Beef Empanadas are an incredible use for leftover smoked brisket and great appetizer idea for the holidays. Combine brisket, sautéed vegetables, herbs and spices rolled in puffed pastry dough and served with a creamy crème fraîche BBQ dip.
In a medium sized skillet add 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, and add onions and peppers and cook about 5 minutes, until starting to soften. Add the brisket, garlic, and jalapeño, and 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce, and cook an additional 5 minutes.
Place the mixture in the food processor, add the cayenne powder and parsley, and pulse a few times (just enough to mix everything together, but not so much that your filling looks like a paste). Taste and adjust seasonings. If it’s too dry, add an additional tablespoon of BBQ sauce and pulse again.
Roll out dough into 12 squares approximately 3” by 3”. If you are using store bought puff pastry I like to roll it out a little thinner than the way it comes from the box.
Brush the edges of small squares with egg wash, and place 1-1 ½ tablespoons of the filling in the center. Fold one edge to meet the opposite edge and seal edges together using the tines of a fork.
Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the dough is golden. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
BBQ Dipping Sauce
Mix crème fraîche, BBQ sauce, hot sauce, and salt, together in a small bowl. Transfer to serving bowl for dipping.
Notes
Prep Note: We like to use puff pastry. We also use a rolling pin (while it's on the parchment paper) to thin it out slightly. We want the filling to shine, not have too much pastry.