Empanadas de Pollo (Bolivian Fried Chicken Empanadas)
With a crispy-sweet crust and a juicy chicken filling, these Bolivian empanadas are served as a mid-morning or afternoon snack. Yield: 18 (6 inch) empanadasNote: The filling for these empanadas needs to cool before filling the dough. The filling can also be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for a day or two.
In a big saucepan add chicken breast and enough water to cover the chicken. Cook until chicken is tender. Let it cool enough to handle and shred it. Reserve 2 cups of the broth.
Add potatoes and water to a medium saucepan and cook until tender when pierced with a fork. Drain the potatoes and set aside.
In a large saucepan, add 2 tablespoons of oil and sauté onions, garlic, parsley, and green peppers over high heat for about 2 minutes.
Add the reserved broth (2 cups), shredded chicken, potatoes, oregano, cumin, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and green olives. Bring to a simmer and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of flour, stirring constantly. Cook for 3 minutes on medium heat. Remove from heat and add raisins and diced eggs. Give it a gentle stir.
Refrigerate until cooled completely, about 4 hours or overnight.
For The Empanada Dough
In a big bowl, add flour, butter, sugar and salt. Using your fingers or a pastry blender, mix until crumbly.
Add water and mix until the dough comes together. Keep the dough in a zip-lock bag for 10 minutes.
Knead the dough until smooth.* Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water if the dough seems dry. Let the dough rest in a zip-lock bag for 20 minutes.
Divide the dough into 18 equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball. Let it rest in a zip-lock bag for 5 minutes.
Assembling Empanadas
Roll and assemble one empanada at a time.
Using a rolling pin, roll balls into a circle, 6 inches in diameter.
Hold the empanada disk in the palm of your hand and place ¼ cup of chilled filling. Making sure the filling doesn’t touch the edges.
Fold the dough in half over the filling. Pinch the edges together all the way around to seal the empanada.
Starting at one corner, press the dough with your thumb and index finger, fold the corner over the edge making a triangle and press again. Continue all the way around.
Using a wok, heat the oil on medium-low. About 320 F. Fry empanadas for 5 minutes (2.5 min. each side) 2 or 3 at a time.**
Drain over paper towels.
Serve hot.
Notes
*The dough can be mixed and kneaded in a stand mixer with the dough hook attached.**These empanadas can also be baked at 400F for 20 minutes.