Appetizer

Picadillo Empanadas with Garlic Cilantro Dipping Sauce

Picadillo Empanadas with Garlic Cilantro Dipping Sauce
 
Picadillo is a traditional dish in many Latin American countries that is made with ground beef and a flavorful tomato sauce. Using this as a filing in empanadas creates a savory side dish or snack!
Author:
Recipe type: Appetizer, Snack, Lunch, Dinner
Cuisine: Fusion
Ingredients
  • olive oil ¼ cup
  • garlic cloves 2
  • medium onion 1
  • small green bell pepper 1
  • ground sirloin or ground round 1 pound
  • vino seco (dry white cooking wine) ½ cup
  • tomato sauce 1 cup
  • tomato paste 2 tablespoons
  • ground cumin ½ teaspoon
  • ground oregano ½ teaspoon
  • salt 1 teaspoon
  • pepper ½ teaspoon
  • raisins, optional ¼ cup
  • pimento-stuffed olives ¼ cup
  • capers 2 tablespoons
  • discos para empanadas (frozen turnover pastry disks) 20
  • mayonnaise (we like Hellmans) 1 cup
  • cilantro ¼ cup
  • garlic 1 tablespoon
  • white pepper ½ teaspoon
  • fresh lemon juice 3 tablespoons
  • Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon
Preparation
  1. To make the picadillo, heat half the olive oil in a large IMUSA frying pan over medium-high heat.
  2. Add the garlic, onion, and bell pepper, and sauté until tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
  3. Raise the heat to medium-high and add the ground beef (the meat should make a searing sound when it hits the pan—use a small amount of meat to test the heat; if it doesn't, increase the heat to high for a few minutes before adding the meat). Stir frequently to break up any large chunks of meat, and cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 5 minutes, until the beef is thoroughly cooked (no longer red).
  4. Drain any excess liquid from the pan. Add the vino seco, tomato sauce, tomato paste, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, and the remaining olive oil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for about 20 minutes.
  5. Add the raisins, olives, and capers, and stir to combine. Set aside and allow to cool.
  6. Pre-Heat your IMUSA empanada maker by simply plugging it in. Your empanada maker is properly heated and ready to use once the green light turns on.
  7. Remove one package of the pastry disks from the refrigerator. (Always leave the ones you aren’t working with in the refrigerator. They are easier to work with if they are firm.) Working on a lightly floured surface, separate the disks
  8. Place 1 to 1 ½ tablespoons of filling in the center of each disk. Fold each disk to make a semicircle. Using the tines of a fork, press around the edges to seal.
  9. Bake in preheated IMUSA empanada maker for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden
  10. To make the dipping sauce, combine the mayonnaise, garlic, lemon juice, Worcestershire, cilantro, and white pepper until smooth. Serve in a small bowl alongside the hot empanadas.
 

Chorizo & Ham Empanadas with Ranch Cilantro Dipping Sauce

Chorizo & Ham Empanadas with Ranch Cilantro Dipping Sauce
 
Empanadas are a pastry filled with meat, seafood, or cheese. This delicious recipe combines chorizo & ham with a tomato-based sauce and accompanies it with a slightly spicy ranch dipping sauce!
Author:
Recipe type: Appetizer, Snack, Lunch, Dinner
Cuisine: Fusion
Ingredients
  • olive oil 2 tablespoons
  • garlic clove 1
  • onion ¼ cup
  • green bell pepper ¼ cup
  • tomato sauce ½ cup
  • vino seco (dry white cooking wine) ¼ cup
  • pepper ¼ teaspoon
  • ground Spanish chorizo sausage ½ pound
  • ground sweet ham
  • salt 20
  • discos para empanadas (frozen turnover pastry disks)
  • flour
  • thick ranch dressing (we like Marie’s) 1 cup
  • hot sauce (like Tabasco) 1 to 2 tablespoons
  • cilantro 1 to 2 teaspoons
Preparation
  1. To make the filling, heat the oil in a shallow IMUSA pot over medium-high heat.
  2. Add the garlic, onion, and bell pepper, and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, until soft.
  3. the tomato sauce, vino seco, and pepper, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently.
  4. Add the chorizo and ham and continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Turn the heat off and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. Taste and add salt, if necessary.
  5. Pre-Heat your IMUSA empanada maker by simply plugging it in. Your empanada maker is properly heated and ready to use once the green light turns on.
  6. Remove one package of the pastry disks from the refrigerator. (Always leave the ones you aren’t working with in the refrigerator. They are easier to work with if they are firm.) Working on a lightly floured surface, separate the disks
  7. Place 1 to 1½ tablespoons in the center of each whole disk. Fold each disk to make a semicircle. Using the tines of a fork, press around the edges to seal.
  8. Bake in preheated IMUSA empanada maker for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden.
  9. To make the dipping sauce, combine the ranch dressing and hot sauce in a bowl and garnish with the cilantro. Serve in a small bowl alongside the hot empanadas.

