An empanada is a stuffed pastry, baked or fried, popular in many countries in Southern Europe, Latin America and parts of Southeast Asia. An empanadilla is a small empanada. Often empanadas are savoury, served as Spanish second breakfast, this is a sweet version.
When I saw this recipe, originally using jam as the filling I couldn’t help but think how great it would be with traditional Christmas mince meat, so I tried it. Get a jar of your favourite shop-bought mince meat – or make your own (recipe coming soon).
Christmas Empanadillas – Empanadillas de Navidad – Spanish Recipe
Ingredients
For 8 empanadillas:
- 250 g jam whatever flavour you prefer, or Christmas mincemeat
- 250 g flour
- 70 ml oil
- 3 eggs
- Grated rind of 1 lemon
- 100 ml olive oil for frying
Instructions
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Add the olive oil to the flour, 1 egg and the grated lemon rind. Knead until it forms a smooth ball, then allow to stand for 30 minutes.
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Roll the pastry into a thin sheet, cut out circles with a 10cm pastry cutter. In the centre of each disc place a teaspoon of jam or mincemeat. With a pastry brush paint beaten egg around one half of the circle, then fold over the other half to form a half moon shape, and firmly seal the edges.
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Fry on both sides in olive oil until brown. Drain the excess oil on kitchen towel. Dust with icing sugar to serve.
Our Wine Suggestion
Moscatel Don Salvador DO Malaga
Sweet wine from 100% Moscatel grapes. 17%. From a 150 year old bodega in Málaga this is a perfect wine to celebrate Christmas. With a wonderful aroma of dried figs.
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