Perfect cheese empanadas

Empanadas are individual Spanish turnovers most often filled with meat and vegetables. This fried empanada recipe, called empanadas fritas de queso, is filled only with melted cheese, and as empanadas go, they are quick and easy to make.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons vegetable shortening, or lard, softened

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup water

16 ounces whole-milk mozzarella, or other meltable cheese

2 to 3 cups vegetable oil, or amount needed for frying

Steps to Make It

Gather the ingredients.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and sugar.

Gently mix the vegetable shortening into the flour.

Place the milk and water in a saucepan and heat until almost boiling.

Stir the hot liquid into the flour mixture. Add more water (1 tablespoon at a time) if the mixture seems too dry and crumbly, or add more flour if the mixture is too wet and sticky.

Crimp edge decoratively with a fork, pressing to seal.

In a deep-sided skillet, pot, or deep-fat fryer, heat several inches of vegetable oil to 350 F. Fry empanadas in batches, turning at least once, until golden brown.

Drain empanadas on paper towels.