Thai Style Seared Scallops with Coconut Milk Sauce

Thai Style Seared Scallops with Coconut Milk Sauce
 
This dish has the perfect combination of spicy and sweet - using fresh red chiles and coconut milk to make a delicious sauce for the sea scallops.
Author:
Recipe type: Appetizer, Lunch, Dinner
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
  • large sea scallops 12
  • olive oil 2 tablespoons
  • butter 1 tablespoon
  • salt and pepper
  • fish sauce (available in tall bottles at Asian/Chinese food stores) 2 tab
  • juice of ½ lime
  • handful of fresh cilantro
  • fresh red chilies 1 to 2
  • cloves garlic 2
  • coconut milk ¼ cup
  • Pinch of sugar
Preparation
  1. Rinse scallops and pat dry (pat drying will help the scallops attain a nice sear and caramel color.)
  2. Heat an IMUSA wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add one tablespoon each of butter and olive oil to the pan.
  3. Season the scallops lightly with salt and fresh ground pepper and gently place them in the wok. Cook the scallops undisturbed for at least 3 minutes.
  4. Turn the scallops and cook another 3 minutes or so. Scallops are ready when both sides have a nice golden color and are firm to the touch.
  5. Remove scallops from the wok and place on a paper towel to drain
  6. In the same wok, heat the remaining tablespoon of oil and sauté the chili peppers and the garlic for 2 minutes over medium heat. Add the rest of the ingredients for the sauce and allow to cook, stirring occasionally another 3 to 4 minutes.
  7. Place all the ingredients for the sauce in the wok over medium heat-high. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes stirring occasionally.
  8. Remove from heat and add additional salt and pepper if necessary. Remove scallops from wok and serve with steamed Jasmine rice. Garnish with extra chopped fresh cilantro leaves.
 

Steamed Veggies with Pineapple Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce

Steamed Veggies & Pineapple Sweet/Sour Sauce
 
Who said veggies had to be boring!? Using a dipping sauce made from pineapple, vinegar, and sugar adds a sweet and tangy flavor to your steamed veggies.
Author:
Recipe type: Side dish, Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
  • vegetables like carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, sugar snap peas, and turnips
  • ice water 1 tablespoon
  • cornstarch 1 tablespoon
  • can of pineapple chunks (1) 20 ounce
  • vinegar ¼ cup
  • sugar 1 tablespoon
  • salt 1 teaspoon
Preparation
  1. Place vegetables inside the IMUSA steamer baskets and bring 2 cups of water to boil in a wok or medium saucepan.
  2. To make dipping sauce, in a small bowl or cup add ice water and cornstarch and mix until fully dissolved. Set aside.
  3. Remove juice of canned pineapple, about ¾ cup, and place in a small saucepan. Reserve pineapple chunks for other use.
  4. Add vinegar, sugar and salt to saucepan and heat on medium high, whisking frequently.
  5. Once simmering, drizzle in cornstarch mixture and whisk briskly until sauce thickens. Remove from heat and pour dipping sauce in a bowl.
  6. To steam the vegetables, place steamer baskets with veggies on wok or saucepan and steam for 4-5 minutes.
  7. Remove immediately and serve with sweet and sour dipping sauce.

Buffalo Chicken Steamed Dumplings

Buffalo Chicken Steamed Dumplings
 
If you love dumplings, you'll want to try this recipe filled with ground chicken, blue cheese and spices with a buffalo style hot sauce for dipping!
Author:
Recipe type: Appetizer, Snack, Lunch, Dinner
Cuisine: Fusion
Ingredients
  • ground chicken 1 pound
  • ½ small onion ½
  • garlic cloves 3
  • curly parsley 3 tablespoons
  • celery ½ cup
  • crumbled blue cheese ½ cup
  • eggs 2
  • salt ½ teaspoon
  • pepper ¼ teaspoon
  • Dumpling wrappers
  • PTFE Nonstick spray
  • buffalo style hot sauce, like Frank’s 1 cup
  • butter 6 tablespoons
Preparation
  1. In a medium bowl mix first 9 ingredients together by hand until evenly combined.
  2. Assemble dumplings by placing wonton wrapper on a flat surface.
  3. Roll a small ball of the chicken mixture between your hands, about a tablespoon, and place in the center of the wonton wrapper.
  4. Dip a finger in a cup of water and run it around the edges of the wrapper.
  5. Pick up wrapper and chicken ball with one hand (between your thumb and index finger) and begin pinching hard around the wrapper until it tightly wraps the chicken ball. Re-pinch if necessary. Your dumplings should be star-shaped with the chicken ball in the center.
  6. Spray your IMUSA steaming basket with PTFE Nonstick spray and place dumplings throughout. Steam for 10 minutes until fully cooked.
  7. In the meantime make hot sauce by gently heating it with the butter.
  8. Spoon some hot sauce on a plate and place dumplings on top. Garnish with more crumbled blue cheese, if desired.
 
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