Empanadas Stuffed with Simply Seasoned Shrimp

Simply Seasoned Shrimp

Ingredients:

1 pound medium shrimp, cleaned, peeled, and tails removed
¼ cup finely diced white onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large red bell pepper, roasted and sliced into thin strips
Pinch of chipotle or cayenne pepper
Salt and freshly cracked pepper
Juice of ½ a lemon
Olive oil
Handful of chopped cilantro, set aside.

Directions:
1. In a medium bowl combine the shrimp with chipotle or cayenne pepper, salt, fresh cracked pepper, lemon juice and about 2 tablespoons of olive oil, set aside.

2. In a large saute pan heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil to medium-high heat, add the onions and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the shrimp and cook just until shrimp turns pink, 3 to 4 minutes, add the roasted red pepper, stir well to combine.

3. Taste for salt, cover and remove from heat.

Masa Harina Corn Dough ingredients and directions:

2 cups masa harina

1½ cups warm water

1 tablespoon Knorr chicken bouillon powder

1 tablespoon chile ancho powder or any mild chile powder

1 tablespoon granulated garlic

2 teaspoons salt

Canola oil, 2 tablespoons, plus more for frying

1. Combine all of the dry ingredients in a bowl, add the warm water gradually while working the masa dough with your hands. Once all the water has been mixed in, add 2 tablespoons of oil and work into the masa. Make 12 masa balls, cover with plastic wrap and set aside.

2. Heat about 2 cups of canola oil to medium heat in a heavy, shallow pan. While the oil is heating up, you can start to assemble the empanadas. Line a tortilla press with a heavy plastic storage bag, cut down to size to fit the tortilla press. Leave the bottom of the bag intact, cutting the other three sides open.

3. Line a plate with paper towels, set aside. Using the tortilla maker, press one dough ball, making sure you don't press in too thin, about 4 to 4½ inches across. Fill with 2 tablespoons of shrimp filling and about 3 sprigs of cilantro. Pick up the empanada with the plastic still attached, fold closed, then use your fingers to seal the edges, folding gently. Carefully, pull the plastic away from the empanada. Transfer to the hot oil, cook for a minute on each side, until crispy, drain onto plate lined with paper towels. You could preheat your oven to 250ºF and keep them warm on a baking sheet while you finish frying the rest of the empanadas.

4. Serve right away or cool completely before storing in an airtight container. Reheat in a 400-degree oven for 20 minutes.
 

Serve with your favorite salsa and rice dish! Any filling works well with this recipe, as long as the filling doesn't contain a lot of broth. The original quesadillas were made very similar to this, not fried, but cooked on a very hot comal (griddle pan), filled with cheese!
  

Simply Seasoned Shrimp for EmpanadasFilling the empanadas, using a tortilla press to flatten the doughA quick fry for the empanadas, fry three or four at one time...

Simply Seasoned Shrimp Empanadas, topped with Pineapple Habanero Salsa, Poblano Rajas and served with Steamed Jasmine Rice, seasoned with Fresh Lemon Juice and Cilantro

Other recipes by Sonia:

Mexican Red Rice
Buñuelos
Cheesy Chorizo Bread
Pork Chile Colorado
Polvorones (Mexican Shortbread Cookies)
Shrimp-Stuffed Little Chiles
Pork Chile Verde
Lemon Pepper Chicken Fajitas
Simply Seasoned Shrimp
Dulce de Leche and Chocolate Chip Chimichangas