Beef/Pork Empanadas (Adopted 2006)

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup lard
• 2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup ice water
• 1 lb ground beef or 1 lb ground pork
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/3 cup almonds, toasted, chopped
• 1/3 cup black raisins
• 8 plum tomatoes
• 24 serrano peppers
• 2 limes, juice of
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/8 teaspoon clove
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• egg wash

Instructions

1. FOR DOUGH:.
2. Put flour and salt in Cuisinart, pulse to combine.
3. Add cold lard and butter, pulse to form crumbs.
4. Add water and pulse until it just comes together.
5. Chill at least 30 minutes.
6. Roll out and cut out circles.
7. FILLING:.
8. Saute meat, drain fat.
9. Saute onions for 2 minutes, add garlic, almonds and raisins and saute for 2 minutes more.
10. Place tomato, chiles, lime juice, salt and pepper in blender.
11. Puree until smooth.
12. Add puree, cumin, cloves, cinnamon meat and onion to skillet.
13. Cook 5 minutes or until excess liquid evaporates.
14. Cool. Fill pastry circles, fold and crimp with fork.
15. Refrigerate or freeze.
16. Bake frozen for 20 minutes at 400ºF.