Anita’s Healthy and Best Cheese with Herbs Baked Empanadas

Each time I make these GUILT-FREE baked empanadas, who ever tried them always ask for the recipe. It is my family recipe, but as we love to share, here you have it to spread the LOVE in each bite and enjoy at any time!

Ingredients For the Empanada dough

2 1/2 cups All-purpose flour

3/4 cup water (seltzer water is best)

1 1/2 Tablespoon powder milk

1 teaspoon salt

1/3 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon corn starch

1/4 cup sunflower oil

Preparation for the Empanada Dough

1. In a large bowl combine flour, powder milk, baking powder, corn starch and salt.
2. Incorporate water and sunflower oil. Knead until dough is soft. Allow to rest for 45 minutes.
3. Roll out dough and using approximate a 3.5-inch cookie cutter, cut dough into circles. Place parchment paper in between dough’s circles, so they won’t stick together. Set aside.
4. Pre-heat oven to 400 grades Farenheit.
5. Meanwhile Prepare Cheese-Herbs Filling:  Mix together 1 pound of grated Nabulsi or Akkawi Cheese, 1 1/2 cups of fresh dill washed and chopped, 1 cup of fresh washed and chopped parsley. Mix well. Add 1 teaspoon salt, 1/3 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/3 teaspoon ground nutmeg. Combine all ingredients using your hands. Set aside. 

       Fill circles in the center with 1 generous Tablespoon of cheese-herbs mixture. Close to form a half-moon shape. You can braid the edges or use a fork against the dough to seal well.

Place empanadas over a baking pan prepared with parchment paper. 

Brush top with egg wash: 1 egg with 1 teaspoon of water. Whisk well. Sprinkle some sesame seeds over this egg wash and brush each empanada top before baking.  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until top of empanadas are golden brown. Share the love in each bite. Enjoy!