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Beef Empanada with Pie Crust

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These are so good, the aromatic ground beef is wrapped in super flaky, buttery melt in your mouth. The combination of moist beef and buttery dough is amazing.

I have made beef empanada many times using the ready-made empanada wrappers, which are not as flaky and buttery as pie dough…so I am splurging myself with this recipe.

– What are empanadas?

Empanadas are like hand pies, small and can be filled with any kind of savory filling. They can be baked or fried.

– Why should you try making these empanadas?

Because they are super easy and so tasty…great as appetizers.

– Can I make these empanadas ahead?

Definitely, you can bake them and store in the freezer and heated up when ready to serve.

– Are you ready to  look at the recipe?

Ingredients:

  • 1 package of ready-made all butter pie crust (Trader Joe’s)
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 medium size onion, chopped
  • 3 shallots, chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves finely minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ½ cup sliced green olive
  • ½ tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dry oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon ground all spice
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 egg, for egg wash

How to:

In a frying pan, add the olive oil under medium heat and sauté the onion, shallot and garlic, until slightly golden brown and aromatic.  Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Add the tomato paste, all the spices and olive. Cook for 2-3 minutes, add salt and pepper to taste.

Remove from the heat and let it cool.

Remove the pre-made pie crust and place in a flat surface. Use a cookie cutter of approximately 3.5 inch in diameter and press onto the dough, cut into disks.

Add 2 spoons of the ground beef filling in the middle of the disk. Fold in half and press the edges around the half circle to seal. Make small folds throughout the edge. Repeat the same with all the remaining dough.

Brush the empanadas with the egg wash and bake in a pre-heated convection oven for 20 – 25 minutes at 395oF or until golden brown.

Remove from the oven and let the empanadas cool on a wire rack.

Serve warm.

– If you enjoy this simple recipe you might want to check on these…

Thank you for visiting Color Your Recipes…have a colorful week!



Savory and Chewy Green Onion and Cheese Pancake

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What is better than the combination of green onion and cheese…all together in a crispy and chewy pancake?

In this recipe I used home grown green onion, as my backyard rewards me with gigantic green onions year long, not to mention that green onions are good for your health.

– Is this a pancake?

Okay this is not your traditional pancake, the ones that you mainly eat in breakfast, light and fluffy. On the contrary, these pancakes are crispy, chewy and savory.

– Why should you try this savory pancake?

Because it is so delicious, the combination of green onion (scallion) and cheese is just so yummy, not to mention the crispy layer on the outside and the chewy and flaky layer on the inside.

– Where this recipe come from?

Well, in Asia, green onion or scallion pancake is very popular, it is served in restaurants, street vendors, you name it…but the addition of cheese is something that you will not find it there.

– Cheese in Chinese green onion pancake?

Why not? Adding cheese was just “natural” as we see so many recipes here in US which combine green onion and cheese…so this is how the “Green Onion and Cheese Pancake” was born. This is an example of East meet West…

– Did I tempt you to try this recipe? You will not regret…

Ingredients:

  • 400 g bread flour
  • 3 g salt
  • 120 g hot water
  • 135 g water
  • 3-4 green onion finely chopped
  • Cheddar cheese, shredded to taste
  • Olive oil

Method:

In a bowl place the flour and salt. Mix well and add the hot water on the flour. Mix carefully with a spoon or fork to not burn yourself.

Add the room temperature water to the flour mix and knead until a ball forms. If the dough is too sticky add a bit more of flour.

Cover and let the dough rest for 20 to 30 minutes.

Split the dough into 6 small pieces and roll into balls (approximately 70 g each).

Oil the small dough and rest for 10 minutes.

Flat the balls into round or rectangular disks using a rolling pin and brush oil on it. Spread some chopped onion and cheddar cheese on it.

Roll it like a Swiss roll and pinch to seal, then roll it again like a spiral with pinched side in the inside of the roll. Tuck the loose end under the rolled bun.

Using a rolling ping roll the spiral bun into a flat disk of about 18 to 20 cm (7-8 inch) in diameter.

