New Year’s Resolution: Low Calorie, Low-Fat, Low-Carb Beef Empanadas
January 02, 2009
How about a low-fat, low-calorie, low-carb appetizer to start the New Year? Is it really possible? Yes, it is… With bowl games going on and the Superbowl on its way in a few weeks, I thought I would share this appetizer recipe I developed recently for Laura’s Lean Beef Company. Each Empanada only has 85 calories, 1.5 grams of fat and 8 carbs, so you can indulge without breaking your New Year’s resolution. Using wonton wrappers and baking them in the oven is the key to their ease and delicious success.
Beef Empanandas
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Yield: 20 servings
Ingredients
1/2 pound lean ground round
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup canned low-salt yellow corn, drained
1/3 cup salsa
1 tablespoon tomato paste
20 wonton wrappers
Cooking spray
Salsa, low-fat sour cream (optional)
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Cook ground beef, onion and next 3 ingredients in a large nonstick skillet 5 minutes or until beef is browned; drain. Add corn and next 2 ingredients and cook until heated through. Remove and let cool.
3. Working with one wonton wrapper at a time, spoon 1 tablespoon beef mixture into center of each wrapper. Bring 2 opposite corners together and pinch the points to seal, forming a triangle. Place wrappers on a wire rack and repeat procedure with remaining wrappers and beef mixture.
4. Place empanadas on lightly greased baking sheets and coat lightly with cooking spray. Bake 4 to 6 minutes on each side, turning once or until golden. Serve with salsa and sour cream, if desired.
