Fried Mexican Empanadas

Empanadas are a tradition in Mexico and across Latin America. These fried dough hot pockets can be filled with everything from Carne, Chicken to Pork. It's easy to make and you'll ove the flavor. Enjoy!

Prep Time: 1 Hour
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Ready In: 2 Hours 20 Minutes
Servings: 24
"These fried empanadas are the best! Raisins and eggs make this recipe extra delicious believe it or not!"
INGREDIENTS:
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/4 cups water, or as needed
 
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 pinch salt
2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup raisins
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and chopped
1 quart oil for frying, or as needed
DIRECTIONS:
1.In a medium bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Cut in shortening using a pastry blender, or pinching into small pieces using your fingers, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Use a fork to stir in water a few tablespoons at a time, until the mixture forms a ball. Pat into a ball, and flatten slightly. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.2.Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until tender. Crumble in the beef, and season with salt, paprika, cumin and black pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until beef is browned. Drain excess grease, and stir in the raisins and vinegar. Refrigerate until chilled, then stir in the hard-cooked eggs.3.Form the dough into 2 inch balls. On a floured surface, roll each ball out into a thin circle. Spoon some of the meat mixture onto the center, then fold into half-moon shapes. Seal edges by pressing with your fingers.4.Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C). Place one or two pies into the fryer at a time. Cook for about 5 minutes, turning once to brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels, and serve hot.

Cuban Arroz Con Pollo Recipe

This is a staple for people growing up in Miami in the United States and in Cuban this is pretty much the staple dish. We hope you enjoy this authentic recipe. Visit the Cuban Recipe section on The Hispanic Food Network.


Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook
time: 45 minutes
Total
time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Yield:
8 servings


Arroz con pollo is enjoyed by many Latin cultures. The
Cuban version is highly spiced -- but NOT spicy hot. It's a favorite Cuban
Sunday lunch dish,

FROM OUR AMIGOS AT ICUBAN

 INGREDIENTS:

4 strips
bacon
8
chicken thighs, bone in, skin on
To taste salt,
pepper, and cumin for chicken
1/2 cup olive oil for
frying
1 large onion, chopped
5 cachucha peppers, chopped
(Substitute 1 large green or red pepper)
4 cloves garlic, mashed
1 12-ounce bottle beer
3 and 1/2 cups chicken
broth
1 (8-ounce)
can tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon Bijol
Powder
1
bay leaf
2 teaspoons oregano
2
teaspoons cumin, ground
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black
pepper
3 1/2 cups
parboiled rice
1/2 cup frozen green baby
peas

Sauté the bacon in a large frying pan. Reduce heat
to low and let the fat render out of the bacon -- about 10 minutes. Meanwhile,
season the chicken lightly with salt, pepper and a little cumin. Once the fat is
released, remove the bacon, increase temperature to medium-high and add the
chicken to the hot bacon fat. Remove the
chicken when it is browned on both sides.


Add a little olive oil to the same pan you fried
the chicken in, and sauté the onion and green pepper until the onion is
translucent. Add the mashed garlic and cook an additional minute or two,
stirring frequently.


Take the chicken broth and beer and pour into a
large covered pot. Add the browned chicken pieces, cooked onions and green
pepper, tomato sauce, Bijol, bay leaf, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. And
hey, why let all that delicious bacon go to waste? Chop it up and toss it in!
Bring everything to a rolling boil, reduce
heat, cover and cook on low for 15 minutes.


Add the rice. Bring to a boil and reduce heat.
When the rice has absorbed some of the liquid, cover and simmer on low for about
30-45 minutes, or until the rice is fully cooked and not soupy. Add the frozen
peas during the last five minutes of cooking only.


For a dinner, serve the whole chicken pieces with
the rice. For a party, you may remove the chicken, skin, de-bone and break it
into bite-size chunks. However, DO NOT try to substitute any boneless, skinless
chicken in this recipe -- unless you enjoy serving a disaster!

Easy Chimichanga Mexican Recipe

This is an easy Mexican recipe that we know you'll love. Mexican Chimichangas are made across the US.
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 25 Minutes
Ready In: 45 Minutes
Servings: 6
"Tortillas filled with a chicken, rice, beans and olive mixture - rolled, fried and topped with a piquant avocado mix, sour cream and cheese, all served on a bed of lettuce. Being raised 12 miles from the border of Mexico, I was brought up on Mexican food and learned how to make many of the dishes."
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
1/2 cup red enchilada sauce
1 1/2 onion, diced, divided
6 (12 inch) flour tortillas
4 cups diced cooked chicken breast,
divided
1 pound Monterey Jack cheese,
shredded, divided
1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives
4 cups refried beans, divided
1/4 cup vegetable oil
TOPPING
3 avocados, peeled and pitted
1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 green onions, diced
1/4 cup finely chopped jalapeno chile
peppers
1 tomato, diced
2 cups shredded lettuce
1 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
DIRECTIONS:
1.In a medium saucepan combine the broth, rice, sauce, and 1 diced onion. Mix and bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and let simmer for about 20 minutes, or until rice is tender.2.Meanwhile, heat tortillas in a large skillet (so that they are soft enough to fold).3.When rice mixture is ready, spoon equal amounts of the following onto each tortilla: Chicken, shredded Jack cheese, diced onion, olives, rice mixture and beans. Roll tortillas, tucking in sides to prevent filling from spilling over.4.Heat oil in a large skillet and fry the filled tortillas, turning, until browned on all sides. Drain on paper towels.5.To Serve: In a medium bowl combine the avocados, cilantro, lemon juice, green onions, chile peppers and tomatoes. Mash together. Place shredded lettuce on a platter, topped with chimichangas, avocado mix, sour cream and shredded Cheddar cheese.

Chile Relleno Recipe

This Chile Relleno Recipe is one that will warm the soul. This Mexican Recipe is one that is very popular in Mexico and abroad. It has made its way into kitchen across the United States. Enjoy!!!

Chile Relleno
Total Time:
40 min
Prep:
20 min
Cook:
20 min

Yield:4 servings
Level:Intermediate
Ingredients

4 pasilla chiles
1 pound queso fresco cheese
Toothpicks
3 eggs
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup oil
Tomato sauce:
4 medium Roma tomatoes, halved
1 cup water
2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon chicken broth powder
1/4 cup oil
1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon chopped oregano leaves
Directions

Rice and beans, for serving, if desired

Heat grill to medium.

Grill and char the chiles on both sides. Once blackened put in a plastic bag for 10 minutes to sweat out any moisture. Remove from the bag, slit them down the middle and remove the seeds. Stuff the peppers with the queso fresco and use toothpicks to hold them together.

Separate the egg yolks from the whites. Add the egg whites to a large bowl. Reserve the egg yolks. Beat the egg whites with an electric beater until the whites fluff up. Add in the flour and the egg yolks and mix until completely incorporated.

Add the oil to a frying pan over medium heat. Dip the stuffed peppers into the batter and fry until golden brown on both sides. Remove from the oil to a serving platter.

Tomato sauce:

Add the tomatoes and water to a small pot over medium heat. Simmer the tomatoes until soft and stir in the garlic and chicken broth powder.

Add the 1/4 cup of oil to a frying pan, over low heat, and stir in the flour to make a roux mixture. Cook the flour until browned, then add the tomato sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes and then add the oregano.

Pour the tomato sauce over the cooked chile rellenos on the serving platter and serve.

If desired, serve with rice and beans.

This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The FN chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

Recipe courtesy Carla Rodriguez, owner of Mom's Tamales in Los Angeles, CA.