Repeat the procedure for all the remaining dough.

Heat a frying pan or cast iron over medium to high heat and add the pancake, no need to add oil as the pancake will not stick to the pan.

Cook for one minute and flip the pancake and cook for another minute approximately.

Flip the pancake until both sides and slightly brown and crispy.

Remove from the pan and place on a plate.

I usually cut into 4 or 6 pieces and serve warm/hot.

– If you enjoy this recipe, you might want to check on these…

Green onion and scallion are the same thing? Green onion are allium (garlic in latin) and they have been used as a medicine to combat bacteria, viruses and fungi. Moreover, they are loaded of antioxidants that can defend your body against cell damage caused by free radicals.

Thank you for visiting Color Your Recipes…have a colorful week!



Air Fried Zucchini Blossom with Ricotta and Mozzarella Cheese

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These delicate zucchini blossoms are filled with creamy and stringy cheeses, perfect appetizer that entices your eyes and palate.

– What are zucchini blossoms?

Zucchini blossoms are edible flowers from a zucchini plant and mainly can be found in farmers market or garden.  Therefore, every time I see in the local farmers market I will by a bunch of it.

– How do I prepare zucchini blossoms?

Because they are very delicate, you will need to handle it very gently from the moment you get them.

Yes, it is worth all the extra light and gently handling.

– Are you ready to try these awesome and pretty appetizers?

Ingredients:

  • 8-10 zucchini flowers
  • ½ cup part skim ricotta
  • 4 tablespoons of fresh parsley, chopped salt and pepper to taste
  • 2-3 mozzarella sticks, cut into half and then cut lengthwise
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup panko
  • olive oil spray

Method:

Gently wipe the zucchini flowers, remove any dirt or soil.

In a bowl, combine the ricotta, salt, pepper, and the fresh parsley.

Place the ricotta mix into a sandwich bag and make a small cut at the edge of the bag to pipe the creamy ricotta into the blossom.

Insert one piece of Mozzarella cheese into the blossom in the middle fo the ricotta mix.

Gently press the petals of the flower at the tip to seal.

Do this with all the zucchini flowers.

In a small bowl beat the egg and add the panko into another shallow dish.

Dip the blossoms into the beaten egg and then into the panko, toss around to coat all the flower with panko.

Spray the bottom of an air fryer with olive oil spray and place the blossoms in, and again spray the top of the blossoms.

Air fry at 365oF for about 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway using a thong and be gently.

– If you like this recipe, please check on these…

Thank you for visiting Color Your Recipes…have a colorful week!



Air Fried Yuca

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These air fried yuca are like French fries…great as a side dish…crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside.

I grew up eating “mandioca frita”, which translates into fried yuca…of course at that time it was fried using hot oil like the traditional French fries…the texture of the yuca, which is boiled before frying is rich, creamy, slightly nutty and sweet…denser than French fries, but equally delicious.

– What is yuca?

Yuca is called “mandioca” in Brazil, a very popular root vegetable, super common in Brazil.  As a matter of fact, tapioca is made of yuca starch.

– How is yuca prepared?

Yuca can be prepared the same way as potatoes…boiled, fried, mashed…and toasted as it is “farofa”, a side dish for meats, feijoada (black bean stew), poultry (as stuffing).

– What is the difference between mashed yuca and mashed potatoes?

Both are root vegetables rich in carbohydrates…If you like mashed potatoes, you must try mashed yuca. Mashed yuca has a slightly “chewier” texture than mashed potato, it is super creamy, nutty with a hint of sweetness…

– Why yuca is wrapped in wax?

Apparently, the layer of wax is to protect the root in order to preserve it and extending its shelf-life… which it not seeing in Brazil due to its popularity. Nevertheless, just remove the was when peeling the yuca and you are good to go.

– Where can I buy yuca root?

You can find yuca in most of the Asian and Latin grocery stores, and occasionally in the frozen section, which the yuca comes peeled and cut.

– Ready to try this new root?

