TURKEY EMPANADAS

PORTIONS: 20 Empanadas

INGREDIENTS FOR THE STUFFING

2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 lbs onions chopped
2 garlic cloves
1 lb raw diced or ground turkey. (Use cooked turkey if you want )
1 1/4 tsp. cumin
1 ½ tbsp. Spanish paprika
1 ½ tbsp. salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 oz. raisins
1 ½ tbsp. cornstarch
2 tbsp. water
4 cooked eggs cut in 8 pieces each
20 olives

PREPARATION

Heat up a frying pan with the oil and fry for a minute the onions and garlic.
Add the turkey, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, raisins, cook until turkey is done.
Dissolve the cornstarch with the water, mix with the turkey and cook until it thickens. Let it cool.

DOUGH FOR THE EMPANADAS

2 3/4 lbs of flour.
2 ½ cups water
1 1/4 tsp salt
4 oz Crisco (shortening)
1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp of milk

Put the flour in the mixer machine
Place a cooking pot on the stove and put in the water, salt, shortening and let it melt under an slow flame.  Add the liquid to the flour. Mix until well combined and the dough is smooth and uniform. If the dough still stick to the sides of the bowl add a little bit more  flour and beat until it separates.
With the dough make 20 even balls. Flatten the balls until they are about 6 ½" in diameter.

MAKING THE EMPANADAS

On the preparation board, place 5 rounds of the dough at a time.
On the lower ½ of the dough, fill it with about 2 ½ oz of the turkey mix, 1 olive and 1 piece of egg. Make sure to leave an space about 3/4".
With a kitchen brush, wet the edges of the dough.
Bring the top ½ of the round together with the lower ½ and press it with your fingers to seal it.
Wet the top of the edge, bring it up about ½" and seal it pressing on it with your fingers.
Fold in the sides of the empanadas. Press with your fingers to seal.
Cover a sheet pan with wax paper o spray it with vegetable oil.
Place the empanadas on the sheet pan and brush then with the beaten egg.

BAKING THE EMPANADAS

Heat up the oven 480° F.
Cook the empanadas in the 3/4 superior part of the oven for about 14 minutes.
Turn around the tray and cook for about 14 more minutes, until are golden color.