Tuna and Goat Cheese Empanadillas

Ingredients :

1 tablespoon of olive oil
5 tablespoons of minced onion
6 oz of canned tuna, packed in olive oil
4 oz of goat cheese
3 oz pimento stuffed olives, chopped
5 tablespoons of toasted pine nuts
5 tablespoons of capers, chopped
1 teaspoon of paprika
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
16 oz puff of pastry, defrosted if frozen

Preparation :

Empanadas are crisp turnovers that can be filled with anything from ham and cheese to spinach and pine nuts, or the previous day's leftovers.

Altough they are often associated with South America, empanadas originated in Spain's northwestern region of Galicia, where they remain immensely popular to this day.

Empanadillas, the smaller, pocket size versions of empanadas, are generally served as tapas, and, because no silverware is required to eat them, make perfect as party food.

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.

Add the onion and garlic and sauté for about 5 minutes or until softened.

Remove from the heat and set aside.

Using a fork, mash the tuna with the onion, garlic, goat cheese, pimento-stuffed olives, pine nuts, capers, paprika, salt, and pepper.

Set aside.

On a floured surface, roll out the pastry to 1/8 inch thickness.

Using a 3 inch cookie cutter, cut out as many dough circles as the dough will allow, rerolling the dough sheets if necessary.

Cupping each dough round in your hand, spoon about 1 teaspoon of the filing into the center of each dough round, then brush the edges with a little water. fold the dough over the mixture to form a crescent.

Pinch the edges of crescent to seal the dough closed.

Use the back of a fork to further press the edges of the dough together.