  • Actually, there is no need for recipe…just a few steps to follow…
  • Peel the yuca root by removing all the wax and the dark brown skin.
  • Cut into pieces of approximately 2 inches.
  • Boil in water with salt until the yuca can be pierced with a fork.
  • Drain well, remove the hard-fibrous stems in the center of the cooked pieces.
  • Place the cooked yuca in a bowl and toss olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.
  • Air-fry at 365oF for approximately 15 minutes or until the edges are golden brown, tossing in between cooking.
  • Serve hot/warm.

– Care for more Brazilian recipe?

Check these out…

Did you know that yuca is a staple food in many Countries? Moreover, it is the third largest source of carbohydrates food followed by rice and corn.

Thank you for visiting Color Your Recipes…have a colorful week!



Spicy Peach Cream Cheese Dip

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This is a super delicious and easy appetizer made with simply cream cheese, peach jam, mustard and horseradish.

I first tasted this dip in a friend house and since then I always make when entertaining, first because it is super easy, and second because everyone that tasted likes it…

This is such a simple dip or spread made with only a few ingredients…the combination of spicy, sweet and creamy is amazing…and the fun part is that you can adjust it all based on your taste…

I love to see the face of my guest when they try this dip for the first time…a mix of surprised (WOW) and what is in it? When I tell then, they are like…oh yes, I taste the horseradish…and they go for more and more.

– Why you need to try this dip?

Because it is super simple and so delicious…a crowd pleaser…and only uses a few ingredients.

– Can I adjust the recipe?

Of course…like it sweeter? No problem, use more jam. Care for more heat? Yes, add a bit or a lot more horseradish. Want it fat-free or low-fat? Absolutely, use fat-free of low-fat cream cheese. Want to be sugar free? Use sugar free jam…Don’t like peach jam? Use whatever jam or fruit spread you like…as you see the choices are all yours to make.

– How do you serve this appetizer?

You serve it with your favorite crackers, little toasts, chips, on whatever the spread can go on…

– Are you ready to try it?

Here we go…and please adjust to your taste.

Ingredients:

  • Cream cheese, 8 oz
  • ½ cup peach jam
  • ½ tablespoon mustard
  • 2-3 tablespoons horseradish

Method:

Spread the cream cheese in a dish and set aside.

In a small bowl, mix together the jam, mustard and horseradish.

Spread the jam mix on the cream cheese.

Place in the refrigerator for ½ hour (at least).

Serve with your favorite crackers, chips…

– Looking for more appetizers recipe? Please check these out…

Thank you for visiting Color Your Recipes…have a colorful week!



Egg Salad with Ham Mini Phyllo Cup

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Care for an easy, simple and nutritious finger food? These mini phyllo cup filled with creamy egg salad with ham not are only cute, they are delicious…and perfect for Easter!

The combination of the creamy egg salad with a bit of ham and the light and crispy phyllo cups are detectable for the palate.

– Why you should try this recipe?

It is the easiest and simplest finger food you can make…and they are so eye catching…

– Can I make my own phyllo cup?

Absolutely, I was just too lazy to make them, so I choose the short cut method, store bought.

– Is that possible to make these in advance?

Yes, by adding a layer of iceberg lettuce in the mini cups before adding the egg salad will keep the phyllo cup fresh and crispy.

– Should we get to the recipe?

Here we go…

Ingredients:

  • 3 hard boiled eggs
  • 2-3 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2-3 tablespoons finely cubed ham
  • Fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 big iceberg lettuce leaf
  • Cilantro leaves, carrot, green peas for garnish

Method:

Refresh the phyllo cups by baking them in a 325F preheated oven for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.

Scoop the egg from the shell and place in a small bowl.

Using a fork, mash the egg as much as you can.  Add the desirable amount of black pepper and the ham. Mix until all the ingredients are blended together.

Cut the iceberg lettuce into small piece and lay gently inside the mini phyllo cup.

Using a mini scooper (1 tablespoon size) scoop the egg salad on the lettuce.

