Today is my very first Secret Recipe Club post. I am absolutely thrilled to be participating in this very fun idea with a pretty fabulous group of bloggers.
This month I was given the task of making a recipe from I Was Born to Cook. Deciding on a recipe was no easy task because she has so many delicious looking ones. These cheddar sliders with Cajun caramelized onions were calling my name and then there was the Italian Sausage and Potato Soup which is based on my mom’s favorite soup from the Olive Garden.
Finally when I saw the slow cooker pulled pork and how Melissa turned the leftovers into empanadas I knew we had a winner, folks.
I didn’t have any pulled pork on hand but I did have my sweet and spicy shredded chicken in the freezer. I know that sounds like a stretch but when I serve barbecue pulled pork it has almost always been cooked the exact same way I made the chicken.
Another change I had to make was using a homemade dough for the empanadas. I live in the middle of nowhere so my local grocery stores don’t have empanada discs in the freezer. If they had been available locally I would have definitely used them.
Barbecue Chicken Empanadas
adapted from I Was Born to Cook pastry adapted from Alton Brown
Ingredients:
For the filling:
- 2 cups sweet and spicy shredded chicken
- 1/2 cup or so of your favorite barbecue sauce
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
For the pastry:
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 6 Tablespoons shortening
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 egg beaten with 1 to 2 teaspoons of cold water
Directions:
For the filling:
In a medium skillet over medium heat cook the garlic and onions in the olive oil until softened and translucent. Add the chicken and barbecue sauce, season to taste and heat through. Cover and set aside while you make the pastry.
For the pastry:
Place the milk and shortening in the freezer for about 20 minutes. The colder your ingredients the flakier your crust will be. You don’t want them to freeze, just to get really, really cold.
In a large bowl mix together your flour, baking powder and salt. Mix in your cold shortening with your fingers or a pastry cutter until the flour is crumbly. Stir in milk all at once.
Dust a clean flat surface and the dough with flour and knead 10-20 times so that the dough holds together. Roll the dough out to 1/3-1/2 inch thickness and cut into 12 circles using a 2 inch cutter.
To assemble:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out a cut circle into a 5-6 inch circle. Place 1 to 2 tablespoons of the barbecue filling slightly of center and top with 1 tablespoon of cheese. Brush the outer edge of one side of the dough with your egg wash. Fold over dough, press to seal and crimp well with a fork. Place on ungreased baking sheets and cut small steam vents in the top of the pie. Brush the top with more egg wash. Repeat process until discs are gone.
Bake in the hot oven for 25-35 minutes or until crust is brown and filling is bubbly. Cool for five minutes before serving. Serve with ranch dressing or sour cream for dipping if desired.
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This is a recipe I will definitely make again. It isn’t a weeknight friendly meal but isn’t as time consuming or as difficult as I thought it would be. I was able to get these oven in an hour or less and the 30 minute bake time was just enough to get everything cleaned up and the side dishes made.
These can also be frozen before baking so any you don’t think you’ll need that night can be popped in the freezer in a small sheet pan. After they’ve been in there a couple of hours toss them in a labeled freezer bag.
To visit the other Secret Recipe Club members who had their reveal day today just click on the froggy face below.
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Tags: Chicken, freezer friendly, freezer friendly-main dish, main dish
Micha
