These Cheesy Beef Empanada Pockets are a crowd pleaser and one to get the family round the dinner table for. Super simple to make, and easily customised to suit the kids too.
The quantities provided above are averages only.
Boxes and ingredients are packed in facilities that handles Peanut, Nuts, Sesame, Fish, Crustaceans, Milk, Egg, Mustard, Celery, Soya, Gluten and Sulphites. Due to the war in Ukraine, it has been necessary to substitute sunflower oil with rapeseed oil in some products without a label change. The FSA have advised that allergic reactions to rapeseed oil are rare.
1
Puff Pastry Sheet
(Contains: Cereals containing gluten)
1
Bell Pepper
(May contain traces of: Celery)
1
Garlic Clove**
60
Mature Cheddar Cheese
(Contains: Milk)
240
British Beef Mince
2
Central American Style Spice Mix
30
Tomato Puree
10
Chicken Stock Paste
20
Wild Rocket
12
Balsamic Glaze
(Contains: Sulphites)
100
Water for the Sauce
½
Sugar for the Sauce
Preheat your oven to 240°C/220°C fan/gas mark 9. Remove the puff pastry from your fridge.
Halve the pepper and discard the core and seeds. Slice into thin strips, then chop into small 1cm pieces.
Peel and grate the garlic (or use a garlic press). Grate the Cheddar cheese.
Heat a drizzle of oil in a large frying pan on medium-high heat.
Once the oil is hot, add the beef mince and chopped pepper. Cook until the mince has browned and the pepper has softened, 5-6 mins.
Use a spoon to break up the mince as it cooks, then drain and discard any excess fat. Season with salt and pepper. IMPORTANT: Wash your hands and equipment after handling raw mince.
Add the Central American style spice mix, tomato puree and garlic to the pan.
Stir-fry until fragrant, 30 secs. Stir in the water and sugar for the sauce (see ingredients for both amounts) and chicken stock paste. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the liquid has almost evaporated, 6-8 mins, stirring occasionally.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly. IMPORTANT: The mince is cooked when no longer pink in the middle.
Once the filling has cooled, cut the puff pastry (see ingredients for amount) into equal-sized rectangles (2 per person).
Spoon the beef onto one half of each rectangle, leaving a 1cm border at the sides, then top with the cheese.
Dampen the edges of the pastry with a little water, then fold the top half of the pastry over the filling to enclose it. Gently press the edges down with the back of a fork to tightly seal the parcel on the 3 open sides.
Carefully transfer the empanadas to a lined baking tray. Bake on the top shelf of your oven until the pastry is golden, 15-20 mins.
When everything is ready, pop the rocket into a medium bowl. Drizzle with some oil, then toss to coat.
Plate up the empanadas with the rocket alongside. Drizzle the balsamic glaze over the rocket for those who'd like it.
Enjoy!