Ham and Cheese Empanadas

This was listed as a top 5 breakfast in Peru on About.com. Although these are not traditional empanandas because they are made with puff pastry dough, they are still very popular, especially for breakfast. They are often shaped as a square, maybe to distinguish them from the classic round empanadas.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 12 empanadas

Ingredients

• 3  sheets frozen puff pastry
• 2  tablespoons butter
• 1⁄2 cup flour
• 1  cup milk
• 2  eggs
• 1⁄2 cup cheese, grated (smoked gouda, edam, or similar)
• 4  tablespoons parmesan cheese, grated
• 1  pinch cayenne pepper
•  salt
• 1⁄4 lb deli ham
• 1  egg yolk
• 1  tablespoon water

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Melt butter in saucepan on medium-low heat.
3. Whisk flour into butter, and increase heat to medium. Cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes.
4. Whisk milk into flour/butter mixture and bring to boil, stirring. Sauce will thicken slightly.
5. Whisk 2 eggs into mixture and cook, stirring, for 1 -2 minutes more or until sauce has thickened.
6. Add grated cheese and parmesan and stir until melted. Remove from heat and add cayenne pepper and salt to taste.
7. Roll out 1 sheet of puff pastry dough on a floured surface to 12 inches square. With a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut dough into 12 3 x 4 inch rectangles.
8. .Mix egg yolk with water, and brush the edges of half of the rectangles with the egg yolk mixture.
9. Place a piece of ham in the center of the rectangles brushed with egg yolk. There should be an edge of dough all around the ham. Top ham with 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture.
10. Cover the ham and cheese with one of the plain rectangles, and firmly press down around the edges to seal.
11. Repeat with other sheet of puff pastry. Pastries may be frozen at this point, or kept in the refrigerator for up to 6 hours before baking.
12. Prick the top of the empanadas several times with a fork, and brush tops lightly with the egg yolk mixture.
13. Bake 20 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown.
14. Serve hot or at room temperature.