Recipe courtesy of Paul Hollywood

Iberico Ham and Manchego Empanadas

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Exploring the food in Madrid was fascinating, and seeing how empanada pastry is made was one of the highlights. The fat from Iberico pigs is sometimes used, which lends an amazing flavor and a very crisp texture to the pastry; it feels silky and smooth as you eat it. Here is my version which you can try at home. The superb Iberico fat is hard to get hold of, so this pastry combines lard and butter. The filing is packed with my favorite ingredients I found in Madrid: Iberico ham, manchego cheese and roasted peppers.
  • Level: Intermediate
  • Total: 1 hr 50 min (includes resting time)
  • Active: 45 min
  • Yield: 4 servings
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Ingredients

Pastry:

Filling:

Directions

  1. For the pastry: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C/gas 6 (390 degrees F).
  2. Mix the flour and salt in a bowl. Gradually add enough of the water to form a dough. On a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough out into a 20-by-30-centimeter (8-by-12 inch) rectangle.
  3. Scatter half of the grated frozen butter and lard over the pastry. Fold down the top third of the pastry and then fold up the bottom third, as if folding a letter. Turn the folded dough 90 degrees and roll it out into a rectangle again. Repeat the process: adding the remaining frozen butter and lard, and folding as before. Roll out and repeat 2 more turns with the dough to create the pastry layers. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and leave to rest in the fridge for 30 minutes before using.
  4. For the filling: On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the pastry into a 25-by-35-centimeter (10-by-14-inch) rectangle. Place the spinach on the base of half of the pastry, leaving a 1 1/2-centimeter (1/2-inch) gap from the edge. Add a layer of chopped peppers, cover with the grated cheese, and top with a layer of Iberico ham. Brush the edges of the pastry with beaten egg. Fold the pastry in half to cover the filling. Press the edges to seal. Brush the top with beaten egg and score a pattern on the top with a knife.
  5. Place on a baking sheet and bake until the pastry is crisp and a rich golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Eat warm or cold with a salad.

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