Moroccan Empanadas

Total Time
Prep: 30 min. Bake: 15 min.

Updated on Jun. 27, 2023

My family goes for Moroccan flavors, so I make empanada pastries using beef and apricot preserves. It's a flaky hand pie with a spicy dipping sauce. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois

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Can you freeze Moroccan Empanadas?

Cover and freeze unbaked empanadas on waxed paper-lined baking sheets until firm. Transfer to a freezer container; return to freezer. To use, bake empanadas as directed, increasing time as necessary. Prepare sauce as directed.

Moroccan Empanadas

Prep Time 30 min
Cook Time 15 min
Yield 20 servings

Ingredients

  • 3/4 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/3 cup apricot preserves
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped carrot
  • 3/4 teaspoon Moroccan seasoning (ras el hanout) or 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin plus 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander and dash cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 sheets refrigerated pie crust
  • 1 large egg yolk, beaten
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • SAUCE:
  • 1/2 cup apricot preserves
  • 1/2 cup chili sauce

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°. In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until beef is no longer pink, breaking up beef into crumbles, 5-7 minutes; drain. Stir in cream cheese, preserves, carrot and seasonings. Cool slightly.
  2. On a lightly floured work surface, unroll sheets of pie crust. Cut 40 circles with a floured 3-in. cookie cutter, rerolling crust as necessary. Place half of the circles 2 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Top each with 1 rounded tablespoon beef mixture. Top with remaining crust circles; press edges with a fork to seal.
  3. Brush tops with egg yolk; sprinkle with sesame seeds. Cut slits in tops. Bake until golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Remove from pan to a wire rack.
  4. Meanwhile, in a microwave, warm sauce ingredients, stirring to combine. Serve with empanadas.

Nutrition Facts

1 empanada with about 2 teaspoons sauce: 215 calories, 11g fat (5g saturated fat), 30mg cholesterol, 256mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 0 fiber), 5g protein.

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