Chorizo and Potato Empanaditas
- 1 large boiling potato (about 1/2 pound)
- 1/2 pound fresh Mexican chorizo (spicy pork sausage)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (preferably Mexican), crumbled
- 2 cups masa harina
- 1 1/4 cups warm water
- vegetable oil for deep-frying
- Accompaniments:Guacamole orFresh Tomato Salsa
- Peel potato and cut into 1/4-inch dice.
- In a saucepan of boiling salted water cook potato 3 minutes, or until just cooked through, and drain in a colander.
- Remove casings from chorizo and crumble or finely chop meat.
- In a heavy skillet cook chorizo over moderate heat, stirring, 5 minutes.
- Add potato, oregano, and salt to taste and cook, stirring, 5 minutes.
- Cool filling completely.
- Filling may be made 2 days ahead and kept, covered and chilled, or frozen 2 weeks.
- Line 2 baking sheets with plastic wrap.
- In a large bowl stir together masa harina and warm water until a dough forms.
- Pinch off small pieces of dough and shape into about forty 1-inch balls.
- Transfer balls to a baking sheet and cover with more plastic wrap.
- From a plastic bag cut two 5-inch squares and use one to line lower half of a tortilla press.
- Put a ball of dough in tortilla press and top with second square of plastic.
- Close tortilla press, pushing gently on lever to flatten dough just to a 2 1/2-inch round.
- (Alternatively, flatten dough between squares of plastic using a rolling pin.)
- Remove top plastic square and put a rounded teaspoon filling in center of round.
- Fold round over filling to form a half moon, using plastic underneath to support dough if necessary, and pinch edges together to seal.
- Transfer turnover to other baking sheet.
- Make more turnovers in same manner, reusing plastic squares, and put on baking sheets.
- Turnovers may be prepared up to this point and kept, covered with plastic wrap, chilled 1 day or frozen 1 week.
- Thaw turnovers 1 hour before proceeding.
- In a large saucepan heat 1 inch oil until it registers 375 F. on a deep-fat thermometer and fry turnovers in batches of 8 to 10 until golden, 2 to 3 minutes, transferring with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain and making sure oil returns to 375 F. before adding next batch.
- Serve empanaditas immediately with guacamole or salsa.
boiling potato, chorizo, oregano, masa harina, water, vegetable oil, tomato salsa
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/chorizo-and-potato-empanaditas-14138 (may not work)