Gourmet Pastelillos (Meat Pies)

These pastelillos are deep-fried meat pies stuffed with a savory filling of lean ground beef, green olives, and onion seasoned with sofrito and sazon.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 35 mins
• Total Time: 55 mins
• Calories: 290 Calories

Ingredients

• vegetable oil for frying
• 1 pound extra-lean ground beef
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons sofrito (such as Goya®)
• 6 large pimento-stuffed olives, diced
• 2 small garlic cloves, minced and crushed
• 2 (14 ounce) packages frozen empanada dough (such as Goya® discos)
• 0.5 onion, diced
• 0.25 cup tomato sauce
• 0.5 teaspoon oregano
• 1 (1.41 ounce) package sazon seasoning with coriander and achiote (such as Goya®

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef in hot oil until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in onion, tomato sauce, olives, sofrito, sazon, garlic, and oregano. Bring to a simmer and cook until mixture is thickened, about 15 minutes.

Step 2

Spoon 1 heaping tablespoon meat mixture into the middle of a disco. Moisten the edges, fold dough to form a half-moon, and press with a fork to seal. Repeat with remaining meat mixture and discos.

Step 3

Heat oil in a deep fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Working in batches, fry pastelillos in hot oil until golden brown and bubbly, about 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels before serving.