Best Costa Rican Pati Beef Turnover Recipes

BEEF TENDERLOIN TURNOVERS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine beef, chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper; toss to coat meat with spices, Cover and let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.
• For filling, in a large fry pan, heat oil over medium heat.
• Cook and stir onion and garlic in hot oil for 2 minutes.
• Add beef; cook and stir for 2 minutes more (beef may be slightly pink).
• Drain meat mixture in a colander; cool slightly.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Line a baking sheet with foil; grease the foil. Set aside.
• Unfold puff pastry sheet and place on a lightly floured surface, roll into a 12 x 12 inch square.
• Cut into sixteen 3 inch squares.
• In a small bowl, beat together the egg and the water.
• Brush edges of squares with some of the egg mixture.
• Place 1 tablespoon of the beef filling in the centre of each square.
• Sprinkle some of the cheese over the beef mixture on each square.
• Fold pastry over filling, stretching pastry slightly if necessary, to form triangles.
• Press edges together tightly to seal.
• Place triangles on prepared baking sheet.
• Brush tops with remaining egg mixture.
• Prick tops with a fork.
• Bake about 20 minutes or until golden.
• Serve warm.
• MAKE AHEAD: Prepare turnovers as directed, do not bake.
• Cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours.
• Bake as directed, or to freeze, prepare and bake triangles as directed and cool on a wire rack.
• Place turnovers in a freezer container.
• Seal, label and freeze.
• To reheat, preheat oven to 375°F, place frozen triangles on a baking sheet lined with foil, bake about 10 minutes or until heated through, Serve warm.

EMPANADAS (BEEF TURNOVERS)

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, about 10 minutes. Add onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes more. Stir in tomato sauce, olives, Sofrito, Sazon, garlic, oregano and black pepper. Lower heat to medium-low and simmer until mixture thickens, about 15 minutes.
• On a lightly floured work surface, using a rolling pin, roll out discos until 1/2-inch larger in diameter. Spoon about 1 tbsp. meat mixture into middle, fold in half to form a half moon; moisten edges with water and pinch to seal closed, or seal with a fork.
• Fill a deep saucepan with oil to a depth of 2 1/2-inches. Heat oil over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking (350 degrees F on deep-fry thermometer). Cook Empanadas in batches until crisp and golden brown, flipping once, 4 - 6 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.

GROUND BEEF TURNOVERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt; cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, combine the water, egg and vinegar. Add to shortening mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing lightly with a fork until mixture forms a ball. Cover and chill for 30 minutes., Meanwhile, combine the first six filling ingredients. Divide pastry into 15 equal portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion into a 6-1/2-in. circle. , Mound a heaping 1/3 cup filling on half of circle. Moisten edges with water; fold dough over filling and press edges with a fork to seal. Transfer to a greased baking sheet. Repeat with remaining pastry and filling. , Cut three slits in the top of each turnover; brush with cream. Bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes or until vegetables are tender and crust is golden brown.

COSTA RICAN PATI (BEEF TURNOVER)

Steps:

• For the dough,
• combine the shortening, butter and oil with a wooden spoon and slowly add the sifted flour and salt. Sprinkle cold water as needed to create a homogenous mixture. Knead the dough and roll it out onto a flat surface to about 1/8 inch thickness. The idea is to have it thin but not so much that it tears.
• For the filling,
• sautee the onions, garlic and peppers on a pan with the oil. Once they brown a bit add the ground beef, the cilantro, the salt and pepper and the breadcrumbs. Stir well and cook thoroughly until the mixture is fairly dry. Let cool.
• Assembly,.
• Cut the pastry into circles or 6 inch squares. You can add the filling to one side, leaving a one inch border to press the edges, or add it into the center and then fold into thirds or fill the circle and cover it with another pastry circle. Each household has its own pati recipe version, so don't be afraid to experiment and use the technique that is easiest for you.
• After filling the patties, press the edges with a fork, then punch some holes into the center of the Costa Rica pati with the fork so that the steam from the filling has a place to exit. Bake until golden brown on a 200°C (400°F) oven. Enjoy!