Pastelitos de Pollo

A plate containing pastelitos de pollo (chicken turnovers) with a side of mayo-ketchup sauce

Description

Pastelitos de Pollo are popular pastries in the Dominican Republic, as well as in other Latin American countries. In the context of Dominican cuisine, they're similar to what many would recognize as empanadas or turnovers, with a filling enveloped in a thin, crispy dough.

Ingredients

Dough:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tsp salt

Chicken Filling:

  • 2 boiled and shredded chicken breasts
  • 1 small chopped onion
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • 2 tbsp tomato sauce
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Cooking oil for sautéing and frying

Steps

1. Dough Preparation:

  1. Mix flour and salt in a bowl.
  2. Gradually add water, mixing until a dough forms.
  3. Roll out the dough thinly and cut into rounds.

2. Chicken Filling:

  1. In a pan, heat a bit of cooking oil.
  2. Sauté onions and garlic until soft.
  3. Add shredded chicken, tomato sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix and cook for a few minutes.

3. Assemble and Fry:

  1. Place some chicken filling on one half of each dough round.
  2. Fold over and seal the edges by pressing with a fork.
  3. Heat oil in a pan and fry the pastelitos until golden brown.