Easy Mexican: Chicken Empanadas

Mexican food is a great weakness of mine. I grew up eating it and will die eating it [if I'm lucky.] However, finding authentic Mexican cuisine is sometimes very difficult... and, if you're lucky enough, like me, to have a host of authentic Mexican restaurants all around it becomes very expensive to eat out. So, I think it's fitting to start my food expedition/blog with a Mexican dish made simple.

Chicken Empandas are yummy, yummy, yummy. While I had some difficulty piercing the edges to seal, the dish was extremely easy to make and delicious!

The ingredients were simple:

• 3 cups chopped, cooked chicken
• 1 (8-ounce) package shredded Colby and Monterey Jack Cheese blend  (I used Colby Jack and it turned out great)
• 1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper (I actually chopped an entire bell pepper)
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie crusts
• Water

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. 

• Lightly grease a baking sheet. 

• In a large bowl, combine the chicken and next 7 ingredients. 

• Unroll 1 pie crust onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 15-inch circle. Cut out rounds, using a 3-inch cookie cutter.  Re-roll dough as needed. Repeat procedure with remaining pie crusts, making 12 to 15 circles total. 

• Arrange 1 round on a clean, flat surface. Lightly brush the edges of crust  with water. 
• Place 1 heaping teaspoon of chicken mixture in the center of the round. 
• Fold the dough over the filling, pressing the edges with a fork to seal. 
• Arrange empanadas on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. 

It took me a little longer than expected to stuff and pierce the edges of the dough, but it was well worth it!! While I know my empanadas do not look perfect this time, with some practice I know this dish will look perfect!

In addition, I decided to add a little rice as a side dish. Even though I LOVE Mexican food, I do not like refried beans. For those of you who do like beans, adding them and some rice would be fitting for a side dish. Instead of beans, I added some broccoli and cheese to the mix. I think it turned out wonderful, so I suggest you trade in the beans and add broccoli and cheese next time!

Until next time, remember delicious Mexican food does not have to be expensive or evasive!! 
Enjoy!!

Comments

[Nick]

Dinner was quite yummy and the pictures came out great. Hopefully in the future I will be able to help you cook more. Also although not mentioned in this post the breakfast you made this weekend was pretty awesome. I like some of the things you add to a classic.