Introduction
Turkey Empanadas offer a unique blend of flavors and textures that celebrate traditional recipes with a contemporary twist. These savory treats encapsulate the essence of home-style cooking, perfect for gatherings or as delightful individual servings.
Tips for this Recipe
- Keep ingredients cold to ensure the dough remains flaky and tender.
- Use a silicone baking mat or parchment paper when rolling out your pastry dough to prevent sticking.
- Handle the filling gently with tools like silicone spatulas and piping bags for even distribution.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
The richness of turkey combined with aromatic gravy, complemented by the flaky pastry shell, creates an irresistible harmony on the palate. The convenience of using puff pastry and ease of preparation make these empanadas both delicious and accessible to cooks at all skill levels.
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced cooked turkey (white and dark meat)
- 1/2 cup chilled gravy
- 1 1/2 17.3-ounce packages frozen puff pastry, thawed (3 sheets)
- 1 cup mashed potatoes
- 1 cup stuffing
- Cranberry sauce
Advised Equipment
Employing Dough Roller – Essential for creating even, thin layers of dough, crucial in empanada making for the perfect texture and taste.
Employing Pastry Cutter – Useful for cutting butter into flour to create a flaky crust, vital for achieving traditional empanada pastry.
Silicone Baking Mat – Great for rolling out dough evenly and prevents sticking, making it easier to work with the delicate dough needed for empanadas.
Stand Mixer – Offers versatility in mixing dough ingredients efficiently, saving time and effort compared to manual methods.
Electric Food Grater – Useful for finely grating cheese or other fillings, ensuring a consistent texture that melts well within the empanada shells.
Silicone Spatula – Vital for folding and handling filling ingredients without adding additional flour to maintain their desired consistency.
Piping Bag (with Pastry Tips) – Helps in neatly piping or spooning out the empanada fillings onto the rolled-out dough, ensuring uniformity and ease of assembly.
Cookie Cutter with Empanada Designs – For perfectly shaped empanadas that bake evenly and look appealing on presentation.
Silicone Pastry Brush – Useful for brushing the edges of dough or crusts lightly with egg wash before baking, giving a golden finish to your empanadas.
Parchment Paper Sheets – Essential for rolling out dough on a non-stick surface and transferring empanadas onto baking sheets without them sticking or tearing.
History of the Recipe
Empanadas have their roots in medieval Spain, where they were initially used to store leftover foods. The dish made its way across Europe and was adapted into various cuisines worldwide. In many cultures, empanadas are a festive dish commonly enjoyed during special occasions and family gatherings.
Fun Facts About This Recipe
Did you know that the term ’empanada’ comes from the Spanish verb “empanar,” which means to wrap or coat something in dough? In this case, it refers to wrapping meat and other fillings within a flaky pastry crust. The versatility of empanadas is also notable; while we focus on turkey here, they can be filled with an array of ingredients such as vegetables, cheeses, or even fruits for sweet versions.
