Spinach Empanadas

JillAZ's Note:

These take a little time to make but they are SOO delicious! They freeze very well and can be made ahead and reheated. I don't remember where I got this recipe but it is definitely requested a lot! Prep time does not include time for dough to chill.

• Total Time: 57 mins
• Prep Time: 45 mins
• Cook Time: 12 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 50 empanadas

Pastry

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Filling

• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (reserve 1 T drippings)
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
• 1 cup small curd cottage cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 egg, for egg wash
• salsa, for serving

Directions:

1. For pastry: In a large bowl, beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth.
2. Gradually beat in flour and salt.
3. The mixture will be very thick.
4. Knead by hand.
5. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 3 hours.
6. For filling: In a medium skillet, cook the onion and garlic in the reserved bacon drippings for 3-4 minutes until onion is tender but not brown.
7. Stir in the crumbled bacon, spinach, cottage cheese, pepper and nutmeg.
8. Let filling cool.
9. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
10. On a lightly floured surface, roll out pastry until it is 1/8 inch thick.
11. Using a 3 inch cutter, cut out as many pastry circles as possible.
12. Place 1 tsp filling on one half of each pastry circle.
13. Moisten the edges of the circle with beaten egg mixed with a little water (eggwash) and fold the other half over the filling.
14. Place on an ungreased baking sheet and seal the edges of the pastry with a fork.
15. Brush tops with the egg and prick a small vent in each.
16. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.
17. Serve warm with salsa for dipping.
18. To freeze: After baking, allow to cool. Freeze on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer to a large freezer bag. Seal & label.
19. To reheat: Reheat on a baking sheet at 450 degrees until just heated through. About 10 minutes.

Reviews

[SassyStew]

This is the easiest and best pastry I have ever made! I changed the filling a bit - omitted the bacon to make them vegitarian and changed the cheese to a mixture of cojita and montery jack. I halved the recipe and got almost 25 - I didn't re-roll the scraps, so I could have made more. I plan on serving these at a wedding. Thanks for the great recipe, JillAZ!