Empanada dough

4 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
1 cup Masa harina (available in
Mexican or Latin American
Markets)
½ cup All-purpose flour
½ cup Yellow cornmeal
½ teaspoon Baking powder
½ teaspoon Southwest seasoning
½ teaspoon Salt
Black pepper
2 tablespoons Solid vegetable shortening
1½ cup Filling of your choice (such
As crab or spicy beef)
1 Egg beaten with 2
TB water, for egg wash

Directions

Combine masa harina, flour, cornmeal, baking powder, Southwest seasoning, salt and 3 turns pepper in a medium bowl and mix thoroughly. Cream in shortening with a fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add about 1 cup water, a little at a time, working dough until all water is completely incorporated. Use just enough water to make dough come together. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat into a 12- by 3-inch log. Refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Remove dough from refrigerator and divide log into 4 equal sections, each about 3 inches long. Carefully roll out each section between sheets of plastic wrap to an 8-inch circle, about ¼-inch thick. Handle dough with care to keep from cracking. Brush top sides of rounds with egg wash. Mound filling in center of each round and fold dough to form a half-moon shape. Crimp edges with a fork and brush with remaining egg wash. Transfer empanadas to a parchment or wax-paper-lined baking sheet and bake 35 minutes until golden.

Yield: 4 Empanadas

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