![](https://www.healthylivingwithanita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/EMPANADAS-WITH-FLUSH-2020.jpg)
Anita’s Delicious Beef Venezuelan Empanadas
El aroma y sabor venezolano como estremece nuestros corazones .
Ingredients
Beef Filling
1 pound lean ground beef
1 onion, small diced
2 tomatoes, small diced
1 red pepper or green, small diced
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon oregano, ground
1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
1 teaspoon cumin, ground
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 Tablespoon Olive oil
1 bay leave
1 Tablespoon ketchup
Empanada Dough
3 cups of Arepa Flour (white corn flour)
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/2 to 1 cup of warm water
Canola or Vegetable Oil (for frying)
Preparation for Filling:
- Heat olive oil at medium heat in a large skillet, and add ground beef. Brown beef until completely cooked.
- Add onions, and peppers. Cook until soft. Lower heat and add tomatoes, oregano, cinnamon, cumin, salt and pepper.
- Stir all together, add bay leave and cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Add ketchup. If filling is too dense add 1/3 cup of water.
- Simmer for about 10 more minutes. Set aside.
Making Empanadas Dough:
- In a large bowl place arepas flour, salt, sugar and mix all together.
- Add warm water slowly by mixing with your hands until all is well combined and dough is soft.
- Let dough rest by covering it with a clean cloth for about half an hour.
To Prepare and cook Empanadas
- Place plastic wrap over a cutting board, secure board with a wet cloth underneath and place it over your kitchen counter.
- Make a dough ball with your hands and flatten your dough on top of plastic wrap.
- Place meat filling on the center of dough.
- Grab one side of plastic wrap, and fold over the other side.
- With the tip of a butter knife shape your half moon (empanada) over the plastic wrap.
- Remove plastic wrap and discard excess of dough. Set aside.
- Continue shaping your empanadas. Place over a dish and cover with wet napkins until ready to fry.
- Fry empanadas in a large pot with half way up filled with vegetable oil for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
- Place empanadas over paper towel to take away excess oil. Enjoy next to your favorite hot sauce. One of our best favorites family recipe.Yum!