Almond Flour Empanada & Pierogi Dough

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Description
Instead of refined white flour, this dough uses almond flour and mozzarella cheese for a low carb and high fat dough. It's also multi-purpose, as I'm using this dough recipe to make Ground Beef Empanadas, Sweet Potato Pierogi, and Spinach and Feta Hand Pies.

This finger food is the perfect appetizer or meal for a group, and is a great activity for you and a partner to do together! For similar almond flour and mozzarella cheese bread recipes, see my Gluten Free Savory Pretzels and Almond Flour Focaccia.
Time
Prep Time:
40 minutes

Cook Time:
20 minutes

Total Time:
1 hour
Cost
Total Cost:

Cost per Serving:
$0.24
Ingredients
Serving(s)
  • 6 oz Shredded mozzarella cheese, low moisture part skim
  • 1 oz Cream cheese
  • 3/4 cup Almond flour
  • 1 large Egg
Instructions
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  1. Preheat your oven to 350F, and line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper
  2. Add the mozzarella to a large glass bowl. Cut the cream cheese into cubes, and add on top. Microwave for 1 minute, stirring halfway with a silicone spatula
    1. Add in the almond flour and a beaten egg, and mix in with the spatula to make a combined and slightly sticky dough
    1. Scoop your dough into 12 equal sized pieces, about 2 tbsp (27 g) each, and roll into balls. Place on the cookie sheet, and flatten into a round and thin circle, about 1/4" thick
    1. Add filling to the bottom half of the dough circle, leaving a 1/2" border
    1. Use a metal spatula to carefully lift up one end of the dough. Carefully fold the dough over to make semicircles, and seal the dough shut with your hands
    1. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes, flipping them over halfway, or until golden brown
    1. Cool for 10 minutes before serving
    Empanada Filling
    • 12 circles (333 g) Empanada/Pierogi dough
    • 1 tsp (5 g) Extra virgin olive oil
    • 1/2 medium (55 g) Onion
    • 1/3 lb (151 g) Ground beef, 93/7
    • 1 tsp (3 g) Garlic powder
    • 1 tsp (3 g) Onion powder
    • 1 tsp (3 g) Paprika
    • 1 tsp (3 g) Cumin, ground
    • 1/2 tsp (3 g) Salt
    1. Heat a medium pan over medium heat with olive oil. Finely dice your onion, and add to the pan. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until transparent and lightly caramelized.

    2. Add ground meat to the pan, and cook until browned and no longer pink.

    3. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, and salt. Stir to combine, then remove from heat

    4. Let the meat cool completely before using as filling

    5. Each empanada will get about 1 tbsp (12 g) of filling
    Pierogi Filling
    • 12 circles (333 g) Empanada/Pierogi dough
    • 2 medium (400 g) Sweet potato
    • 1 tsp (3 g) Garlic powder
    • 1 tsp (3 g) Onion powder
    • 1 tsp (3 g) Paprika
    • 1 tsp (3 g) Cumin, ground
    • 1/2 tsp (3 g) Salt
    1. Preheat your air fryer (or oven) to 400F

    2. Wash your sweet potatoes, prick with a fork, and wrap in foil

    3. Air fry for 1 hour (or bake in the oven for 1.5 hours), until fork tender

    4. Add your roasted sweet potato to a medium bowl, and season with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, and salt. Mash until smooth.

    5. Let the sweet potatoes cool completely before using as filling

    6. Each pierogi will get about 1.5 tbsp (23 g) of filling
    Spinach Pie Filling
    • 12 circles (333 g) Empanada/Pierogi dough
    • 8 oz (226 g) Frozen spinach, thawed
    • 2 oz (56 g) Feta cheese
    • 2 tbsp (30 g) Minced garlic
    • 1 tbsp (3 g) Dill, dried
    • 1 tbsp (10 g) Onion powder
    • 1/2 tsp (3 g) Salt
    1. Add frozen spinach to a medium glass bowl. Cover with a plate, and microwave for 5 minutes

    2. Mix in feta, minced garlic, dill, onion powder, and salt

    3. Let the spinach cool completely before using as filling

    4. Each spinach pie will get about 1.5 tbsp (23 g) of filling
    Nutrient Just
    the
    Dough    		 Beef
    Empanada    		 Sweet
    Potato
    Pierogi    		 Spinach
    Pie
    Calories 92 120 124 116
    Protein 5.6 g 8.4 g 6.3 g 7.2 g
    Fat 7.2 g 8.5 g 7.3 g 8.3 g
    Net Carbs 1.2 g 2.0 g 7.3 g 2.8 g
    Fiber 0.7 g 0.9 g 1.9 g 1.4 g
    Nutrition Facts
    ------------------------------------------
    Servings: 12
    Serving Size: 1 dough circle
    Calories: 92
    ------------------------------------------
    Total Fat: 7.2g (9 %)
    Saturated Fat: 2.3g (12 %)
    Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.0g
    Monounsaturated Fat: 3.3g
    Cholesterol: 29mg (10 %)
    Sodium: 102mg (4 %)
    Total Carbohydrate: 1.9g (1 %)
    Fiber: 0.7g (2 %)
    Net Carbs: 1.2g
    Total Sugar: 0.6g
    Protein: 5.6g (11 %)
    ------------------------------------------
    Vitamin B12: 0.17mcg (7 %)
    Vitamin D: 0.14mcg (1 %)
    ------------------------------------------
    Calcium: 132mg (10 %)
    Iron: 0.33mg (2 %)
    Magnesium: 23mg (5 %)
    Potassium: 67mg (1 %)
    ------------------------------------------
    Glycemic Index
    :
    13.7

    Glycemic Load
    :
    0.2

    Sources of Inspiration
    https://healthyrecipesblogs.com/baked-empanadas/#recipe
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