Pork Picadillo Empañadas with Chipotle Salsa Recipe

Pork Picadillo Empañadas with Chipotle Salsa Recipe

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 12-ounce pork tenderloin, trimmed, cut into 1/3-inch pieces
  • 1 jalapeño chili, minced
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/2 cup golden raisins
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 6 tablespoons chopped toasted almonds
  • 3 tablespoons sour cream
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup Masa Harina (corn tortilla mix)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, cooled
  • 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 large eggs
  • Chipotle Salsa (see recipe)
  • Sour cream
  • Available at Latin American markets and many supermarkets.
  1. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork, serrano chili, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon and allspice to skillet and stir 3 minutes. Add raisins and lime juice; boil until almost all liquid evaporates, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Mix in almonds and sour cream. Season with salt and pepper. Cool.
  2. Butter 2 large baking sheets. Mix flour, Masa Harina, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Stir in melted butter. Whisk water and 1 egg in small bowl to blend. Add to flour mixture; knead in bowl until smooth pliable dough forms, about 2 minutes. Working with half of dough at a time, roll out on floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Using 3 3/4-inch-diameter biscuit cutter, cut out rounds. Reroll scraps and cut out additional rounds for a total of 12 rounds per dough half.
  3. Whish remaining egg in small bowl to blend. Place 1 tablespoon filling in center of each dough round. Lightly brush edges with egg. Fold dough over, pressing edges with fork to seal. Place on prepared baking sheets. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with plastic wrap; chill.)
  4. Preheat oven to 375°F. Brush empanadas with beaten egg. Bake until light golden brown, about 25 minutes. Serve with Chipotle Salsa and sour cream.