Empanada Dough Recipe - Masa Para Empanadas

Submitted by Codebates

"This recipe produces a sweet dough that contrasts perfectly with savory fillings. Empanada dough is less flaky than pie crust (although you can substitute frozen pie crust dough in a pinch) - it has a tender texture that soaks up the filling. This dough can be used for baked or fried empanandas. If you are going to fry the empanadas, omit the egg yolk and roll the dough out slightly thinner (less than 1/4" thickness)."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 15mins
• Ingredients: 7
• Yields: 10 10-12
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 4 cups flour
• 1 -2 teaspoon salt
• 2 -3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, chilled
• 12 tablespoons lard or 12 tablespoons vegetable shortening, chilled
• 3⁄4 - 1 cup water
• 2 egg yolks

directions

1. Sift the flour into a bowl. Stir in the salt and the sugar.
2. Blend the butter and shortening (or lard) into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter or with two knives, until fairly well blended.
3. Whisk the egg yolks wiht 3/4 cups water. Stir in the 1/2 cup of water/egg mixture, a little at a time until the dough starts to come together smoothly. Keep kneading the dough, adding more water/egg a little bit at a time as necessary (you made need a few tablespoons extra of water), until the dough is smooth. The dough will seem a bit shaggy until it has thoroughly chilled.
4. Cover the dough with saran wrap and refrigerate for about an hour. (Dough can also be kept overnight (or a couple of days) in the refrigerator) Dough should be soft and smooth, and not elastic - if you poke a hole in it with your finger, the indentation should remain.
5. Turn dough out onto a floured surface, and roll into desired thickness.
6. Makes enough dough for 10-12 large empanadas.