Pastelitos de Carne - Cuban Beef Pastries - Cooked by Julie Episode 213

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork is often less expensive.

butter

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Coconut oil offers a healthier fat option, while margarine is usually cheaper.

green olives

🥗Healthier: capers

💰Cheaper: pickles

Capers add a similar briny flavor, while pickles are often less expensive.

Prepare the meat filling by breaking up the ground beef with your fingers.

Heat a skillet until very hot.

Remove excess grease from the beef if desired.

Add chopped onions and green bell peppers to the skillet and sauté for a couple of minutes.

Add fresh minced garlic and sauté for about 20 seconds until fragrant.

Pour in tomato sauce and let it simmer for about 15 seconds.

Add a bay leaf and oregano to the mixture.

Season with salt and pepper.

Add the ground beef back into the skillet.

Stir in tomato paste and dry white wine (optional).

Sprinkle in cumin and a bit of cinnamon for flavor.

Add granulated garlic (optional) and mix well.

Ensure the mixture is not runny; it should be on the dry side for the pastries.

Add raisins and green olives to the mixture and stir well.

Cover the skillet and let it cook on low heat for about 15 minutes.

Prepare the simple syrup by combining equal parts of water and sugar in a saucepan.

Simmer the simple syrup over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until the sugar is dissolved, then let it cool completely.

Roll out store-bought puff pastry on a floured surface to flatten it.

Use a drinking glass to cut out circles from the puff pastry.

Take about a tablespoon of the meat filling and place it on top of each pastry circle.

Place another layer of pastry on top of the filling.

Seal the edges using fingers or a fork (optional).

Brush egg wash on top of the pastries for a golden color.

Make a tiny hole with a toothpick in each pastry to allow steam to escape.

Bake the pastries in a preheated oven at 350°F for 25 minutes.

Once baked, brush the pastries with the cooled simple syrup.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens