Pastelitos de Carne Hondureños
Crispy, golden-fried turnovers filled with a savory seasoned ground beef mixture. These popular street food snacks are a delightful combination of flaky pastry and flavorful filling, often served with curtido and salsa.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground beef
- 1/2 medium Onion(finely chopped)
- 2 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1/4 cup Tomato sauce
- 1 tsp Cumin
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
- 2 cups All-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup Vegetable shortening or lard
- 4-6 tbsp Ice water
- enough to fill pan Vegetable oil for frying
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the filling: In a skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Drain off excess fat.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 2
Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 3
Stir in the tomato sauce, cumin, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until the sauce has thickened and flavors have melded. Let the filling cool completely.
⏱️ 25 minutes - 4
Prepare the dough: In a bowl, combine flour, salt, and shortening. Rub together with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
💡 Tip: Using cold shortening is key for a flaky crust. - 5
Gradually add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough just comes together. Do not overmix.
- 6
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Divide into 12 equal portions. Roll each portion into a thin circle (about 6 inches in diameter).
⏱️ 10 minutes - 7
Place about 2-3 tablespoons of the cooled meat filling onto one half of each dough circle, leaving a border. Moisten the edges with water and fold the other half of the dough over to create a half-moon shape. Crimp the edges with a fork to seal.
💡 Tip: Ensure the edges are well sealed to prevent filling from leaking out during frying. - 8
Heat about 2-3 inches of vegetable oil in a deep skillet or pot to 350°F (175°C). Carefully fry the pastelitos in batches until golden brown and crispy on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.
⏱️ 8 minutes💡 Tip: Do not overcrowd the pan, as this will lower the oil temperature and result in greasy pastelitos. - 9
Remove pastelitos with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve hot.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Make sure the meat filling is completely cool before assembling the pastelitos to prevent the dough from becoming soggy.
- ✓For extra flavor, you can add finely chopped bell peppers or a pinch of chili powder to the meat filling.
- ✓Serve with curtido (a pickled cabbage slaw) and your favorite salsa.
🔄 Variations
- Some variations include cheese or a mix of meat and vegetables in the filling.
- For a vegetarian option, use seasoned lentils or beans as the filling.