Chicken and olive empanadas

Empanadas are the quintessential hand-pies. These ones are full of flavour with a hint of spicy heat for good measure.

Credit: Alan Benson

• makes

  24

• prep

  50 minutes

• cook

  35 minutes

• difficulty

  Mid

Ingredients

• 1 egg yolk whisked with
• 2 tsp water, to glaze
• sour cream, to serve

Chicken and olive filling

• 3 chicken thigh fillets, trimmed
• 500 ml (2 cups) chicken stock, approximately
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small brown onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely grated
• 1 tbsp sweet paprika
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp chilli flakes
• 50 g pitted green olives, sliced
• 85 g seedless raisins
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Empanada dough

• 450 g (3 cups) plain flour
• ¼ tsp salt
• 180 g chilled butter, diced
• 1 egg
• 4-5 tbsp iced water

Chilling time 40 minutes

Cooling time 30 minutes

Instructions

1. To make the chicken and olive filling, put the chicken in a small saucepan and add enough chicken stock to just cover. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, reduce heat to low and poach gently for 15 minutes or until tender. Remove the saucepan from the heat and cool the chicken in the stock for 30 minutes or until cool enough to handle.
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a medium saucepan and cook the onion over medium heat for 10 minutes or until soft. Add the garlic, paprika, cumin and chilli and cook for a further 2 minutes or until aromatic. Add 60ml (¼ cup) of the chicken stock to the onion mixture with the olives and raisins and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes or until the raisins are plump and the excess liquid has evaporated. Transfer to a heatproof bowl. Remove the chicken from the stock (reserving the stock) and use your fingers to shred into small pieces. Add to the onion mixture with 1 tablespoon of the reserved stock and stir to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Place in the fridge for 20 minutes to until cooled to room temperature.
3. To make the empanada dough, combine the flour, salt and butter in the bowl of a food processor and process until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the egg and 4 tablespoons of the iced water and use the pulse button to process until mixture just comes together in a ball, adding the remaining 1 tablespoon of water if necessary (the dough should be soft but not sticky). Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead lightly until smooth. Divide the dough in half, shape each portion into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 20 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). Line two large baking trays with non-stick baking paper. Use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll out 1 portion of the dough on a lightly floured surface until 3 mm thick. Use a 9 cm plain round cutter to cut out 12 rounds, re-rolling the pastry if necessary. Brush the edges of the pastry rounds with a little of the egg wash. Place about a tablespoon of the cooled filling in the centre of each round and then fold the pastry in half to enclose the filling, pinching the edges to seal. Pleat or press the edges with a fork to decorate. Place on the lined trays. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling to make 12 more empanadas. Brush the tops well with the whisked egg.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until deep golden and pastry is cooked through. Serve warm with the sour cream for dipping.

 

Baker’s tips

Do ahead

• The chicken and olive filling can be made up to 2 days before using. Keep in an airtight container in the fridge.

• The empanada dough can be made up to 4 days before using. Wrap well in plastic wrap and keep in the fridge. Stand at room temperature for 45-60 minutes or until soft enough to roll.

• The uncooked empanadas can be kept in an airtight container, separated by baking paper, in the fridge for up to 2 days and for up to 1 month in the freezer. Bake straight from the fridge or freezer, adding 5-10 minutes extra baking time.

• The cooked empanada’s can be kept in an airtight container, separated by baking paper, in the fridge for up to 2 days and for up to 1 month in the freezer. Reheat on a baking tray lined with baking paper at 180°C (160°C fan-forced)for 10-20 minutes or until heated through and the pastry is crisp.

Anneka's mission is to connect home cooks with the magic of baking, and through this, with those they love. Read our interview with her or for hands-on baking classes and baking tips, visit her at BakeClub. Don't miss what's coming out of her oven via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Photography by Alan Benson. Styling by Sarah O'Brien. Food preparation by Tina McLeish.

For more recipes, view our online column, Bakeproof: Crowd pleasers.

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.