Easy & Healthy Cheesy Empanadas

I grew up in southern California, so authentic Mexican restaurants were everywhere and I loved them! So now, I live in Washington state and I miss those flavorful and delicious dishes up here.

But I came up with these cheesy pockets of goodness made with natural and healthier ingredients!

They are not only dairy free, but gluten free, grain free, and nut free! Seriously, you wouldn't know they are dairy free! I'm sure you could trick your friends and family that they have cheese in them!!

Easy & Healthy Cheesy Empanadas

Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free | Paleo friendly

Ready in 1 1/2 hr.

Serves 8

Ingredients

Dough:

2 cups cassava flour

½ cup tapioca flour

½ tsp sea salt

6 tbsp coconut oil, cold

1 egg or vegan egg

1 cup ice water

Filling:

1 batch dairy free queso

1 pound ground beef or turkey

Salt + pepper to taste, if needed

Preparation

Preheat oven 375F

1. For the crust: In a mixing bowl, add the cassava, tapioca flour, and salt. Blend until combined.

2. With a pastry blender or pie crust blender; cut in to the coconut oil in to dime size fats. Then stir in the egg and water until it forms a dough. Form it into a ball and chill it for 30 minutes.

1. For the filling: make a batch of the dairy free queso. Set aside.

2. In a large skillet, brown your ground meat until cooked through. Add the whole batch of queso in the meat and if necessary add some salt and pepper to taste, if needed.

3. Use a medium size cookie scoop. Roll each dough out into small circles; sandwich between 2 pieces of parchment paper to ¼” thick.

4. Place a dollop of meat filling in the middle of the dough and fold one end over to the other side. (I just take the whole parchment paper with the dough side and sandwich over the meat to the other side of the dough. This way you don’t have to move the dough over with your fingers.) Press the edges together with a fork or fingers.

5. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet pan. If it’s too difficult to get it off the parchment paper, just flip it over on your hand and peel off the parchment and flip back on the sheet pan from your hand.

6. Bake for 30 minutes. Serve hot with fresh salsa or guacamole.

Tip:

If want to add some veggies with the meat, you can go ahead. Add whatever flavors you like to make it your own! If you want it spicier, just add some finely chopped jalapenos!

This would make a great appetizer for parties!

Please leave comments below on what you think of this cheesy empanadas!!