EGG AND HAM EMPANADAS WITH PIQUILLO PEPPER SAUCE

Egg and Ham Empanadas with Piquillo Pepper Sauce image

Provided by Bobby Flay

Time 55m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

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Ingredients

4 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 small red onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
8 ounces canned or jarred piquillo peppers, drained
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons creme fraiche or sour cream
Honey, to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Nonstick spray
4 tablespoons very cold unsalted butter, finely diced
1 cup finely diced leftover baked ham
8 large eggs, whisked until light and fluffy, plus 2 beaten with 2 tablespoons water, for egg wash
2 green onions, green and pale green parts halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
1/4 cup crumbled soft goat cheese
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 prepared empanada wrappers, preferably Goya, thawed if frozen
Flour, for rolling

Steps:

For the piquillo pepper sauce: Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in the piquillo peppers, season with salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes.
Transfer the mixture to a blender, and with the blender running, add the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil and the vinegar and blend until smooth and silky. Add the creme fraiche and a touch of honey and pulse a few times just to incorporate; taste, pulse in a bit more honey if necessary. Transfer to a bowl.
For the empanadas: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with nonstick spray.
Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add the ham and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 3 minutes; remove to a plate lined with paper towels.
Reduce the heat to low. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and melt. Add the 8 whisked eggs and cook, stirring until soft curds barely form, then transfer to a bowl and quickly and gently stir in the green onion, goat cheese, ham and a generous amount of salt and pepper. Transfer to a baking sheet.
Roll each empanada wrapper on a lightly floured surface into a 7-inch round. Divide the filling among the wrappers, mounding it in the centers. Brush the edges with some of the egg wash. Fold each wrapper over the filling to create half-moon shapes and seal by pressing the edges together firmly with a fork.
Transfer the empanadas to the prepared baking sheet and brush with egg wash. Cut a few small slits in the top of each empanada to create steam vents. Bake until golden, about 10 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes and serve with the piquillo pepper sauce.