Beef Empanadas (Beef Patties)

Ingredients:

1 lb. browned ground beef or cooked shredded chicken

1/2 medium onion, diced

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 green bell pepper, diced

3 garlic cloves, crushed

1/8 c. chopped fresh cilantro

1/8 c. sliced green olives

salt and pepper, to taste

1/4-1/2 jalapeno, minced (optional)

1 tbsp. tomato paste

1 pkg. Goya Sazon with annato

1pkg Goya Discs for Empanadas

1 cup vegetable oil for frying.

Directions:

FILLING: Brown ground beef (drain excess grease), or sauté shredded chicken in 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add all the ingredients and cook for an additional 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Let cool.

COOKING: Preheat the vegetable oil in a frying pan at about a medium temperature. Place about 2 tablespoons of the filling in the dough and seal the edges with a fork.

Deep fry for about 5 minutes on each side, then place on dish lined with paper-towels. Press another layer of paper towels over the top.

For a healthier take... These CAN be fried...

(if you feel adventurous, you can play with the stuffing.. I've done ham and cheese, peperoni and mozzarella, sweet plantain and cheddar, etc..)