From the Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites cookbook, which I suggest you check out in person because it is very awesome. I also threw some fresh spinach in here, just into the mixture before the breadcrumb step, and it turned out really well. 1 1/2 c 1% cottage cheese 1 1/2 c skim milk or buttermilk 1 t dried mustard or 1 T prepared mustard pinch of cayenne (or more) 1/4 t nutmeg 1/2 t salt 1/4 t ground black pepper 1/4 c grated onions 1 c grated sharp cheddar (4 oz.) 1/2 lb. uncooked elbow macaroni (or other tubular pasta) 2 T finely grated Pecorino or Parmesan cheese 1/4 c bread crumbs Preheat oven to 375. Prepare square baking pan with a light spray of oil. In a blender, combine cottage cheese, milk, mustard, cayenne, nutmeg, salt and pepper and puree until smooth. In a large bowl (actually, I did this right in the baking dish), combine pureed mixture with the onions, cheddar and uncooked macaroni. Stir well. Pour macaroni and cheese mixture into the baking pan. Combine the gra...
Comments
http://foodgoodness.blogspot.com/2011/01/butternut-squash-and-parmesan-pasties.html
although the filling wasn't traditionally empanada-y. But you could just do the crust and fill it with anything, I think... chicken, beans, etc. Yum. Now I want them too.
(I've made potato & lentil samosas on pg 35 and baked them and those were awesome)
Good luck with empanadas. I wholeheartedly support any attempt at filled food. Pupusas, potstickers, samosas, sushi rolls, etc...the all have a special hold on me that I have talked about on foodgoodness before.
Mark Bittman, How To Cook Everything Vegetarian:
Bean and Cheese Empanadas
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus a little more
1/2 cup masa harina, fine cornmeal or more all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons shortening or vegetable oil
2 1/2 cups cooked and well-seasoned beans
2 cups grated or crumbled queso fresco, Monterey Jack, or coltija cheese
1/2 cup milk
1. Mix the flour, masa harina, baking powder, and salt together in the food processor and process for about 5 seconds. With the machine running, add the 1/2 cup shortening and process for 10 seconds. Then, with the machine running, add about 1/2 cup cold water, just enough for the dough to form a ball. Don't add more water than necessary; the dough should be fairly dry. Knead by hand until smooth, just a minute or so.
2. Divide into 12 pieces, roll into balls, and wrap in plastic or cover with a damp towel and let rest for at elast 20 minutes. (You can refrigerate the dough overnight; be sure to let it come to room temperature before proceeding.) On a well-floured surface, rolle ach piece into a 6-inch circle, adding flour as necessary.
3. Preheat the oven to 450ºF. Place a couple of tablespoons of the beans in the center of each circle of dough, followed by a sprinkling of cheese, then fold each circle overl seal the seam with a few drops of water and press with the tines of a fork to close. Put on an ungreased baking sheet and brush lightly with milk. Bake until the dough is golden brown and hot, and about 20 minutes. Serve immediately or at room temperature.
**The sky is the limit with these empanadas, they will take well to any filling, as long as the filling isn't too wet. (says http://ttrecipes.blogspot.com)
ATK does a whole show on empanadas and tostadas and even has the master, Rick Bayless, show how to make a traditional Mexican empanada. After watching this episode, I really want to make some right now!