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American Meat Pastry Bites

Serves 4 to 6 Appetizer meat, Appetizers

American Meat Pastry Bites

American Meat Pastry Bites are a delightful nod to the resourcefulness and creativity of home cooks across the United States. Often found at family gatherings and casual get-togethers, these little parcels of savory goodness have been a staple on the American table for decades. Their origins are rooted in the practicality of using simple, readily available ingredients to create something both comforting and satisfying.

Each bite should offer a crispy, golden exterior that gives way to a deliciously seasoned filling of ground beef and onions. The beef, seasoned with a careful hand of salt and pepper, brings hearty flavor, while the onion adds a subtle sweetness. These bites are perfect for sharing, encouraging guests to reach for seconds and thirds, embodying the communal spirit of American home cooking.

Ingredients

  • 300 gground beef
  • 1onion
  • 12pastry wrappers
  • for fryingoil
  • to tastefine sea salt and black pepper

Method

  1. Begin by finely chopping 1 onion. This will ensure it cooks evenly and integrates well with the ground beef. Set the chopped onion aside and prepare the pastry wrappers by laying them flat on a clean surface, ready for filling later.
  2. In a large skillet, heat about 2 tablespoons of frying oil over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chopped onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes translucent and soft, releasing a sweet aroma, which should take about 5 minutes.
  3. Add 300 g of ground beef to the skillet with the onions. Use a wooden spoon to break up the beef into small pieces. Cook until the beef is browned and no pink remains, which will take about 7-10 minutes. Season with fine sea salt and black pepper to taste, stirring to combine the flavors thoroughly.
  4. Remove the skillet from the heat and allow the beef mixture to cool slightly. This step is important to prevent the pastry wrappers from becoming soggy or tearing when filled.
  5. Take one pastry wrapper and place a spoonful of the beef mixture in the center. Fold the wrapper over the filling, sealing the edges by pinching them together firmly. Repeat this process with the remaining wrappers and filling.
  6. In a clean skillet, heat another 2 tablespoons of frying oil over medium heat. Once hot, carefully add the filled pastry bites, ensuring they do not overcrowd the pan. Fry each side until golden brown and crispy, which should take about 3-4 minutes per side.
  7. Once the pastry bites are evenly browned and crisp, remove them from the skillet and drain on a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil. Sprinkle a final pinch of fine sea salt over the hot pastries for an extra touch of flavor.
  8. Serve the American Meat Pastry Bites immediately while they are hot and crispy, perfect for sharing around the table.
Cover of Authentic American Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic American Cuisine

This recipe is from Authentic American Cuisine by Yassine Sbiti — the American volume in the ComidaTime International Cuisines series.

Available soon on Amazon…

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