Ninfa's Banana Empanadas - Empanadas De Platanos |
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Prep Time: 30 Minutes Cook Time: 10 Minutes |
Ready In: 40 Minutes Servings: 10 |
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A luscious dessert from Mama Ninfa, founder of the popular Ninfa's Restaurants as published in the San Antonio Express News. Cooking time is approximate. Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour |
1 teaspoon granulated sugar |
4 tablespoons lard or 4 tablespoons shortening or 4 tablespoons butter, cut into small bits |
3/4 cup warm water |
1 teaspoon salt |
1 egg yolk (optional) |
8 -10 small fresh bananas, sliced |
8 -10 tablespoons dark seedless raisins |
8 -10 tablespoons chopped pecans |
8 -10 teaspoons honey |
1 egg white, for sealing edges |
oil, for frying |
1 tablespoon powdered sugar |
1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon |
5 slices fresh bananas |
1 teaspoon chopped pecans |
1 teaspoon dark seedless raisins |
4 1/2 ounces vanilla ice cream (1 scoop) |
1 maraschino cherry |
1/4 cup caramel sauce (available in grocery stores or make your own cajeta sauce) |
Directions:
1. To make dough: Measure flour and sugar into bowl; stir to mix.
2. Add fat and thoroughly work it into the flour.
3. Dissolve salt in water (mix with egg yolk, if using), and add to flour mixture; mix to form a medium-stiff dough.
4. Knead for 4 to 5 minutes.
5. Divide dough into about 8 to 10 equal parts, roll into balls, cover with plastic wrap and let sit for about 20 to 30 minutes to rest.
6. For each empanada, roll a ball of dough into a flat round, tortilla- shape, about 8 inches in diameter (use a tortilla press, if available).
7. Place on a hot pan and cook briefly on one side.
8. On the center of the tortilla, with the cooked side to the inside, put bananas, raisins, pecans and honey.
9. With a small pastry brush, brush egg white around the edges and fold it over to form a half-moon shape.
10. Press around the edges to seal with a fork.
11. Pour oil to a depth of 1 1/2 inches into a wide frying pan and heat oil to 350 degrees.
12. Fry empanadas for 2 minutes, turning as necessary, until golden brown.
13. Remove from oil and let drain.
14. Sprinkle powdered sugar over top, then cinnamon.
15. Garnish with banana slices, pecans, and raisins.
16. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side, top with the cherry and accompany with a pitcher of warm cajeta (caramel) sauce.
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