BAKED TURKEY SAUSAGE EMPANADAS

Baked Turkey Sausage Empanadas image

Are you ready for some football? Here is a easy recipe to serve your guest. Empanadas - you can make them with any filling. Cooking from the Pantry today. I used Italian Turkey Sausage with onions,garlic and bell peppers for my filling. Enjoy

Provided by Carol White

Time 2h10m

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

EMPANADA DOUGH
3 c flour (plus a little more for kneading)
1 tsp salt
1/2 c cold water
1 egg, plus (1) egg white
1 tsp vinegar
3 Tbsp shortening
1 additional egg with a little water for egg wash
TURKEY ITALIAN HOT SAUSAGE FILLING
4 italian hot sausage links, remove from casing
1/2 onion, diced
1 c diced, bell peppers - yellow, red, and orange ( about 1/2 pepper each)
3 clove garlic, minced
1/4 c fresh basil, chop fine
1 c shredded italian six cheese blend

Steps:

1. Making Empanada Dough
2. In a bowl, combine all wet ingredients, beat well and set aside. In a separate bowl, mix together flour and salt. Then add shortening and cut into the flour mix with a pastry blender or a fork.
3. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and mix in wet ingredients, blend well with a fork until dough becomes stiff. (You may add a little more cold water if required at this point.)
4. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead dough until all the flour is incorporated and the dough is smooth. Then wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about one hour. Dough will make about (10) 6" empanadas.
5. Making Sausage Filling
6. While dough is chilling, in a large skillet over medium heat add olive oil, onions, garlic, diced peppers and saute for about 2 - 3 minutes then add sausage; breaking it up into small pieces,cooking for 5 to 7 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink.
7. Then add fresh basil and combine well. Remove sausage mixture from skillet and drain excess liquid and place in bowl. While sausage is warm add 1/2 of shredded cheese and blend well.
8. Take dough from refrigerator and place on lightly floured surface and cut in 1/2 to make the first 5 empanada shells. Then repeat the process.
9. Form empanada dough into mold and seal edges. If you do not have a mold, then 6" cookie cutter and cut out circles. Fill empanada dough with about tablespoon of filling and add a little more cheese. Then fold and use a fork to press the edges together.
10. Preheat oven to 400 degrees, place empanadas on parchment lined baking sheet. Brush tops with egg wash and bake until brown for about 30 to 40 minutes.
11. Remove and serve. Enjoy