Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Buenos Aires Beef Empanadas with Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Creamy Zucchini

10oz Ground Beef
6oz Pastry Rounds 
2 cloves Garlic
1 Zuccihini
2 Scallions
1 lb Sweet Potato
1 oz Gordal Olives
2 Tbl Tomato Paste
1 tsp Whole Dried Oregano
1/2 c Plain Greek Yogurt
1 Tbl Spanish Spice Blend (Smoked Paprika, Ground Cumin, Ground Coriander, Dried Mexican Oregano, Cayenne Pepper & Ground Cinnamon)

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Cut the sweet potatoes lengthwise into 1-inch-wide wedges. Peel and roughly chop the garlic. Cut off and discard the root end of the scallions; thinly slice, separating the white bottoms and green tops. Using the flat side of your knife, smash the olives; remove and discard the pits, then roughly chop. Halve the zucchini lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise.

Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil. Place the sweet potato wedges on the foil. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper; toss to coat. Arrange in an even layer, skin side down. Roast 28 to 30 minutes, or until browned and tender when pierced with a fork. Leaving the oven on, remove from the oven. 

While the sweet potatoes roast, in a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the beef; season with salt and pepper. Cook, frequently breaking the meat apart with a spoon, 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Carefully drain off and discard any excess oil. Add the chopped garlic and sliced white bottoms of the scallions; cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until softened. Add the tomato paste and up to half the spice blend (you will have extra spice blend). Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until thoroughly combined and fragrant. Add 1/2 cup of water (carefully, as the liquid may splatter) and cook, stirring frequently, 3 to 4 minutes, or until most of the water has cooked off and the beef is cooked through. Turn off the heat and stir in the chopped olives. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

While the sweet potatoes continue to roast, lightly oil a separate sheet pan. Fill a small bowl with warm water. Place 4 pastry rounds on a work surface (you may have extra). Spoon about 1/4 cup of the filling into the center of each round (you may have extra filling). Working one at a time, using your fingers, lightly moisten the edges of the rounds with water. Fold in half over the filling, gently pressing out any air pockets. Using a fork, firmly press down on the edges to crimp and seal. Carefully arrange on the sheet pan. Bake, rotating the sheet pan halfway through, 15 to 17 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed up. Remove from the oven. Let stand at least 2 minutes before serving. 

While the empanadas bake, in a large bowl, combine the sliced zucchinigreen tops of the scallionsoregano, and half the yogurt. Drizzle with olive oil and stir to combine; season with salt and pepper to taste. Season the remaining yogurt with salt and pepper. Serve the baked empanadas with the roasted sweet potatoes, dressed zucchini, and seasoned yogurt on the side. Enjoy!

Source: Blueapron.com