Recipe

Spinach And Ricotta Cheese Empanadas Recipe

Add Step-by-Step Photos	Linda2230 / All my dishes 9 months, 3 weeks ago This is one of Emeril Lagasse's recipes I tried for the first time today and served them as a side dish with my family dinner and they loved it. The dough is very tender and would be great to fill with other fillings as well. The spinach filling wa... More Prep:180m Cook:17m Servings:10	Linda2230
	spinach empanadas tasty savory garlicky pastry sidedish appetizer fingerfood intermediate

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Ingredients

INGREDIENTS FOR THE DOUGH

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature

6 tablespoons butter, room temperature

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

INGREDIENTS FOR THE FILLING

5 slices bacon, cooked until crisp, drained and crumbled (reserve the drippings for later use in the recipe.)

1 1/2 pounds fresh spinach leaves, washed or (I used frozen and just squeezed out the excess liquid through a paper towel.)

1/3 cup minced onion (About 1/2 medium onion)

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup Ricotta cheese (can also use Farmers Cheese or Cottage Cheese. I used Ricotta cheese.)

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Pinch ground nutmeg

1 egg, lightly beaten

Directions

In the bowl of a standing electric mixer using the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter on high speed until very smooth, pausing to scrape down the sides of the bowl, as necessary. Reduce the mixer speed to low, add the flour, little by little, and the salt, and process until just combined. Turn the dough out onto a slightly floured surface and knead lightly. Form the dough into a disk, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours and up to overnight.

IF YOU USE FROZEN SPINACH, YOU CAN SKIP THIS STEP AND GO TO THE NEXT STEP. Heat 1 teaspoon of the reserved bacon drippings in a medium nonstick skillet and, when hot, add the spinach. Cook, stirring frequently, until the spinach is wilted and has released its liquid, 2 to 3 minutes.

If you used fresh spinach transfer the spinach to a colander to drain. When the spinach has cooled enough to handle, squeeze to release any excess water, then transfer to a cutting board and finely chop. Set aside. If you used frozen spinach, just thaw according to the directions on the box or bag then squeeze out the excess liquid in a towel or colander.

Add 2 more teaspoons of the bacon drippings to the same skillet, then add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until soft but not browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the reserved spinach, crumbled bacon, cottage cheese, salt and pepper to taste and nutmeg and mix thoroughly. Transfer to a mixing bowl and allow to cool thoroughly. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F and lightly grease a baking sheet. I used a Silpat, it saves the baking sheets. :o)

Remove the dough from the refrigerator and, working on a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough to a thickness of about 1/8-inch thick. Using a small bowl or saucer as a guide, cut the dough into as many 5-inch circles as possible. Gather the scraps of dough together and knead lightly to reform the dough into a disk. Roll out as before and again cut as many rounds as you can. You should be able to get 10 to 12 rounds. Divide the spinach filling evenly among the dough circles. Using your fingers, lightly moisten the edges with some of the beaten egg, then fold 1 side over so that the edges meet, and press to seal. Crimp the edges using the tines of a fork and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat until all of the empanadas are assembled. Brush the tops of each empanada with some of the beaten egg and bake uncovered until golden, 12 to 15 minutes.

Serve either warm or at room temperature.

I actually yielded 8 empanadas, but you can make them smaller to yield more and serve them as an appetizer before a meal or at parties.

Enjoy and be creative with the fillings!

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Comments

joe1155 9 months, 3 weeks ago said:
Sounds great!

juels 9 months, 3 weeks ago said:
These sound so good! I love the dough with cream cheese in it, and the spinach filling sounds delish! Bookmarked to try, thanks! Added this to the "Crazy about greens" group for you.

linda2230 9 months, 3 weeks ago said:
Thanks juels and joe1155! I hope you enjoyed them as much as we did.

lunasea 9 months, 3 weeks ago said:
Wow, Judy - this sounds awesome! I love the cream cheese in the crust and the bacon, spinach, onion, ricotta filling sounds scrumptious. Plus, you saved and used your bacon drippings...you're definitely a woman after my own heart. ;) Thanks so much - great recipe!

And I agree, I think the filling would make an excellent stuffing for pork chops or chicken breasts. And I like your won ton idea as well. I just got back from my Asian grocer where I bought dumpling dough rounds...I'm thinking to use your filling for some of them. :) ~Vickie

bluewaterandsand 9 months, 3 weeks ago said:
I just love the recipes that Emeril does. The ones I have tried, all have been Excellent! I also think the filling will work in the chicken, very well.

gagagrits 9 months, 3 weeks ago said:
I love empanadas, you can fill with meat, and many other fillings, yours sound wonderful, thanks .....:)

foodie4eva 9 months, 3 weeks ago said:
I love this recipe! Thanks for adding!

linda2230 9 months, 2 weeks ago said:
Thank you all for your comments. Vickie, have fun making them with the dumpling dough rouds that you bought from the Asian store, great idea! I actually ended up with some leftover filling and I have some won tons in my freezer. I think that I will fill them with this filling and I will let you know how they turn out. Enjoy everyone! Judy

jimrug1 9 months, 2 weeks ago said:
This is awesome Judy.. I love the flavor combo in the crust and the filling is amazing. Its like a kicked up Fatayer.....;-)~ You rock cuz... Big Hugs Jim

krumkake 9 months, 2 weeks ago said:
I'm anxious to try the dough with the cream cheese addition, and the bacon in the filling sounds delish. Your picture is making me want to run out and buy everything to make them right now - great post!

gagagrits 9 months, 1 week ago said:
Hey Jud, I made your empanadas Thursday, They were wonderful, the only cream cheese I had in the house was a low-fat garlic and chives, and they were amazing. I have some left overs we will finish off tonite. Thanks for the recipe

jett2whit 8 months, 1 week ago said:
Yum - i loves me spinach!!

sparow64 8 months, 1 week ago said:
Sounds fabulous! will be making this one!

lor 2 months, 2 weeks ago said:
This recipe looks amazing and I know that those I make it for(including me) will enjoy these empanadas so very much! A great recipe and thank you for sharing!!! HIGH 5!!!

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Alterations

linda2230 9 months, 3 weeks ago said:
Just to add a note: I think this filling would also be good to use to stuff pork chops or chicken breasts as well. Oh, I might try them as well as a won ton filling.
Judy

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