Pizza Empanadas (Empanadillas De Pizza)

This Puerto Rican and Italian fusion snack will become a staple treat in your repertoire.

📝 Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup shortening or unsalted butter
• 1 cup ice cold water
• 10 empanada discs (frozen or homemade)
• 1/3 cup marinara sauce
• 8 oz pasteurized mozzarella cheese (not fresh mozzarella, it's too watery)
• canola or vegetable oil (for frying)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- To Make The Homemade Empanada Dough ---
2. 2In a food processor, add the flour and salt. Add the shortening or butter and pulse 1-15 times, until the mixture resembles coarse sand.
3. 3While pulsing, add about 3/4 cup of the water. Pulse 5-10 times, until the dough just comes together in a loose ball. Add remaining water a tablespoon at a time if all the flour has not been moistened.
4. 4Turn out onto a clean surface and gently knead into a smooth dough. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 days if not using immediately.
5. 5Divide dough into 10 pieces and roll each piece out to 1/8-inch thick. Cut into rounds using a cookie cutter or tracing a bowl with a knife. Discs can be filled immediately and cooked.
6. 6If not using immediately, stack on top of each other with a piece of parchment or wax paper between each disc. Place in a zip bag and refrigerate for 1 day or freeze. If using from frozen state, allow the discs to thaw at room temperature for about 10-20 minutes before using them in a recipe.
7. 7--- To Make The Pizza Empanadas ---
8. 8Preheat about 1 inch of oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
9. 9Lay a slice of cheese onto the sauce (you can break the cheese into pieces if needed).
10. 10Seal both sides of the empanadas tightly by pressing down on the edges with a fork.
11. 11Fry the empanadas for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown.
12. 12Drain the empanadas on a plate lined with paper towel sheets and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.