Pastelitos (Dominican Republic)
Serves 6
Ingredients
Method
To make the dough, combine the flour and salt in a large bowl. Add the butter and rub it into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Gradually add the water, mixing until a dough forms. Knead the dough briefly until smooth, then cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
To make the filling, heat a small amount of oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened. Add the ground beef or cheese, paprika, and cumin, and cook until the beef is browned or the cheese is melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Roll out the dough and cut into rounds. Spoon some of the filling onto one half of each round, then fold the dough over the filling and crimp the edges to seal.
Heat a large amount of oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the pastelitos until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels and serve hot.