Empanadas Paisas (Meat-Filled Turnovers)

Ingredients

• •1/2 pound pork and beef
• •1 tablespoon onion and scallion, chopped
• •1 teaspoon cumin seed
• •1 teaspoon salt
• •1 dash pepper
• •2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• •2 cups water
• •1/2 cup chopped onions and chopped scallions
• •4 small tomatoes, peeled and chopped
• •4 medium-sized potatoes, boiled with skin
• •1/2 tablespoon fresh cumin seed, ground
• •1/2 tablespoon salt
• •1/2 teaspoon pepper
• •1 pound dry yellow corn
• •1 tablespoon salt
• •2 tablespoons cornstarch
• •2 tablespoons brown sugar

Directions

1. 1The night before, marinate the meat with the onions, scallions, salt, pepper and ground cumin seed. Cover the pan. The next day, brown the meat in the vegetable oil. Then return the marinade and add water. Cook about 40 minutes, until the meat is tender.
2. 2Remove and grind meat. Save the water. Sauté the onions and scallions in 4 tablespoons oil. Add the chopped tomatoes and fry an additional 3 or 4 minutes. Mix in the ground meat and meat stock and cook for about 10 minutes. Peel and mash the cooled, boiled potatoes and add them to the meat and vegetable mixture.
3. 3Mix the salt, pepper and ground cumin seed into the meat and potato mixture. Apart, boil the dry yellow corn in sufficient water to cover the corn, for about half an hour. Put the cooked corn through a grinder.
4. 4To the ground corn add the salt, the cornstarch and the brown sugar. Knead the dough until it is thoroughly mixed and forms a firm ball.
5. 5Pick off small pieces and form into the size of small balls. Flatten each piece thin. Put about 1 teaspoon of the meat mixture in the center of the flattened ball. Fold over and pinch edges together to close and form a pretty edge. Place in deep, hot vegetable oil and fry about 3 or 4 minutes until golden brown.
6. 6Remove and put on paper towels in a colander. Serve immediately or reheat in a paper bag in the oven prior to using.
7. 7The meat mixture can be made in advance and stored in the freezer, but the dough must be made fresh the day of use.