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Filipino Meat Pastry Bites 2

Serves 4 to 6 Appetizer meat, Appetizers

Filipino Meat Pastry Bites 2

Filipino Meat Pastry Bites 2 finds its roots in the everyday warmth of Filipino home cooking, where dishes are crafted with care and meant to be shared. This version mirrors the approach of family cooks who rely on their senses rather than strict measurements, especially when seasoning with salt and using fat generously. These bites are a staple at casual gatherings, where the table is set for sharing and the food is always abundant.

Each bite offers a satisfying contrast between the crisp, golden pastry and the savory ground beef filling, subtly seasoned with onions, fine sea salt, and a hint of black pepper. The texture and taste are meant to be comforting, welcoming you with the familiar flavors of a Filipino kitchen.

Ingredients

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

Method

  1. Start by finely chopping the onion. This will ensure it cooks evenly and blends well with the ground beef. Set the chopped onion aside and prepare the pastry wrappers by separating them gently to avoid tearing.
  2. In a large skillet, heat a generous amount of oil over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chopped onion. Sauté the onion until it becomes translucent and fragrant, which should take about 3 to 4 minutes.
  3. Add the 300 g of ground beef to the skillet with the onions. Use a wooden spoon to break up the beef into small pieces, ensuring it cooks evenly. Cook until the beef is browned and no longer pink, which will take about 5 to 7 minutes. Season with fine sea salt and black pepper to taste, stirring well to distribute the seasoning.
  4. Once the beef is cooked, remove the skillet from heat and let the mixture cool slightly. This step is important to prevent the pastry wrappers from becoming soggy when filled.
  5. Lay out the pastry wrappers on a clean surface. Place a spoonful of the beef mixture in the center of each wrapper. Fold the edges over the filling to create a sealed pocket, pressing the edges firmly to ensure they are well sealed.
  6. In a clean skillet, heat more oil over medium heat for frying. Once the oil is hot, carefully place the filled pastry bites into the skillet, seam side down. Fry them in batches, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan.
  7. Fry each side of the pastry bites until golden brown and crispy, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. The pastry should be a deep golden color and feel crisp to the touch.
  8. Remove the cooked pastry bites from the skillet and drain them on a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil. Finish with a light sprinkle of fine sea salt while they are still hot, and serve immediately to enjoy the crispy texture.
Cover of Authentic Filipino Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Filipino Cuisine

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

Available soon on Amazon…

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