Vegetarian Empanadas

An empanada also called pastel in Brazilian Portuguese and pate in Haitian Creole is a stuffed bread or pastry baked or fried in many countries in Latin Europe, Latin America, the Southwestern United States, and parts of Southeast Asia. The name comes from the Galician, Portuguese, and Spanish verb empanar, meaning to wrap or coat in bread.Empanadas are made by folding dough or bread with stuffing consisting of a variety of meat, cheese, vegetables, fruits, and others. My today's vegetarian empanadas goes for an interesting cheesy stuffing, yes i stuffed this empanadas with paneer along with mixed vegetables. Obviously if you want to make a super cheesy paneer empanadas just skip the vegetables. However i loved this vegetable loaded paneer empanadas.

I baked this healthy version of empanadas for a baking challenge few months back and i couldnt able to post them before the deadline, however its not too late to post this empanadas as this cute mini empanadas goes for this week's blogging marathon as am running with Kid's delight-Snacking all the way. Obviously this vegetarian empanadas are big hit among the kids, especially the addition of paneer turned this simple vegetable stuffed empanadas more delicious and nutritious at the same time.Trust me these empanadas gets vanished very much quickly than you can imagine.

For dough:
75grms Butter(cold)
1+1/2cups All-purpose flour
4tbsp Water
1/4tsp Salt
2tbsp Oil

For stuffing:
100grms Paneer (cut as small pieces)
1no Onion (chopped finely)
1no Capsicum (chopped finely)
1no Carrot (chopped finely)
1/2cup Cornkernels
Salt
1tsp Pepper powder
1tsp Red chilly powder
1/2cup Cheddar cheese
1tbsp Milk for wash
2tbsp Oil


Pre-heat your oven to 180 degree C. Line up  your baking tray with butter paper .

Grate the cold butter into a bowl. Add flour, salt and water into it.

Use your finger tips to combine the butter and flour thoroughly. Do not knead yet. Once the butter has been incorporated completely, knead very briefly and make a soft dough. Do not over knead.

Add 2 tablespoons of oil in a fry pan and add the chopped paneer, 1/4 teaspoon salt and chilly powder.

Fry on medium flame until the paneer cubes become golden brown. Switch off. Set aside.

In another heavy bottomed fry pan, add 2 tablespoons oil and fry chopped garlic, onions and capsicum until soft.

Add salt, pepper and spices and fry for one minute.

Add the fried paneer,saute for 3 minutes and until everything combines together.

Roll out the dough to 1/2 cm thickness,on your counter top or on a silicon mat. You can dust with flour if it gets sticky.

Use a round cutter. Cut out the dough into circles.

Add the filling into each cut out dough and add grated cheese on top of the filling.

Fold each of them and seal well using a fork.

Arrange them on a baking paper, milk wash and bake in pre-heated oven at 180 degree C for about 20 to 30 minutes until the top becomes golden brown.

Cool just a bit on wire rack.

Serve them hot with any dips of choice.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 53