wonton wrappers (about 60)
  • FOR FRYING
  • 2 Tbsp
    flour, mixed with 1/4 cup water to form a thin paste
  • oil for deep frying

How To Make abuelita's empanadillas

  • 1
    Brown meat well; drain fat. Add capers, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic and vinegar; stir and simmer for 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature. If making hand made dough, see step 6 below. If using wonton wrappers, go to step 2.
  • Just a teaspoon of meat filling; these are very small.
    2
    For each empanadilla, place 1 teaspoon meat mixture in the center of one wonton wrapper. Fold in half to form a triangle, sealing edges with the flour paste. You may also crimp the edges with a fork for an authentic Caribbean appearance.
  • 3
    Make all the empanadillas before starting to fry them, as they cook very quickly.
  • 4
    Heat oil at least 1 inch deep in heavy skillet, to deep-fry temperature, about 365-370°F. Keep oil hot. Fry a few at a time in the hot oil, turning once, until golden on both sides. It takes about 1-2 minutes on each side; the wonton wrappers take even less time. They will puff up. Drain on paper towels.
  • 5
    If meat filling runs out before the wonton wrappers, place a small cube of cheese (about 3/4-inch size) in the wrapper in place of the meat. Cook as directed above.
  • Roll little circles very thin.
    6
    TO MAKE HAND MADE DOUGH: Mix flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Add water, and stir quickly with a fork until a ball of dough forms and pulls away from sides of bowl. Knead just a few times on a well-floured surface. To make empanadillas, pinch off a piece of dough about the size of a large marble, and roll into a very thin circle about 3-4 inches in diameter. Then proceed with filling as in step 2.
  • Tasty, crispy little meat pies, with a Puerto Rican flavor. Recipe courtesy Maria D. Feliciano, my husband's mother.
    7
    Makes about 60 appetizers, or serves 6-8 people as a main dish.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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