Recipe courtesy of Franco Noriega

Chicken Empanadas 

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  • Level: Intermediate
  • Total: 1 hr
  • Active: 45 min
  • Yield: 20 empanadas
These party-sized empanadas are a crowd favorite and always a hit at the restaurant. They’re loaded with flavor and the caramelized onion chimichurri is a great topping for any dish.

Ingredients

Caramelized Onion Chimichurri:

Rocoto Aioli:

Directions

Special equipment:
a 3-inch biscuit cutter; a deep-fry thermometer
  1. Heat the olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Add the chicken, chipotle and adobo sauce and cook, stirring, until incorporated, about 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl and mix in the mozzarella and cilantro.
  2. Use a 3-inch biscuit cutter to cut a dough circle from each empanada dough disc. Divide the chicken filling among the dough circles, then fold each circle over and press the edges with a fork to seal.
  3. Fill a Dutch oven a little less than halfway with canola oil and heat to 350 degrees F. Working in batches, add the empanadas and fry until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Drain on a wire rack set over a baking sheet.
  4. Top the empanadas with cilantro and serve with the Caramelized Onion Chimichurri and Rocoto Aioli.

Caramelized Onion Chimichurri:

  1. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, translucent and brown, about 20 minutes.
  2. Add the balsamic vinegar and continue to cook until the onions are very tender, another 2 minutes. Transfer the onions to a cutting board and chop into bite-size pieces then transfer to a bowl. Toss with the parsley, oregano, sherry vinegar, garlic and shallots. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Season with salt.

Rocoto Aioli:

  1. Stir together the mayonnaise, rocoto pepper paste, oregano, pepper, garlic and lemon juice in a small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.