Garnish with cilantro leaf, carrot and or green pea.

Serve.

Before I forget…

– Looking for more egg recipes?  Please check the links below…

Did you know that eggs are considered one of the most nutritious food available? One egg contain in average 77 calories and it is packed with vitamins such as A, B12, B2, B5.  Also rich in phosphorus and selenium.

Thank you for visiting Color Your Recipes…have a colorful week!



Curry Beef Pinwheels

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Pinwheels are great finger food for parties and these curry beef pinwheels are super easy to make and loaded with flavors.

These pinwheels are great because they are super easy to make and only require a few ingredients…they can be served as an appetizer, snacks or even as a side for soup or salad. They are at their best when warm…but still good at room temperature.

– Can I make them ahead?

Absolutely, you can bake them and freeze and refresh in the oven before serving or even freeze the pinwheels before baking and pop them in the oven when it is time to serve.

– Can I fill the pinwheels with other kind of meat?

Yes, please feel free to use your imagination, just make sure to you add a sort of binding ingredients when making the Swiss roll so the meat does not crumble off the wheels.  I used a bit of cheddar cheese.

– Should we head to the recipe?

Ingredients:

  • 1 package of ready-made puff pastry
  • 1 lb of lean ground meat
  • 2-3 garlic cloves finely minced
  • 1 medium onion finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Curry powder to taste
  • Salt and fresh ground black pepper
  • 50 to 100 g grated Cheddar cheese
  • 1 egg slightly beaten

Method:

Heat olive oil in a frying pan or wok under medium heat, sauté the onion and garlic for a couple of minutes until fragrant and slightly golden brown.

Remove from the heat and set aside.

Stir fry the ground beef in the same pan, add salt, pepper and curry powder to your taste until golden brown.

Add the mixture of onion and garlic back to the ground beef and mix gently.

Remove from the heat and let it cool down.

While the curry beef is cooling preheat oven to 400oF and line a baking sheet with silicone mat of parchment paper.

Open the puff pastry sheets and carefully roll out

Divide the meat into two portions and spread the meat over the pastry, leaving approximately 1 inch at one of the shorter border. Sprinkle on the grated cheese and firmly and tightly roll the pastry like a Swiss roll.

Place the Swiss roll in the freezer for approximately 10 minutes.

Remove the roll from the freezer and slice it using a sharp knife.

Place the pinwheels on the baking trays, spacing them apart and brush the top of each one with the beaten egg.

Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

Serve warm.

– More appetizers recipe? Check these out…

Did you know that curry is a mix of many spices? Mainly a combination of cumin, coriander, ginger, turmeric and chilies. Curry is used in many Indian, Malaysian, Thai…and many other Southeast Asian cuisines.  It can be used as dry powder or added to stews with all kind of meat, chicken and vegetarian dishes.

Thank you for visiting Color Your Recipes…have a colorful week!



Beef Empanada

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Slightly flaky crust filled with aromatic, moist, flavorful ground beef…perfect as finger food especially when entertaining.

– Where did I discover this recipe?

When I saw this recipe at Healthy World Cuisine I could not resist but try to make it…well Bobbi used pie crust for the empanadas and the crust look amazingly flaky and mouthwatering.

I chose to try a pre-made dough for empanadas and tapas…well, I must confess that the crust was not as flaky as I would like it to be, but for the convenience it is okay…it contained less fat therefore a bit crisp…

– Can you make it ahead?

Absolutely, you can use pre-made pie crust and make the beef filling in advance and even pre-filled the empanadas and store in the refrigerator until you are ready to place them in the oven.

I mainly followed the recipe from Healthy World Cuisine for the ground beef filling with minor modification  and it was so tasty, the slices of olives gave a nice Spanish touch to these empanadas, I highly recommend, especially as the holiday season is around the corner…great if you are entertaining or just as a nice treat for your family.

– Okay, let’s take a look at the recipe.

By the way, I literally stuffed the empanadas, therefore had only a little leftover of the beef filling.

