Empanadas – Savory Hand Pies

These little gems are easy to make and delicious to eat…..a winning combination!

These are perfect as appetizers or make them a bit larger and they can be served with a green salad with Orange-Lime Cilantro Dressing on the side, to make a satisfying lunch or dinner.  Try them soon with our spicy dipping sauce.  You’ll be glad you did 🙂

Empanadas

1 pound ground beef
1/2 pound spicy Italian sausage
1 onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
Grated manchego or whole milk mozzarella
Fresh thyme leaves
Cumin
Pastry – pie crust dough
Egg wash – beaten egg with a few drops of cream or milk

Spicy Dipping Sauce

1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Tabasco Chipotle sauce
Juice of 1 lime

Saute the onion and garlic in the olive oil until soft.  Add 2 tablespoons of fresh thyme leaves* and a dash of cumin to taste, along with the ground beef and sausage. Brown the meat.

Cut circles of pastry with circle cookie cutter and place about a tablespoon of meat mixture in the center of the pastry.  Add a sprinkle of cheese.  Moisten the edges of the pastry with water and fold pastry over meat and cheese to form a half circle.  Press edges with a fork or your fingers to seal the edges shut.  Make small slits in pastry to allow steam to escape during baking.  Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves.  Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until pastry is browned.  Deliciousness awaits!  More love, more joy and more abundant living 🙂

* If using dried thyme leaves use about 1/2 -1  teaspoon for filling.  Don’t use dried thyme on outside of empanadas.