What's Up World: Brazilian Empanadas

Welcome to the first week of our What’s Up World weekly summer series! For the next six weeks, we’re going to be taking an imaginary trip around the globe, reading one book from the Living in Around the World Collection and making a recipe that represents that country. (You can read more about the series by CLICKING HERE.)

Remember the international vacations you used to take with your spouse before you had children—the afternoons spent wandering down foreign cobblestone streets, sauntering through museums, and enjoying a leisurely glass of wine at at outdoor cafe? This is nothing like that. (What? You have kids now.) Instead, we’ll be exploring different cultures from the comfort of your own kitchen. There are no pricey plane tickets, no museum meltdowns, and no judgement if you choose to pour yourself a glass while you cook, because cooking with kids can have a common side effect of driving parents to drink. I kid, I kid.

We started our trip in Brazil, and I was surprised to see how interested my 3 and 6 year old boys were in learning about the country and locating it on our globe. This particular book about Brazil was narrated by a school aged boy that my kids could easily identify with. Like them, he lives in an apartment in the city and wears a uniform to school. I liked that the boys could see themselves in the narrator, and we talked about how his life would be similar and different to theirs. I personally have found that motherhood is a role that makes the world seem so much smaller since we all share many of the same struggles and joys, and I hope that on some level, this book helped my kids feel this way too.

For the recipe, we went with a traditional Brazilian baked empanada that they refer to as Pastel al Forno made with chorizo, potato, and bell peppers. In Brazil, they typically bake their empanadas instead of frying them, which makes for a healthier recipe and a quicker clean-up. I did most of the chopping in advance, and the boys helped me (I use the term "help" very loosely--ha!) by taking turns sauteeing the filling, spooning the filling into the disks, wetting the edges of the disks, and poking holes in the top with a fork so that the steam could escape. These type of empanadas, I told them, were Brazil's version of fast food--something you could grab and go as an afternoon snack or quick meal--though they were disappointed that I didn't know if kids' meals in Brazil came with a toy.

It's been a while since I've cooked with my kids--evenings in the school year are just too chaotic--but I was pleasantly reminded how excited the kids were to have a hand in making the recipe and trying it. They couldn't wait to try the finished product and were so thrilled to shove food into their sister's mouth  offer their sister bites of what they made. For us, this recipe was a huge success (my oldest ate 3!), and I believe it was partly because they helped out and also because the elements inside the filling were familiar enough--they're used to eating sausage, potatoes, and peppers. I'm planning on making this again and using it for lunchbox stuffers throughout the week.

You can also make extra filling by doubling the recipe below. Alone, it makes a delicious hash that you could top with a fried egg.

Here's hoping the next stop will be as successful. Join us next week as we head halfway around the world to India!

Chorizo, Potato, and Pepper Empanadas

makes 12 empandas

Ingredients:

1 package refrigerated pie crusts, cut into 12  1 1/2 in circles and then rolled out with a rolling pin until they are a 3 inch diameter*

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 small onion, diced

1 garlic clove, minced

3 chorizo links, diced

1/2 red bell pepper, diced

1/2 green pepper, diced

1 small russet potato, diced

1 teaspoon oregano

1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper

Directions:

Make filling: Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add chorizo, onion, peppers and potato to the saucepan, and stir until vegetables and potato are fork tender, around 10-15 minutes. Add garlic and oregano, salt and pepper and cook for 2 minutes more. Cool filling to room temperature.

Form empanadas. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a small bowl of water next to the disks. Place 12 disks on a lightly floured surface, and spoon 2 tablespoons of filling into the center of the disk. Dip your fingers in the water, and run them around the outer edges of the disk. Fold dough in half and seal the edges with a fork. Flip the disk and use the fork to crimp the other side. Poke a hole in the top of the empanada, brush with olive oil, and place on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining 11 disks.

Bake for 15-20 minutes until empanadas are golden. Serve warm or at room temperature.

*You can also use empanada discos found in the freezer section of the grocery stores--just be sure to buy the variety that are meant for baking not frying.