Ingredients:

  • 1 package of pre-made empanada crust (12)
  • 1 lb ground lean beef
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves finely minced
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ½ cup sliced green olive
  • 2 tablespoons red wine
  • ½ tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon hot paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dry oregano
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 egg, for egg wash

Method:

In a frying pan, add the olive oil under medium heat and saut the onion and garlic, until slightly golden brown and aromatic.  Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Add the bell pepper, tomato paste, wine, olive and all the spices. Cook for 2-3 minutes, add salt and pepper to taste.

Remove from the heat and let it cool.

Remove the pre-made empanada dough and place in a flat surface. Add in the middle approximately 2 tablespoons of the beef filling. Fold in half and press the edges around the half circle to seal. Make small folds throughout the edge. Repeat the same with all the remaining dough.

Brush the empanadas with the egg wash and bake in a pre-heated convection oven for 15 minutes at 3500F or until golden brown.

Serve hot.

I hope you enjoy this simple recipe for beef empanadas…

– More finger food recipes?

Take a look at some ideas below…

Thank you for visiting Color Your Recipes…have a colorful week!



Simple Pumpkin Crackers

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These crackers are crispy, light and packed with pumpkin, very versatile as you can top with all kind of stuff such as fresh or dry herbs, fresh ground black pepper, Himalayan salt, grated cheese…you name it.

– Pumpkin crackers…really?

Fall came and I realized that I had not baked or cooked anything with pumpkin…somehow I was in a weird mood…nothing really appealed to me…cake, bread or pie…yes, indeed weird  mood…when I saw that my homemade jar of crackers were about to hit the bottom…a little light flood my mind..and I had one of the “ah-ha” moment…why not pumpkin crackers?

– What can I top the crackers with?

I pretty much follow my recipe of homemade crackers, rolled it out thin and sprinkled one sheet with fresh grounded black pepper and the other one with fresh rosemary. Alternatively  you can add in the dough fresh finely chopped rosemary, oregano, thyme or any other herb, celery seeds, cumin, cardamom, ground pepper, curry powder, fennel seeds, smoked paprika, turmeric…and so on…the options are endless…as described in simple homemade crackers.

– Is it good?

Since it was mine first time using pumpkin puree for making crackers and really did not know what to expect, I halved the recipe from my regular measurement…and I must tell you that I regret…

The crackers were so good, light, crispy and all pumpkin color. We ate most of it plain, considering that there was black pepper and rosemary flavors…dip can be totally omitted so good these are.

– Let’s go to the recipe…

Ingredients:

  • 250 g all-purpose flour or bread flour
  • 15 g sugar
  • 4 g salt
  • 150 g pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 30 g butter, unsalted
  • Fresh ground black pepper
  • Fresh rosemary, finely chopped

Method:

Place all the ingredients, expect black pepper and rosemary in a mixer bowl. Attach the bowl and dough hook to the mixer. Turn the to speed 2 until a ball forms and all the ingredients are well incorporated.

Remove the dough from the mixer and place in a container with lid and let it rest for about 1 hour.

Once the gluten of the dough has relaxed, split the dough into two small balls.

Preheat the oven to 250F

Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough until approximately 14 x 11 in (35 x 28 cm) from the center to the edge, there is no need to be very precise.

Sprinkle freshly grounded black pepper on the pumpkin sheet, using the rolling pin gently roll until all the ground pepper are fixed into the dough. Repeat the same with the fresh rosemary.

Bake for approximately 40 minutes, turning the baking pan half way during the baking time to ensure even bake.

Remove from the oven, let it cool completely on a wire rack.

Roughly break the sheet into smaller rustic pieces.

Store in an air-tight container.

– More pumpkin recipes? Take a look at these…

Did you know that pumpkin has many healthy nutrients? Pumpkin is a rich source of dietary fiber, contains potassium and vitamin C which are known to lower blood pressure. Also antioxidant such as beta-carotene which could prevent degenerative eye disease.

Thank you for visiting Color Your Recipes…have a colorful week!