Fast and Furious Black Bean Empanadas

Just when I was beginning to think chipotle peppers were so two years ago, I pulled some out of the freezer. Once opened, canned chipotle peppers can be frozen. When ready to use, just remove them and chop them into the dish you're preparing. These are spicy empanadas, use 1 pepper or 1/2 if you don't like spicy foods. The chipotle lends a subtle smokiness. Ready-made pastry dough and canned black beans make this a fast dish. These are easy to put together once you have all the ingredients ready.

Fast and Furious Black Bean Empanadas

Serves: 4 Yield: 1 large empanada

1 ready-made refrigerated pastry dough

1 cup dried black beans, soaked and cooked, or 1, 14 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained

4 spring onions, chopped

1/2 cup or more cream cheese

2 chipotle peppers, chopped. Handle peppers with gloves.

1/3 cup tomato chunks, from canned tomato chunks

1/2 cup shredded cheese or queso quesadilla

Preheat oven to 400 °F on the broiler setting. Move the racks to the lowest setting. You will broil for the first 10 minutes, then turn the heat down to 350 °F and bake for another 30 minutes.

Directions:

1. Add chopped green onions to a large mixing bowl. Add in cream cheese and chopped chipotle peppers. Stir to combine.

2. Add in black beans and continue to stir together until combined. The beans should be coated. Adjust for taste. I didn't add any salt, and found that the chipotle gave it enough smoke and salt.

3. Roll out the pastry on a large baking sheet or cold pizza stone. You should be able to unroll the pastry directly onto the baking sheet or stone. Add half of the prepared filling to one-half of the pastry. You'll fold it over on one side like a calzone, or the way you'd fold a sheet of paper in half. Spread the black beans in an even layer. Leave a 3/4" border.

4. Fold the pastry on top of the black bean mixture and fold up the edges slightly. Take the tines of a fork and push the rolled edges down to seal in the stuffing.

5. Bake at 400 °F on broil for the first 8-10 minutes. Turn heat down to 350 °F and bake another 30 minutes.