Sweet Potato Empanadas

 

Makes 12

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large yellow/brown onion, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 sweet potatoes, grated
• 1 cup canned lentils
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked/sweet paprika
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon milk
• Puff Pastry sheets
• Sesame seeds

Here’s What to Do:

1. Pre-heat oven to 200°C.
2. Heat oil in a frying pan on medium heat. Sauté the onion until golden, approx. 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook for a further minute.
3. Add sweet potatoes, lentils and seasonings. Cook for about 15 minutes, until sweet potato is cooked.
4. To make empanadas, use cookie cutter to cut circles of pastry, add 1 tablespoon of sweet potato mixture, fold over and seal with egg wash.
5. Repeat with remaining filling and pastry.
6. Arrange empanadas on parchment lined baking sheets. Brush tops with egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
7. Bake until golden brown, rotating sheets halfway through, approx 30-40 minutes.

Cook’s Notes:

• Empanadas are a baked or fried Central/Latin American savoury pastry. They’re also popular in the Philippines too! 
• Alternative fillings: cheese & onion, minced beef & potato, sun dried tomato & goats cheese, chicken & mushroom, black beans & corn, Nutella & banana, pumpkin & spinach.